How may tubes of grease do you go through greasing at 50h intervals?

[s219]

After owning a tractor for a few months, I did the math and ordered a 5 gal pail of grease. I am sure it will outlast me but it was way cheaper than buying tubes. When my gun runs out, I just use a putty knife to scoop dollops out of the pail and pack them into the gun.

 

[mangler]

And at that rate the payback on any kind of bulk system will be measured in decades, if not centuries when opportunity cost is considered.

Edit: A cheap bucket grease pump is $100 at Northern Tool. A decent quality 5 gallon pail of #2 Mobil grease will run $100. That will yield 40 tubes of $5.00 grease. I’ll look elsewhere to “save” money.

For the grease I would like to use I am looking at around 12$ a tube (usd), and I can find a bulk pump for around 50$. The real issue is the grease I would want to use is either difficult to get in 3 gallon size, or just plain expensive (Paragon 3000, Royal 850HD, Amsoil syn. MP). 5 gallon seems like heirloom quantity for my use☺

Point taken on powered guns lacking feel, but I guess I could keep the manual lever guns for bearings. I have a line to get a 3 gallon pneumatic pump for around 90 usd. Even with the high price to fill it, I am still tempted by the once and done aspect.

 

[RickB]

Everyone gets to have their own opinion, especially when servicing machines they own or are responsible for. But for me using a grease that costs $12 a tube on a common CUT and implements makes no sense whatsoever to begin with. The benefits simply do not outwiegh the cost. Choosing that grease then worrying about the cost of it makes even less sense. Good luck to you.

 

[Tomtint]

a small cut and implemint...you probably won't use a whole tube.

 

[dodge man]

I own a JD 2025r and like already said loader every 10 hours. The other intervals, mainly my driveshafts, is 50 hours. I would say 2 tubes of grease lasts me a year or more ay 100 hours a year. I personally wouldn’t mess with bulk at the small amount I use.

 

[mangler]

Thanks all, looks like maybe 2 tubes a year for my use. So bulk methods would really be just to avoid a greasy puddle under the standard gun/tube combo.

For that I guess I could use a lock n lube gun condom (barrel cap), or switch to the Lube Shuttle system (I don't really like their grease, so i would be looking at getting empty plastic tubes, a 3 gallon pail, a bulk pump and their refill adapter). That would make more sense if I had a fleet, or was going into the tube selling business.

FWIW, I understand I am overkilling it with my grease selection. But that is my mo. All I can say is expensive grease is sometimes not as expensive as you think, when you consider how long at actually stays on the machine vs 5$ a tube grease, or even (gasp) 2$ a tube grease. Just check the specs and you will be surprised (water washout, oil separation %, timken load rating, 4 ball wear scar). Not to say you can't make a $ per hours business case with cheap grease applied more often, IF you enjoy greasing and have lots of time. I don't.

 

[RickB]

Not much about grease is going to surprise me after 50+ years of using it.
Good luck with your choices.

 

[Trillium Farm]

For those interested lock 'n lube makes grease guns and also a mechasnical bulk foot-pump see this link: Grease Guns | LockNLube - LOCKNLUBE

 

[RalphVa]

I do 50 hr intervals on the 2025R on everything even though they say 10 hours on the 2 tie rod ends and that front swivel point.

I do 10 hr intervals on the MacKissic's 3 zerks. Don't do the Ujoints on it until disconnect or reconnect. Can't get to them otherwise, unless they're off and crooked about 90 degrees.

Use a long container of grease about every 100 hours.

Ralph

 

[mikester]

I am looking for a ballpark figure, on a CUT (say a CK2610) with FEL, maybe a rotary mower or flail mower. Just trying to see if going with a bulk grease pump would be worth it, on a cost per year basis.

I'm a firm believer in buying once, and I like the idea of the small (3 gallon) pneumatic pump, that I would only have to fill once, and would not have to worry about leaking (my standard lever type gun leaks like sieve). I like the savings that come from buying a 3 gallon tub vs 14oz tubes also.

Now, if I only need (1) 14oz cartridge every 50h on average, I may just get an Alemite 555 gun with a lock n lube barrel cap and be done with it. I already have a locknlube tip

PS I understand that 50h is a recommended greasing interval. If more frequent greasing is recommended, or you grease more often, just put in in tubes/50h terms.

My tractor stickers and manual says to grease every 10 hours. I grease my machines every fill up which is approximately 10-12 hours. Easier to keep track that way. I buy grease in 5 gallon pails and use an air greaser. Cartridges suck IMHO, messy and wasteful.

You cant over grease - it just gets wasted and ends up on the ground. You can UNDER grease which will be detrimental to the life expectancy of your machine. 50 hour grease intervals does not sound reasonable.