Grease on 3PH pins, good or bad idea?

[Bob_Young]

Was reassembling the 3ph on the L4300 after removing the backhoe this morning. Gave all the pins a coating of grease. After I was through, I wondered if that was such a great idea. Sure it lubricates, but if it attracts dirt and holds it in the joint as an abrasive, it'll do as much harm as good.

Wondering what thoughts the Brain Trust has on this practice.
Bob

 

[john_bud]

Not sure what is better, but I give the pins and balls a bit of grease when the other 3pt and implement zerks are greased.

jb

 

[Z-Michigan]

I am NOT an expert - but after leaving everything dry since purchase, I just recently tried putting some light oil on the pins before hooking up, and was amazed at how much easier it was to get the link balls on. I'm also a bit worried about the dirt and abrasion issue; one reason I used oil instead of grease is thinking (hoping?) that oil would hold less dirt than grease.

 

[dtd24]

I grease it all, love the stuff. I don't think grease can be bad.........no grease=very bad

 

[3RRL]

I'm like dtd and John,
I grease them too.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I will wipe some grease on them if I have some left on my hand or my rag. I will also wipe them with a rag wet with oil, especialy when changing the oil and wiping up spill.

 

[jbrumberg]

I use whatever I might be wearing at the time I change attachments . Jay

 

[bigdad]

I use the same stuff on my three point pins that I paint the underside of my my mower deck with, Lubriplate Graphite paint. Slick but without collecting dirt etc. I do oil the swivel balls. Anything that slides with metal on metal (that's not a bearing) gets the the graphite.

 

[zzvyb6]

I use wd-40 on it, a bit lighter than grease. Only thing you NEVER want to grease is a trailer hitch ball, and I see it all the time. Friction in the hitch is a major stabilizing factor, just like the extra hitch friction brake, you don't want to lubricate it.

 

[Bob_Young]

That hitch ball comment was interesting, zzvy. I started greasing mine to get rid of the GRROOOAAAANNNs when I went around a corner or, especially, up and over a steep hump. Never noticed any difference in stability.
Bob