FEL grease fittings

[Kenneth in Texas]

Manaul says to grease every 10 hours which i assume is 10 hour use of the fel, not the tractor, but my question is when you use the grease gun how much grease should you put in the grease points. One dealer says squeeze enough in there to force a lot of the old grease out which can be messy. Another dealer says just give it a pump or two with the grease gun. Whats the normal procedure for experience fel owners?

 

[irvingj]

I only pump in enough so I can see old grease just begin to come out the sides of the joint. Presumably, then, the greased area is "full."

Some fittings will just take a quick hit, others several pumps... then wipe fitting and any excess grease off with a rag.

 

[Egon]

I do about three pumps or till I see grease coming out the sides. Don't know if that is proper or not but its been working for me.

Yes, wipe the excess grease off as best you can. Your clothing and gloves will always get the last little bit. The back of your shirt is a favorite for wiping with. It transfers well from there to every where you ever sit! The gloves work well for coating the steering wheel!

 

[Ductape]

I do the same as irvingj.

 

[SCtractorguy]

I do about three pumps or till I see grease coming out the sides. Don't know if that is proper or not but its been working for me.

Yes, wipe the excess grease off as best you can. Your clothing and gloves will always get the last little bit. The back of your shirt is a favorite for wiping with. It transfers well from there to every where you ever sit! The gloves work well for coating the steering wheel!

Ahhh! I'm glad others know this technique!! It is very easy to master and is a great way to turn perfectly good shirts in to rags!



I've gone to a pneumatic grease gun, much faster with 3 tractors and a truck to grease.

 

[have_blue]

Even if you don't use your FEL, it's a good idea to grease it every 20 hours or so. It's also a good idea to cycle all the bucket parts every 4-5 hours to redistribute the grease. Just driving the tractor squishes all the grease out of certain areas in the pivot points, and could cause wear and slack.

 

[savageactor7]

what irvingj says...

...and if you can't see it on some bearings or fittings you'll hear it slurp out, that's the audible sign of success.

 

[Egon]

you'll hear it slurp out

Is that the sound it makes just before it drops off and falls into the top of your rubber boots?

 

[Charlton John]

Your clothing and gloves will always get the last little bit. The back of your shirt is a favorite for wiping with. It transfers well from there to every where you ever sit!

I have been in the doghouse a few times for doing this same thing

 

[RichUncle]

Yep - just enough to cause the old grease to start to come out of the joint. I agree also with the move everything around every so often to keep things lubed/well distributed, but I'm kinda confused as to how you can go more than a week or so WITHOUT using the FEL...

 

[rbcsaver]

Do what Irvingj and egon said. Also, wear rubber gloves, wipe the old dirt and grime from the Zerk Fittings **FIRST** My problems have been that the fittings keep breaking off. I've replaced 2 bottom fittings, having to use a drill and easy out to get the old pieces out first.
regards,
Steve

 

[repete]

When I grease anything, I try to load it so that the grease all goes to the friction point of the joint. Example, I will place the bucket on the ground with a little down force and then when I grease the joint, the grease goes to the "top" of the joint. That way I am sure to fill the area where it actually supports and pivots with the most force.

When greasing the pivot point on the dump truck I put a 4x4 between the bed and the frame just in front of the pivot point then lower the unit thus "unloading" the joint. When I grease it in this position this assures the grease gets to the friction area.

Overkill perhaps...

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

thanks for all the replies. Only one time shortly after i got the tractor did i do what one dealer suggested which was to keep pumping grease in until most the old grease came out

I use my fel a lot and just keep it greased as you all suggested, just enough to slighly squeeze out some of grease from around the sidss. But i did always wonder what more experienced fel users did.

 

[framer]

Same as rest of the guys till i see grease coming out.Just bought 14 volt
battery grease gun what a pleasure to use.I think i used twice as much grease as usual.

 

[rcrcomputing]

I don't wipe it off after greasing. I grease way to often for that. ..
I figure having grease there keeps the dirt out..