Help Me Understand Tractor Grease

We want to help you understand everything you need to know about greasing your tractor.

Tractors have many bearings, metal-on-metal joints, and oscillation points.

They are operated in varied temperatures. Plus, they are operated in dusty, dirty, and wet conditions. This means tractors require lubricants to help prevent premature corrosion, wear, and failure.

Grease is an inexpensive and common method of lubrication.

What exactly is grease? Grease is a heavy oil with an added thickener (such as soap). Soap and other additives make the oil thicker, enabling it to stick and stay in place.

In this short article, we will discuss everything you need to know about tractor grease and routine lubrication.

Grading

Grease is rated and graded by the National Lubrication Grease Institute (NLGI).

Their work is validated by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.

The consistency of grease is determined by placing a penetrometer (funnel) on a smooth cup of grease at 77F, and then measuring the penetration in 1/10mm after five seconds. The greater the penetration, or the softer the grease --- the lesser, the harder, the grease, with corresponding lower and higher NLGI numbering.

The National Lubrication Grease Institute gives tractor grease nine grades. Those grades are 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. 000 is a high penetration formulation, for use in centralized systems, used in colder temperatures. 6 is a low penetration formula, used in more heat-stressed conditions.

Most tractor greases fall into the middle 1, 2, and 3 grades. Grade 2 is the most common.

Testing

American Society for Testing and Materials use specific test standards.

Here they are:

· Water washout: Resistance of the grease to water washout.

· Timken OK load: Performance measurement of pressure additives.