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How often should you grease to keep pins happy?
- Thread starter emmett518
- Start date
I treated myself to a DeWalt a few years back. I don't bother getting it out of the case except for the backhoe and the finish mower. Everything else I just grab the Alemite and give it a quick shot.
I never want to grease my backhoe or finish mower with a manual grease gun again.
For a grease recommendation I have been using Amalie Pro Tac Plus with 5% moly. It seems to stay in the pins a lot longer than the 3% I used to use. I grease my machine at the first sign of the pins in the loader starting to squeak.I make a mess doin it and I might clean up after the process every third time.
you should be greasing ALL zerks EVERY work day. Watch for the excess to spill out, and it will be helping remove the sand and crud. Grease with enough to see some out-flow. In long bushings, make certain both "ends" of the pin are being whetted. Waiting until you hear a "squeak" is RIDICULOUS! didn't you just brag on a DeWalt battery gun??????????
JLarson
Senior Member
Lol if things are squeaking you're too late.
If you're running most of the day or all day at least one greasing, heavy dirt work/sand twice a day, digging in mud dipping water probably a few times a day. If you're only running occasionally like a lot of property owners do you should probably grease at least based off the hours recommendations in the manual.
If you're running most of the day or all day at least one greasing, heavy dirt work/sand twice a day, digging in mud dipping water probably a few times a day. If you're only running occasionally like a lot of property owners do you should probably grease at least based off the hours recommendations in the manual.
What do you do about pins that have no grease? Like the pin holding the backhoe bucket on the arm? I know some are grease free, but there are a bunch on the end of the backhoe arm that seem dry.
Tinkerer
Senior Member
Do the pins or bushings have zerks ???
If they do, you already know what is needed to get grease in them.
Pump grease in them until it comes out of the joint clean.
I spray some WD45 on those. It helps to keep the noise down. I don't know why JD didn't make those greasable.
On edit, maybe it's cause those touch the dirt and you don't want the grease picking up the dirt and sand.
Willie B
Senior Member
Those in the dirt all the time wear less if not greased. Grease seems to hold grit in place to continue to damage.
Thanks. I'll clean out the grease, and stick to penetrating oil on those.
Any advice on how to position the bucket to get the pin out? One part of the bucket fits in a open eye, and the other has the pin. I assume that you pull the pin, and then angle the bucket so you can unhook.
Willie B
Senior Member
Today I used my JD 410C. About 1.5 hours. It is unlubricated at the bucket pins. After I stopped I noticed the bucket pins were shiny where they shuck a bit side to side.
I ponder; do they offer bushings & pins cheaper?
Is wear accelerated where this happens?
I had a Case that had greased with seals at these points. They were all worn out when I bought it at about 2000 hours. I replaced all that. I can't help wondering which is better. My theory is the greased work better if you grease at four hour intervals, every time you dig. Those who neglect might better have dry joints.
I ponder; do they offer bushings & pins cheaper?
Is wear accelerated where this happens?
I had a Case that had greased with seals at these points. They were all worn out when I bought it at about 2000 hours. I replaced all that. I can't help wondering which is better. My theory is the greased work better if you grease at four hour intervals, every time you dig. Those who neglect might better have dry joints.
JL Sargent
Senior Member
On my 310E backhoe, John Deere recommends greasing every 8 hours. That's what I try to do too. If I ever hear a squeak or noise, I grease it ASAP. My front end loader is very tight like it hasn't been used much and my backhoe tower is a little loose, like it's been used much more. That said, I grease everything the same each time.
NH575E
Senior Member
I clearly need to grease my machine more often. On a good day it takes and hour to do and eats 2 tubes of grease. I did it yesterday and spent a good part of the day and used 3 tubes of grease. I did go over the whole machine and greased all the pins as well as the universal joints and front axle parts. Had to wrestle with replacing 3 of the fittings that I ended up removing with vise grips. None of the pins were frozen. My machine is pretty tight for a 22 year old machine with unknown hours.
I only use my machine a couple hours at the time. I don't ever see me greasing it every 8 hours of use and I doubt it ever saw that kind of service in it's former life.
I still have one upper king pin and one lower that won't take grease. I ordered some new 45* fittings for the lower so I can get on it with the LnL. The upper pin that wouldn't take grease also has some play so I ordered one of those but the receiving bushing it mates with is on back order. Hopefully just the pin and getting it to take grease will take out most of the play.
I only use my machine a couple hours at the time. I don't ever see me greasing it every 8 hours of use and I doubt it ever saw that kind of service in it's former life.
I still have one upper king pin and one lower that won't take grease. I ordered some new 45* fittings for the lower so I can get on it with the LnL. The upper pin that wouldn't take grease also has some play so I ordered one of those but the receiving bushing it mates with is on back order. Hopefully just the pin and getting it to take grease will take out most of the play.
JL Sargent
Senior Member
Same here. I guess previous owner greased just SOME of the fittings. The lower two on the front end loader were bone dry and would not take grease. I tried everything and eventually pressed those bushings out. Dug the rock hard grease out of the channels and reinstalled them.
aighead
Senior Member
skyking1
Senior Member
This is not a backhoe thing, but do follow recommendations. It is very possible to damage equipment by over greasing, for example the swing bearings on an excavator.
I also don't grease every fitting or pin the same. I push some out and clean up after that, so as not to have a goopy mess. Once the machine is clean, a rag will remove the fresh grease that gets pushed out. No need for pressure washers or solvents, just get it off while it is fresh.
I also don't grease every fitting or pin the same. I push some out and clean up after that, so as not to have a goopy mess. Once the machine is clean, a rag will remove the fresh grease that gets pushed out. No need for pressure washers or solvents, just get it off while it is fresh.
aighead
Senior Member
I guess now is a good opportunity to give a short review of my minimal uses of the Milwaukee 18v grease gun. Like otherwise reported it works very well. So far no trouble with air bubbles and priming and it's nice to sling it over my shoulder and take it to the machine rather than park in front of my garage so my air line can reach. Great suggestion by those that made it.
Welder Dave
Senior Member
I think the dry graphite spray would be good for pins without grease fittings. Spring steel split tension bushings don't normally call for grease. That's why I used to repair my swing post pivots but sprayed the graphite on them too. Must have hit something to change the font of post.
skyking1
Senior Member
Do take advantage of the pump counting feature you can either set it to continuous or you can pick a number like three or four and then some pins you hit twice and some pins you hit once.
Willie B
Senior Member
I grease too often. If it has been exposed to rain or two weeks accumulation of snow, I feel compelled to grease.
I have replaced pins & bushings on four backhoes, it never gets easy. Grease is comparatively easy.
Some manufacturers build machines with iron on iron joints where they will certainly be contaminated with dirt. Others build greaseable, sealed joints.
I've had both, sealed joints stay sealed very briefly. They are inevitably gritty.
I speak only of pivots working in the dirt, at the bucket. Other joints need grease, absolutely.
I have replaced pins & bushings on four backhoes, it never gets easy. Grease is comparatively easy.
Some manufacturers build machines with iron on iron joints where they will certainly be contaminated with dirt. Others build greaseable, sealed joints.
I've had both, sealed joints stay sealed very briefly. They are inevitably gritty.
I speak only of pivots working in the dirt, at the bucket. Other joints need grease, absolutely.
CM1995
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What??
I'm not sure what pins you are referring to but a standard greaseable pin and bushing on a piece of equipment needs to be greased once a day at a minimum if it's used for day.
A piece of equipment with greaseable pins and bushings will most certainly wear faster with no grease used digging dirt compared to regular greasing of the pin and bushing.