Maintenance--Worth Reading

[Giles]

Many years ago, I owned a Gilson 16 hp garden tractor with 48" deck. Almost every year, I would have to replace mower deck spindle bearings and once I had to replace two shafts.
I am a mechanic and bearing adjustment was correct.
I had the mower deck spindles tore apart and was discussing my situation with a "lubrication specialist" ---(oiler)--- at work.
He asked me what type grease I was using and I stated "just grease like I use on my car". He informed me that there was a lot of different grease and that I should be using a EP2 grade.
I did as he suggested and mowed with that mower for many years with no further problems.
I have a WH C175 that I have owned nearly 30 years and it has the original deck bearings. I have greased them with Chevron EP2 Grease more times then I can remember. It would take me app. 6 hours to cut my large lawn and I would grease the entire tractor before every lawn cutting. At least 10 pumps from my hand pump gun to each spindle.
I think loyal maintenance and the proper lubrication is vital to any piece of equipment.
I just thought this information my be of interest to some

 

[JDgreen]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Know what I wonder...my 60 inch 7-Iron deck has three spindles, every spring I pump them full of JD premium grease, what I will never understand is WHERE the grease in them goes...I have pumped in a tube and a half EVERY spring for 7 years.

WHERE does the grease disappear to when the bearings are sealed...:confused2:

Seems like I should only have to grease them once.

 

[Giles]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Know what I wonder...my 60 inch 7-Iron deck has three spindles, every spring I pump them full of JD premium grease, what I will never understand is WHERE the grease in them goes...I have pumped in a tube and a half EVERY spring for 7 years.

WHERE does the grease disappear to when the bearings are sealed...:confused2:

Seems like I should only have to grease them once.

Thats why I will not recommend a mower that does not have greasable deck spindles. The grease escapes below the deck and is unnoticed.

 

[steved]

My grandfather rehabs lawn equipment, and one thing he has always done is to drill and install zerks on the mower deck spindles when they weren't installed...I have an old Jacobsen GT14, and it has drilled spindles.

The other thing to consider, when talking lubrication, is the QUALITY of the grease. I run one of three greases, and only one as of lately...Mobile 1, Pennzoil 707L, and Schaeffers. I have seen almost no failures running these three greases. Point being: don't buy junk grease.

 

[JDgreen]

Thats why I will not recommend a mower that does not have greasable deck spindles. The grease escapes below the deck and is unnoticed.

I have looked at the bottom of my deck after filling it with new grease and I will be darned if I can see ANY of it coming out from there, and it is clean when I do that...I would think any excess would be seen then.

 

[JDgreen]

My grandfather rehabs lawn equipment, and one thing he has always done is to drill and install zerks on the mower deck spindles when they weren't installed...I have an old Jacobsen GT14, and it has drilled spindles.

The other thing to consider, when talking lubrication, is the QUALITY of the grease. I run one of three greases, and only one as of lately...Mobile 1, Pennzoil 707L, and Schaeffers. I have seen almost no failures running these three greases. Point being: don't buy junk grease.

Since my tractor was new, I have been using the JD branded Polyura (sp?) premium grease, also use it on my GMC truck and the grease has performed flawlessly.

 

[173abn]

thanks for the info Giles,I'll buy some tomorrow, russ

 

[Sammy the Red]

The other thing to consider, when talking lubrication, is the QUALITY of the grease. I run one of three greases, and only one as of lately...Mobile 1, Pennzoil 707L, and Schaeffers. I have seen almost no failures running these three greases. Point being: don't buy junk grease.

I have always liked the Pennzoil 707 grease.

 

[benski]

When you consider what you're asking grease to do, i.e. provide a high level of lubrication, put up with shock loads, not wash out, and provide good off season protection, it doesn't make sense to me to put in anything but a premium product. A tube of the synthetic grease I use retails for about $7.50, I consider it a bargain.:biggrin:

 

[JDgreen]

When you consider what you're asking grease to do, i.e. provide a high level of lubrication, put up with shock loads, not wash out, and provide good off season protection, it doesn't make sense to me to put in anything but a premium product. A tube of the synthetic grease I use retails for about $7.50, I consider it a bargain.:biggrin:

Synthetic OIL is double the cost of dino oil, and now you tell us synthetic GREASE is triple the cost of regular premium grease....

NO WAY am I ever going to buy the stuff, it cannot be THAT good.