Grease Fittings

Bandmill Bandit · October 15, 2015, 10:04:17 AM

Quote from: Magicman on October 15, 2015, 08:57:47 AM
I do not recall any grease seals that you could blow out on my LT40.

I think there is only one MM. Its on the big pillow block bearing that supports the head lift jackshaft. I will have to look. May be one more under that cover too but not sure.

Kingmt · October 15, 2015, 10:09:09 AM

I was just generally speaking also.

Bandmill Bandit · October 15, 2015, 10:27:15 AM

Quote from: Kingmt on October 15, 2015, 10:09:09 AM
I was just generally speaking also.

Yea Kingmt I know. But for those of us that were playing in the grease when dad was greasing the iron it is a bit different than some of the guys that are just now realizing the dream of owning equipment that needs the attention.

Too much grease can be as bad or worse on sealed bearings and O ring sealed pins. On non sealed things your better to push a bit of grease out and wipe clean after. Grease is to dirt and sand what glue is to paper, and for some reason the dirt and sand tends to move into the grease joint instead of out. Pushing a bit of grease out and wiping up is a good way to keep the crap out.

I find that the worst enemy is water. The rust and corrosion that build up for under greased joints and pins is far more destructive then the dirt and sand and pushing a bit of grease out helps reduce the water/condensation in the joints prone to water exposure.

Not all grease points need grease at the same time either.

When I am milling steady I grease every thing once a week. I grease the loader arms and the side supports every other day. I use the highest grade silicone high temp grease I can get. Was using a product called Red Ram but I used the last tube this spring and cant find it any more.

Bought a tube of the best Amsoil grease that is almost empty and a couple of tubes of the Vinoco Red Tac. The Amsoil seems to be a good product. The Vinoco grease looks to be comparable to the Red Ram. Guess ill find out next week.

Oliver05262 · October 15, 2015, 10:30:42 AM

Quote from: drobertson on May 10, 2014, 09:09:51 PM
Not every song is a happy one, and not every story is a fairy tale. Not sure why grease zerks are such a pain, A call is in order for sure, Facts are facts, and should be allowed to be mentioned. Manufacturers are not, and should not be immune to what seems like negative comments, this said, a call is in order to rectify the issue. I'm quite sure we all have had issues in some area with our mills, and communication with the right people has always been the right course to straightening out the bends.

Thank you for putting things that way. It would be a better world if more people had that view of life.
OD

isawlogs · October 15, 2015, 11:59:09 AM

Wood mizer has been aware or know that the pressed fitings are a pain as I had made a complaint about them in 1994. My '93 mill had and has many yet on it. I had two pop out not a year after getting the mill, every now and then they need heat to accept grease to flow in them.
So 22 years later they still have pressed fittings. :

:-\

isawlogs · October 15, 2015, 12:19:37 PM

Wood mizer has been aware or know that the pressed fitings are a pain as I had made a complaint about them in 1994. My '93 mill had and has many yet on it. I had two pop out not a year after getting the mill, every now and then they need heat to accept grease to flow in them.
So 22 years later they still have pressed fittings. :

:-\

Kingmt · October 15, 2015, 05:04:36 PM

Maybe they bought a bunch & are trying to use them up before the switch. ;)

beenthere · October 15, 2015, 06:41:14 PM

Tapping holes for zerks would be costly... and maybe prohibitive.
Keep a handful of spares on hand to pound/press back in..

bates · October 19, 2015, 03:56:52 PM

The log loading arm that wouldn't take grease... I was greasing this with the log loader in the "stow and go" position. I sat the arms down on the ground (thinking I might pull the pin out), then decided to try the grease gun again. It took grease with the arms down 8), so I gave it 3 full shots.

Bandmill Bandit · October 19, 2015, 04:35:14 PM

Quote from: beenthere on October 15, 2015, 06:41:14 PM
Tapping holes for zerks would be costly... and maybe prohibitive.
Keep a handful of spares on hand to pound/press back in..

When ever one pops out I tap and replace with the threaded zerk.

I have a tool I use along with a bottom tap. Not sure if there are many pressed in fittings left on my mill. Will take a pic and post it here. I had posted it once before but cant find the photos now.

Found it!

starmac · October 19, 2015, 09:56:43 PM

That is a valve stem tool, I keep one in my pocket at all times, I removed the easy out and tap though to keep it from poking a hole in my leg. lol

Bandmill Bandit · October 19, 2015, 10:30:40 PM

I have a smaller (half the size) slightly different one for valve stems. Never seen a valve stem yet that this one will fit. also the 7/16 hex driver on the left is to fit zerks with a 45* or 90* head and the other side fits 5/16 straight hex zerks.

You would not want one of these in your pocket. The easy out/tap piece is 3 inches long.

Heres the 2 tools side by side! the difference is obvious. Also I am not sure you can even find one of these anymore. I know SnapOn does not carry them any more.