Installing a US made bearing on my flail mower blade drum. Getting ready for my mowing season in a few weeks. The new 1 15/16 inch sealed bearing instructions said: the bearing is greased for the life of the bearing. If used in dusty locations. Lubrication may be needed. I would say my mower qualifies for dusty locations. I probably have been greasing the bearings too much. Every couple day's I would give them a couple shots. Maybe one time a week would be better? Then wheel bearings never get greased, except when installing, they are in dusty locations. Any thoughts? Stan
- Thread starter 37 chief
- Start date
fastfarmall
Well-known Member
Dusty conditions,yes i would agree that a mower would qualify, But you going to pop the seal off and put some grease in there with a needle,or drill a little hole through the seal,I have done that a few times on a combine, but not sure how effective it was, but the thing that amazes me is how little grease is in there to begin with! The front wheels on some of the tractors have zerks, and most of my plow, field cultivators wheels do too!
fastfarmall
Well-known Member
Never took Bearing Greasing 101: but why not?
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
Too much grease is hard on a bearing, the balls or rollers slide around the unloaded zone rather that roll. I attended a good bearing seminar once, the instructor said, go to the beach and run in ankle deep water, it goes pretty good, then go out in waist deep water and try running! That what an over greased bearing experience's.
redforlife
Well-known Member
Was the old bearing you are replacing, a greasable bearing? Sounds like you are replacing a greasable bearing with a sealed bearing.
If you went to a parts store and bought a replacement bearing simply by the dimensions of the old bearing (not per make, model, year of mower), you probably needed to specify that it was a greasable bearing you are replacing. If you didn't tell them that, they probably assumed you needed a sealed bearing (new stuff has just about went to sealed bearings on everything), and gave you the wrong bearing.
The maker of the mower could of started using the sealed bearing, and discontinued sales of the greasable (sealed now replaces the greasable), but I'm guessing the other scenerio is more likely. Even if not, you should of been able to still buy a greasable bearing going by the dimensions of the old, IF dealing with the right place.
I'd of put a greasable one back on if it were me. Call me old school if you want, or reluctant to change. And that's not entirely where it's at for me. I'm a bigger stickler for putting something back together as it was before, than most people. I have enough headaches the way it is, by not adding to it with a bunch of, I shouldn't have done this or that.
If you went to a parts store and bought a replacement bearing simply by the dimensions of the old bearing (not per make, model, year of mower), you probably needed to specify that it was a greasable bearing you are replacing. If you didn't tell them that, they probably assumed you needed a sealed bearing (new stuff has just about went to sealed bearings on everything), and gave you the wrong bearing.
The maker of the mower could of started using the sealed bearing, and discontinued sales of the greasable (sealed now replaces the greasable), but I'm guessing the other scenerio is more likely. Even if not, you should of been able to still buy a greasable bearing going by the dimensions of the old, IF dealing with the right place.
I'd of put a greasable one back on if it were me. Call me old school if you want, or reluctant to change. And that's not entirely where it's at for me. I'm a bigger stickler for putting something back together as it was before, than most people. I have enough headaches the way it is, by not adding to it with a bunch of, I shouldn't have done this or that.
So if theres a grease zerk Is there a groove on one side of the bearing outer race that matches up with the geese zerk if no groove and no hole greasing wont do any good anyway because the grease cant get in the bearing anyway . Im guessing this is a bearing in a pillow block or flange type housing ? I wouldnt worry an awful lot about it if it were me .
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
I'm big on plenty of grease. Grease coming out nothing else going in,can't remember the last time I had a greaseable bearing fail but have sealed bearings fail.I'd bet a thousand bearings fail from lack of grease for every one that fails from too much grease.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Yes, every couple days is too much. Maybe once ever 3 months would be more realistic.
As long as the seals are in place, grit would not be getting in.
Too much grease causes a bearing to run hot, but not a real big deal unless it's a really high speed application, which yours is not. The thing you want to avoid is too much too fast and blow the seals out of the bearing housing. Once that happens grit will be getting in and no amount of grease will stop it.
As for wheel bearings, they hold a lot of grease, turn very slowly, and are generally not loaded anywhere near the bearing capacity. They have a fairly easy life as long as the seal stays intact and don't get contaminated with water or grit.
As long as the seals are in place, grit would not be getting in.
Too much grease causes a bearing to run hot, but not a real big deal unless it's a really high speed application, which yours is not. The thing you want to avoid is too much too fast and blow the seals out of the bearing housing. Once that happens grit will be getting in and no amount of grease will stop it.
As for wheel bearings, they hold a lot of grease, turn very slowly, and are generally not loaded anywhere near the bearing capacity. They have a fairly easy life as long as the seal stays intact and don't get contaminated with water or grit.
560Dennis
Well-known Member
- Location
- Madison,Ohio
Once a season maybe if used 24 hours a day if vertical mounted .
Too much grease in confined area is a source to build up heat , expanding ,breaking down the additive and pushes grease out or runs out .dust creates a lapping paste with grit .
Too much grease in confined area is a source to build up heat , expanding ,breaking down the additive and pushes grease out or runs out .dust creates a lapping paste with grit .
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
Popping off seals or drilling holes to squirt grease in should be a last resort, to keep a bearing together to get through the day, to get the field in.
If you're greasing until it comes out, you are over greasing in most cases. Dust will stick to the exposed grease, and act like an abrasive. You've just made lapping compound.
Think about it, in a sealed environment where can the grease go? Why would you need to keep adding more?
If you're greasing until it comes out, you are over greasing in most cases. Dust will stick to the exposed grease, and act like an abrasive. You've just made lapping compound.
Think about it, in a sealed environment where can the grease go? Why would you need to keep adding more?
and a GRINRuss from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
Woods mowers use Timken style bearings and they are preloaded, they can stand a little more grease.
dr sportster
Well-known Member
Installation is important . On a shaft you press on the inner race .Into a hole and you must press on the outer race.
If your greasing till it comes out,, then there are NO air pockets.. no voids... and you keep pushing fresh grease into one side and old grease coming out the other side????? I dont care that the old grease being expelled gets contaminated. As long as it does not spin a race, its isolated and good. But open bearings are a different matter when it comes to contaminates and failing.
fastfarmall
Well-known Member
Good analogy, thanks Russ
guido
Well-known Member
37 chief,
The fitting is on the housing-spindel?
I guess you have the bearing in your hands?
Here are some sealed bearings. I took the cover off one. You can grease the bearing now that he cover is off.
The one on the left has metal shield and a clip to old it in tight.
Ones these bearings are installed in place, how will grease get in there.
Lownmowers blade housings do have grease fittings.....useless!
By the way, those are rc car bearings. We cleaned them up, and lubed them with wd40 for less drag.....
Guido.
The fitting is on the housing-spindel?
I guess you have the bearing in your hands?
Here are some sealed bearings. I took the cover off one. You can grease the bearing now that he cover is off.
The one on the left has metal shield and a clip to old it in tight.
Ones these bearings are installed in place, how will grease get in there.
Lownmowers blade housings do have grease fittings.....useless!
By the way, those are rc car bearings. We cleaned them up, and lubed them with wd40 for less drag.....
Guido.
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