Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[nova3930]

The old manual for my Ford 917 lists Ford M1C137-A grease for the gear box. After I get the last cut of the year finished, I want to clean out the gear box and put all fresh grease in it. Anybody have an easy to find (ie order) equivalent of that M1C137-A grease? I would think any heavy duty lithium moly grease should work but I want to make sure....

 

[dieselscout80]

I run 90w gear oil in my 917. I may try 85/140w after I get the oil leaks sealed up.

 

[nova3930]

I run 90w gear oil in my 917. I may try 85/140w after I get the oil leaks sealed up.

I thought about just running 90W gear oil but the manual is really specific about using grease. I hate to think I know better than my fellow engineers that wrote the manual....

 

[IslandTractor]

I thought about just running 90W gear oil but the manual is really specific about using grease. I hate to think I know better than my fellow engineers that wrote the manual....

Understand your point but it probably doesn't matter. Many folks use grease if the gearbox leaks oil so I imagine the other way around works too. These are not precision devices and probably anything that lubricates will do the job.

 

[DavesTractor]

They make a "00" grease that flows when it warms up and then gels up when it cools. Not a bad option for an old gearbox that leaks a little but that does not get enough use to try to seal it up tight. I've seen guys use it and have yet to see a problem from it. Of course once you become your own chemical engineer, you are liable for any failures due to same! I think I had this as factory fill on an old Snapper rider mower.

 

[Xfaxman]

They make a "00" grease that flows when it warms up and then gels up when it cools. Not a bad option for an old gearbox that leaks a little but that does not get enough use to try to seal it up tight. I've seen guys use it and have yet to see a problem from it. Of course once you become your own chemical engineer, you are liable for any failures due to same! I think I had this as factory fill on an old Snapper rider mower.

"00" grease is thixotropic, it has nothing to do with temperature.
There have been several threads about using it in brush hog gear boxes, here is one: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/land-clearing-equipment/310102-grease-gear-case.html

 

[DavesTractor]

"00" grease is thixotropic, it has nothing to do with temperature.
There have been several threads about using it in brush hog gear boxes, here is one: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/land-clearing-equipment/310102-grease-gear-case.html

I learned a new word, and how this grease works, thanks!

 

[nova3930]

Understand your point but it probably doesn't matter. Many folks use grease if the gearbox leaks oil so I imagine the other way around works too. These are not precision devices and probably anything that lubricates will do the job.

Probably so. I've just gotten burned before thinking I know better than the guys that came before me. The spacers on my rear roller are a prime example. "WTF do I need this junk for" I say, only to leave my roller behind in the pasture lol

 

[IslandTractor]

Probably so. I've just gotten burned before thinking I know better than the guys that came before me. The spacers on my rear roller are a prime example. "WTF do I need this junk for" I say, only to leave my roller behind in the pasture lol

I fully appreciate your conservatism here. However, leaving out the spacers would be more like deciding you didn't need no stinking grease in the gearbox. Substituting gear oil is a milder and probably inconsequential deviation from the master plan. For all we know, they specified grease at the factory so they could load it up with grease there rather than hoping and keeping their fingers crossed that the future owner would add oil before putting it to work.

 

[IslandTractor]

FYI used 48" Rhino flail mower for sale Falmouth MA Rhino 48" 3 pt flail mower

I know nothing about this, just ran across it on Craigslist. Might be nice for a sub 30hp tractor. Not many 48" flails around.