Lube Question For Dick

Greg R · Dec 15, 2008

Dick: as to grease "fill" for wheel bearings; there's a lot of myth on what actually to do for any specific Application. It seems the "standard" procedure is to fill the hub cavity to level with the outter race. I have a volkswagen factory manual,(actually a bentley reprint), that specifically instructs to fill the hub cavity after packing the bearing cages. Then again I also have some other manuals and IH ones that only address packing the bearing/cage, and have no info on overgreasing other than driveline slipjoints. Your advice makes sense, and definetly cuts down wastage. In my job, alot of the equipment runs on pillow block bearings 24/7. All the grease they need is between the rolling elements only, the seals/shields only keep dirt out. So I'm think'in relube schedule depends on speed/load/ambient but comes out to a couple of shots every 720 to 2,000 hours. If a rig runs that much, that's over 20k miles/month minimum. I've seen failed & contaminated wheel bearings, and usually the contamination doesn't go far past the bearing, so all that grease in the hub is still in the hub. Helluva mess to change when chang'in grease. The rear axle bearings,(2 piece rear axle), are grease lubed, and like pillow blocks, all they git is between the rolling elements.
I'm gonna try your idear next spring on the next hub maintenance.

As you see, I had to "talk" myself into it :gringrin:

Craig · Dec 16, 2008

I think the over greasing came from the days where the wheel bearing would start to seize and the smoke from the extra grease pouring in was a visual and smell indicator to pull over quick. The new greases have to high of a melting point to work like this anymore.

I too have found I could just wipe the "bad" grease away leaving most of the grease in the hub when redoing the bearings.
As for level full with the races, I was thinking the hub would fill with water and once it there no easy way out.

DF Sales&Marketing · Dec 16, 2008

Greg.....

I'm not sure that calling it a "myth" would be exactly right, more like there are different viewpoints on the subject. Also, you might have come across situations where an equipment oem states to specifically handle a lube point in a certain manner, but in your own experience have found that not to be efficient, and in doing so it created more problems. I've seen that happen a number of times....then the pe takes it on his own to either enlist the help of someone on the outside, or experiments until he finds a way which is conducive to less failures.

In any case, a hub full of grease does not help the bearings per'se, if anything, it increases the temperature by not allowing the heat to escape :mad5:

(acting as an insulator).

Craig.....

If you don't feel comfortable with your seals and are sure that water is entering the hubs, go for it! I'm just wondering tho, how you can be sure that the grease you are leaving behind is not contaminated too. Once again, don't "mix" different greases unless you know they are compatible with one another.

.......nice pic!

Thanks, guys!

Craig · Dec 17, 2008

It just occured to me this is a clay base grease

"swepco 101 moly grease. It is a bentonite base grease "

you know I was feeling much better when I just had my head stuck in the sand.

I looked and did not see any online sources for 121 grease.

DF Sales&Marketing · Dec 17, 2008

Craig,

yes, bentonite is a clay base used in the 101 product. It is one of the reasons why it can be listed as a "non-melt" grease. Bear in mind, the oil in it can still catch fire when exposed to an ignition source, but the grease will not melt.

The 121 tri-plex grease is, as I mentioned earlier, a relatively new product.....they have not yet inserted it into the web site. More than likely the reason why is that the web site will be undergoing some major changes and updates and it will be done at that time. However, the pdf attachment I included is the full data sheet which would have been on the website if it were there. If you have any other specific questions or need more data, let me know and I will do my best to take care of your needs.

Thanks for your interest in our products!