When do you need an EP rated grease?

[Fred Werring]

Or is there a reason you would not want an EP grease?

Tractor Supply carries a 00 Cotton picker Spindle Grease.
Says in the description "It is widely used in gearboxes on bush hog type cutters and some gear cases on riding lawn mowers."
But it is not EP rated. I emailed the company, they told me it wasn't.

So if you wouldn't need an EP grease in a bush hog gearbox, where would you need it?

I realize most gearboxes when new start off with gear oil, but even there...... " Features a heavy-duty extreme pressure formulation to ensure the durability of your vehicle's parts and gears". That's from a Walmart Super Tech gear oil description.

So again, where do you want that EP rating. Is there a situation where you wouldn't want it?

 

[farmersamm]

Or is there a reason you would not want an EP grease?

Tractor Supply carries a 00 Cotton picker Spindle Grease.
Says in the description "It is widely used in gearboxes on bush hog type cutters and some gear cases on riding lawn mowers."
But it is not EP rated. I emailed the company, they told me it wasn't.

So if you wouldn't need an EP grease in a bush hog gearbox, where would you need it?

I realize most gearboxes when new start off with gear oil, but even there...... " Features a heavy-duty extreme pressure formulation to ensure the durability of your vehicle's parts and gears". That's from a Walmart Super Tech gear oil description.

So again, where do you want that EP rating. Is there a situation where you wouldn't want it?

Just for the sake of conversation....................

EP additives are not yellow metal friendly, which is the reason they're not recommended for manual transmissions with bronze synchronizers.

To carry the concept to the extreme...............It's arguable that EP grease would not be suitable for anything utilizing bronze bushings, which is pretty common on a lot of pieces of equipment.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

Same differences as gl-4 vs gl-1 gear oil.

Old stuff gl1 is fine

What’s your intended use? Iirc 00 is close to if not actually pourable? We had some arctic grease for struts on a fertilizer machine in cold weather that was 0 that was still in a tube generally acted like grease

Most things get an off brand flavor of the correct intended product here but we don’t spend much time or money with the bush hog gearbox vs the combine gearcases.

A bush hog is significantly easier to rebuild as well ours have tapered roller bearings no yellow metal to be found

 

[Fred Werring]

Just for the sake of conversation....................

EP additives are not yellow metal friendly, which is the reason they're not recommended for manual transmissions with bronze synchronizers.

To carry the concept to the extreme...............It's arguable that EP grease would not be suitable for anything utilizing bronze bushings, which is pretty common on a lot of pieces of equipment.

Ok

I knew some oils/greases were hard on yellow metals, just didn't make the connection it was the EP additives that caused the problem.

Danke

 

[Fred Werring]

Same differences as gl-4 vs gl-1 gear oil.

Old stuff gl1 is fine

What’s your intended use? Iirc 00 is close to if not actually pourable? We had some arctic grease for struts on a fertilizer machine in cold weather that was 0 that was still in a tube generally acted like grease

Most things get an off brand flavor of the correct intended product here but we don’t spend much time or money with the bush hog gearbox vs the combine gearcases.

A bush hog is significantly easier to rebuild as well ours have tapered roller bearings no yellow metal to be found

No specific application in mind, just curious

 

[Butch(OH)]

When a brush cutter gear box looses the bottom seal many people put grease in them Instead of fixing the problem. Is it as good as what supposed to be in them? No but it's lots better than nothing. EP rated oils are important when there are hypoid gears, which bushhogs do not have.

 

[buickanddeere]

Same differences as gl-4 vs gl-1 gear oil.

Old stuff gl1 is fine

What’s your intended use? Iirc 00 is close to if not actually pourable? We had some arctic grease for struts on a fertilizer machine in cold weather that was 0 that was still in a tube generally acted like grease

Most things get an off brand flavor of the correct intended product here but we don’t spend much time or money with the bush hog gearbox vs the combine gearcases.

A bush hog is significantly easier to rebuild as well ours have tapered roller bearings no yellow metal to be found

GL4 and marine lube are yellow metal friendly . It is most of the GL5 that contains sulphur additive to obtain the extreme pressure rating .
In the Model A era . Sometimes a dose of powdered sulphur was added to the GL1 gear oil . To obtain increased wear resistance .

 

[M-MAN]

It's just marketing. You aren't supposed to actually read the label. While TSC does carry some better oils and grease their target group is the guys who just want to see oil or grease on the label along with a lower price. That's why their stock is 10 % of the better stuff and 90% of the cheap stuff.

Personally I use John Deere cornhead grease. EP rated and synthetic. Buy it by the case and not afraid to use it in anything. Yes it costs more but considering it holds up better it's actually cheaper in the long run. It's laughable that some think a bush hog gearbox isn't under extreme pressure. Any gearbox that is pulling a load is.

 

[sotxbill]

It's just marketing. You aren't supposed to actually read the label. While TSC does carry some better oils and grease their target group is the guys who just want to see oil or grease on the label along with a lower price. That's why their stock is 10 % of the better stuff and 90% of the cheap stuff.

Personally I use John Deere cornhead grease. EP rated and synthetic. Buy it by the case and not afraid to use it in anything. Yes it costs more but considering it holds up better it's actually cheaper in the long run. It's laughable that some think a bush hog gearbox isn't under extreme pressure. Any gearbox that is pulling a load is.

Wonder where the johnny deere Refinery and grease plant are located? Is it dyed green?

 

[M-MAN]

Wonder where the johnny deere Refinery and grease plant are located? Is it dyed green?

No idea who makes it to their specifications or where. Yes it's tinted green.

Years ago when I worked on Staubli Jacquard machines they used the same type of grease and it was the same color. Of course it was labeled Staubli. I still have a couple tiny tubes. The parts it was used on were lubricated on assembly and lasted an average of 8 years running 24/7 every week of the year except 2 vacation shutdowns. Good stuff.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I would doubt that there is no EP additive in it since every thing that turns is basically under pressure with the movement on it. Cornheads must have something in the grease I cant imagine them lasting long without it when you see them going like some guys do .I see some using smaller heads like only 6or 8 row so they can transport without removing on the road. We usually if going very far take the head off with our 8 row but have went the mile from shed to field with it on. or field to field like that. Not much difference with the wheels at 18 feet already on it. Somebody put axle spacers in it so the finals ar out an extra 18 inches on each side form the normal position. Kind of like it for the space to get in behind the wheels to work on it. Greasing the final drives is a lot easier too.

 

[buickanddeere]

I would doubt that there is no EP additive in it since every thing that turns is basically under pressure with the movement on it. Cornheads must have something in the grease I cant imagine them lasting long without it when you see them going like some guys do .I see some using smaller heads like only 6or 8 row so they can transport without removing on the road. We usually if going very far take the head off with our 8 row but have went the mile from shed to field with it on. or field to field like that. Not much difference with the wheels at 18 feet already on it. Somebody put axle spacers in it so the finals ar out an extra 18 inches on each side form the normal position. Kind of like it for the space to get in behind the wheels to work on it. Greasing the final drives is a lot easier too.

Some US roads have no shoulder . That combine will take up most of or all off two lanes .
Around here most
Combines with duals can stay on their side of the centre line .

 

[sotxbill]

Or is there a reason you would not want an EP grease?

Tractor Supply carries a 00 Cotton picker Spindle Grease.
Says in the description "It is widely used in gearboxes on bush hog type cutters and some gear cases on riding lawn mowers."
But it is not EP rated. I emailed the company, they told me it wasn't.

So if you wouldn't need an EP grease in a bush hog gearbox, where would you need it?

I realize most gearboxes when new start off with gear oil, but even there...... " Features a heavy-duty extreme pressure formulation to ensure the durability of your vehicle's parts and gears". That's from a Walmart Super Tech gear oil description.

So again, where do you want that EP rating. Is there a situation where you wouldn't want it?

On older disk harrows with the metal to metal spools/clamshell bearings... EP will more than double the life of these bearings... on wobble boxes on sickle cutters, square bailers, anything that has high rev movement under pressure is what its designed for.. All will do better with ep... Where heat is generated from pressure, ep will react and coat the bearings/gears.

however ep can NOT be used on marine and boat trailers where they are submerged. as they will cause immediate damage to the bearings when exposed to water.