Gear oil for NH 269 square baler

[dan_d]

Hey,
Does anyone around these parts have a 269? I just picked one up this winter (along with a 'new idea' haybine and 3ph rake for $1k!) and i'm getting her ready for the hay season but when i pulled the drain plug on the gearbox i would have sworn it was grease coming out of the hole, not oil! It was so thick it actually slimed out in a cylindrical shape! For my JD 14T baler the owners manual says to use 80W140, but i don't have such a manual for the new toy... (does anyone have a pdf by any chance?? ) What kind of oil should be going in there? And what's the best way to clean out the existing sludge?

And while i'm at it, is there any other things i should check as part of my annual maintenance?


Thanks a bunch,
Dan

 

[brin]

The previous owner may have used 00 Grease instead of gear oil to stop a gasket leak. John Deere also sells a 00 grease and they use it in their gear boxes. I use it in my generator gear box.

 

[dan_d]

well, it definitely looks and feels like grease, so i suppose that could be it... never heard of such a trick tho is it safe to leave like that for extended use?

 

[brin]

well, it definitely looks and feels like grease, so i suppose that could be it... never heard of such a trick tho is it safe to leave like that for extended use?

Yes absolutely in my opinion..take a look at this link..
202562 Cornhead Grease - Tube [Shoup Manufacturing Company]

 

[dan_d]

well hey, you learn something new every day turns out my JD baler's gear case leaks too so i may consider replacing the 80w140, it seems to work well in the 269 (i put 50 bales thru it this afternoon just to work out the kinks; luckily there were none! )

thanks again

 

[Soundguy]

lotsa people use pourable grease in boxes with bad seals.

back in 62 ford issued a service bulleting to replace gear oil in the manual steering boxes with soft grease to prevent sector seal leaks.

My howse 10' mower specs gear oil OR pourable grease.

and well.. look and JD corn headers... they actually make a grease specifically for them..

still .. if a box is meant ofr oil.. it would be best to repair it if feasable and run it on oil.. though grease is better than nuttin..

soundguy

 

[RickB]

If 90wt gearlube is left in a gearbox for 20-30 years, it will come out like 00 grease. Use 80W-90 or 85W-140 gear oil in that gearbox, not 00 grease.
Spend $30 and get yourself an operator's manual here:

Choose Items

 

[dan_d]

brin, how full do you fill the gearbox when using grease instead of oil? i assume you need to fill it up further than the fill plug level?

RickB, thanks for the link, ordering one right now!

Cheers,
Dan

 

[Soundguy]

the main issue with grease in a gearbox is that the gears form a cavity when they rotate.

now.. the lighter greases like pourable lower end marine lube, and the NLGI 00# greases will slowly slump back to fill the void after the cavity forms.. plus most have addatives to make them sticky.

I fill gearboxes up full enough so that static level covers the gears.. but not so full that it causes seal pressure .. especially for unvented boxes.. .. that said.. it would be best if you could repair your oil seal and keep it an oil bath.

soundguy