Best Grease For Spindles

[feetr2c]

So on my spindles, I have read on various places online that you should always grease the spindles before mowing on a brand new machine. I would think my JD dealer would have done that. How many pumps should each spindle get? I don't want to put in too much and blow out seals. And is it really necessary to use JD Polyurea grease or would any NLGI #2 grease be fine?

 

[jhonb]

I have been using marine grease on mine because I had some left over from my boat days. But some chemist might tell you the different break down rates and temperature ratings for all the different greases. Cheap works for me....in this case.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I just use a multi-purpose lithium base grease for all my grease work. It seems to work OK for FEL, mower, etc.

 

[RetiredCarGuy]

Since blade spindles turn at high speed and generate heat, they also have to endure wet conditions, so my choice is always a quality wheel bearing rated grease.
They both live in very similar environments. Spindle replacement is much more costly than a bit saved on a tube of grease. Choose wisely!

 

[Markcuda]

https://jdparts.deere.com/partsmkt/document/english/pmac/8180_fb_GreaseSpecialMultiPurpose.htm
Scroll down till you see TY25744
Get the best grease Deere has to offer.

 

[Eric102]

I have been using marine grease on mine because I had some left over from my boat days. But some chemist might tell you the different break down rates and temperature ratings for all the different greases. Cheap works for me....in this case.

Yep, me to. If its good enough for boat trailer wheel bearings that get dunked in salt water it should hold up under mowing conditions.

 

[OregonCraig]

...How many pumps should each spindle get? I don't want to put in too much and blow out seals.

I asked my dealer the same question...he said just two or three pumps should be enough without any risk to blowing out a seal.

 

[mikehaugen]

I asked my dealer the same question...he said just two or three pumps should be enough without any risk to blowing out a seal.

That is still a tricky question though, if you grease everytime you mow then 2-3 is too much, if you grease every other season then it is obviously not enough.

If you can see the seal, sometimes you can see it start to bulge slightly. That may be too late also, but tells you definitely to stop.

Also remember that if possible it is best to try to spin the blades while you are greasing as it ensures that it gets worked into the bearings well.

 

[OregonCraig]

That is still a tricky question though, if you grease everytime you mow then 2-3 is too much, if you grease every other season then it is obviously not enough.

If you can see the seal, sometimes you can see it start to bulge slightly. That may be too late also, but tells you definitely to stop.

Also remember that if possible it is best to try to spin the blades while you are greasing as it ensures that it gets worked into the bearings well.

Agreed...and I should have been more clear...the dealer recommended two to three pumps every couple of months, not every time I mow. Still a lot of variables, though.

Thanks for the tip about rotating the blades while greasing...I did not know that.

 

[feetr2c]

I picked up 4 tubes of JD Standard Polyurea grease today. It was $3.99 per cartridge. Of course, I also saw the green JD grease gun and had to have it lol. While I was there I spoke to the service guys. Oddly, they said the JD setup charts do not call for greasing the spindles when they are getting a new mower ready for delivery. I asked about blowing seals. They said no worries the way they are set up. They said if you put in too much, the excess will just come out the bottom and not hurt a thing but you would be simply wasting grease. So I came home and pumped 20 shots into each spindle, and 4 pumps into the tensioner arm on the idler.

I'm flirting with the idea of drilling a hole and installing a zerk in each of the front casters. Any ideas or thoughts on that?