Circle saw mandrel bearing grease

[Rigg]

I've got 2 questions based on another post in a thread below since there has been some circle saw threads lately.

How often and how much do you grease mandrel bearings?

What type of grease do you prefer?

Thanks

[moodnacreek]

The trick is to use just enough grease on the bearing next to the saw because a little too much will heat the bearing and the saw. A point and click thermometer is a real help here. There are synthetic greases today that are thin and run cooler because of that. They don't churn as much heat as say the old no. 2 but have the same rating. What you don't want is thick or high temperature grease. Cat dealers have a selection of syn. grease worth looking at. There is also Timkin/Fafner pillow block grease. I use Lubraplate cold weather grease, 6 pumps every 6 months.  With that thermometer you can take the bearing temperature before you grease and after [after running for a while]. You can also see where the heat is going and how the saw is responding if at all to the warm bearing.    I used to over grease and after running a while I couldn't run at all.

[Gearbox]

clarify if your running babbit or roller . babbit likes oil better than grease . roller DO NOT over grease or they will heat and the rollers will plow instead of turn making flat spots on the rollers 

[Rigg]

I've got roller bearings. I've used No 2 grease before.  I've definitely over greased at times. I haven't been happy after I've put grease in the mandrel bearings yet.

Seems to me like less is better. It takes a little while before the saw acts right and you can feel a temp difference in the bearing next to the saw.  

Lately, I've been running a couple hours every day. I haven't put greased anything in awhile and the saw has been running pretty good.

Moodnacreek, 

You run every day and 6 pumps every 6 months?  

[moodnacreek]

Rigg, Yes, 6 shots every 6 months.  Others say 1 shot each month.   I suggested thin synthetic grease. This is expensive so if you go that way you will want a separate gun and only use it on the mandrel bearings or only on the saw bearing.