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Best lubrication grease for spindles?

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Glwenzl

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have a IS3200 Ferris 61" deck. Sorry if it's been beat to death but I am wondering what is the best deck spindle grease. I did find in a couple places where guys like Lucas Red n Tacky.

I'm new to a mower that you can grease the deck spindle bearings and I understand there are many types of grease that will do the trick. I'm just looking for the best.

After a little research I'm not sure that I'm 100% sure if Ferris list the best or what might be the easiest to for their customers to obtain.

Parts manual states NLGI GRADE 2, EP-2 grease

Kind of a mobile 1 oil guy so I have been looking at the following in no particular order other than I like my mobile 1 oil;

1. Mobile 1 Synthetic
2. Mobilith Mobilith SHC 220
3. (Not synthetic) mobile XHP222
4. Lucas Red n Tacky
Listed in the mowers part manual
5. Shell ALBIDA LC2
6. Superplex EP-2

TIA
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
ericg said:
We do not have allegance to any one particular brand as long as it meets EP2 specs. For us it is more about proper and timely greasing. More damage can be done by over greasing or lack of grease.
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Absolutely! I have some odd years of experience operating a ultra sonic grease gun caddy on a regular basis. I only thought I knew about lubrication, the US is an eye opener for sure.

Unfortunately Ferris says to lubricate until it comes out of the spindles. I imagine that first startup it gets a little warm? Tomorrow I'm taking a spindle so part to see how it's made.
 
#6 · (Edited)
If you were to ask folks on this forum which grease is best, you will get many different answers. I dont think there will be one unanimous vote for one specific grease. Deck spindles do not get as hot wheel bearings on trailers for example so I feel if a spindle is grease properly and periodicly, there should be no discernible difference in longevity. The other issue is who is setting the preload on the bearings. Too tight and no matter what grease you have, the bearings will not last. This reminds me of the other thread, Kawasaki or Kohler.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
ericg said:
If you were to ask folks on this forum which grease is best, you will get many different answers. I dont think there will be one unanimous vote for one specific grease. Deck spindles do not get as hot wheel bearings on trailers for example so I feel if a spindle is grease properly and periodicly, there should be no discernible difference in longevity. The other issue is who is setting the preload on the bearings. Too tight and no matter what grease you have, the bearings will not last. This reminds me of the other thread, Kawasaki or Kohler.
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Ok thank you, I understand the Ford Chevy thing, we have our own experiences. Synthetic doesn't make any difference? Not just the brand but thought you guys might have seen that one particular grease that performed better then others in the spindle application.

It's been said I'm the personality that if it's worth doing it's worth over doing.
 
#8 ·
But in the case of greasing, overdoing can be hazardous. I just dont think that the load on a spindle bearing warrants synthetic grease. Remember, many spindles today utilize sealed bearings and they last quite a while with zero maintenance. Many sealed bearings in use today are made overseas. I am sure that they are not utilizing synthetic grease.
 
#9 ·
i use the john deere grease on my john deere mower and i use lucas red n tacky on my scag cheetah.

i kindof think synthetic grease is a gimmick. you grease your spindles every 50hrs so it doesn't matter if it's synthetic or not.

i looked at the mobil 1 synthetic grease that is $9 a tube and lucas red n tacky is about $5 a tube. they look exactly the same and have the same texture to them.
 
#12 ·
Glwenzl said:
I did find in a couple places where guys like Lucas Red n Tacky.
I understand there are many types of grease that will do the trick. I'm just looking for the best.
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Personally, I think any red high temp grease will do, syn or dino. I use Valvoline High temp for imports. It's the same grease I used today when doing a bearing replacement on a trailer, it's what I use on all the exmarks and lescos, be it in the high speed blade spindles or the yokes and front casters.

Using a good grease is important. But I think it's the luck of the draw when it comes to the quality of the bearings.....
 
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#14 ·
Glwenzl said:
That's a new one for me, I'll have to look into that.

Just left a small engine shop and all he has used for years is amsoil and has had great luck with that... Seems like I read here where another person like amsoil... Looks like I have a couple more to consider
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Their lubes are being widely used in our area with very good results. Absolute in higher category then amsoil.
 
#15 ·
You people do realize the subject of this learned discussion is mower spindles, right??
They operate in a maelstrom ( ya like that word? ) of dirt, debris, wire, string ,etc. The seals wear out, the bearings wear out from all the crap. No matter what ya do, they're gonna wear out, simple.
Any grease will do. W.T.F.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Well I took the spindles apart day, cleaned out the grease. Ferris uses double row ball bearings top and bottom. Installed two new seals then installed the 'high temp' loctite and torqued the spindle nut (both per ferris specs).

Right or wrong I used the AMSOIL mainly because it's here at s local shop and I've never used their products before. Figured it be a good learning experience.

The one grease that looked good for this application but you don't want to use;

http://pds.exxonmobil.com/USA-English/Aviation/PDS/GLXXENAVIEMMobilgrease_28.aspx
 
#20 ·
weeze said:
yeah NLGI 2 is all that matters. pretty much every grease on the shelf meets that standard so go with whatever grease you like.
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Yeah I just use what is at my dealer if it isn't good enough and burns out a spindle then guess they need to replace one if it happens lol.

But yeah definitely keep up with hours don't let it go under greased or go crazy greasing when it is time over greasing is just as bad and under greasing.
 
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