Greasing Equipment

We grease once a month at the same time we dig out our trenches. Harbour Freight has a rechargable battery powered grease gun that comes with two batteries for only $60...worth every penny. I have an email reminder on this site setup to email me every month to remind me to grease.

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- "I see you grease monthly. I know some operators that grease weekly. Is there a rule of thumb by car count?\r\n\
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Does anyone have a written maintenance schedule for conveyors they'd like to share? "

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- Sonnys has some prescriptions...the high speed bearings(tire brushes) could use it weekly, the pivotors much less often. I feel good just getting it all done once a month.

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- "I would think once a month would be enough but my machine pop up a reminder every two weeks. When it does, I think to myself: I just did that! But when I look at my date on the calender, its been two weeks. So I've been thinking of going once a month. "

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- We problably over grease, but we have the best results by scheduling every Thursday morning, this makes it a ritual! Our manager initals his "daily plan" sheet that it has been done. We clean excess grease but I would rather do that than change bearings.

MacNeil has the greatest graphic display that mounts on the MCC. It has all the equipment graphically displayed and a comment line as to how often it is to be greased. The Battery grease gun is great.

Jimmy

I have found that the most important part of greasing bearings is not to put too many "pumps" of the grease gun at one time. Too many squirts at a time will push the seal out and enable water to get into the bearing much easier. If you grease frequently enough you should only need about two pumps. You can tell if you waited too long as you will see water come out as you grease. Some bearing seals have very small holes in them and you will see small strings of grease come out once the bearing is full. Also do not forget the to tighten the set screws!

ok, stupid question, with the battery powered grease gun is there any feedback or way to tell how much grease you've inserted, or do you just give it a "two second" pump or something?

only by watching the bearing

We have a battery grease gun as well. We only use 1/2 second (just a squeeze) to grease our equipment. We do not want to blow out the bearings.

Jimmy

Greg, Sonny's Equipment Maintenance CD has a printable schedule of daily, weekly, monthly, etc... maintenance. You can order it on Sonnysdirect.com

I replace all my bearings with stainless steel bearing inserts and nickel plated housings. They cost 4 times as much as a standard bearing but last 10 times longer. I've had four on my tire brush frames and they have gone through two sets of brushes. I greased them like everytime the motor shaft seals go or the brush wears out and our attention is drawn to them. I also install them on the pivot points also. Below bearings have done 250k cars and seen alot of chemicals.

I agree with Gary, the more expensive bearings are worth the money. BUT, there is one little thing we discovered this past week, the grease filler tip was stuck, and no grease was in the bearing. We discovered this problem when the NEW bearing would not take grease, and we pushed on the little ball to un-stick it. Something else to look out for.

Has anybody tried those spring loaded grease fitting, like bearing buddies for a boat trailer. Granger has got several. I seen them only once at a car wash on the tire brushes but I'm afraid they break too easily.

We were taught at the Carwash College to grease rotational once a week and pivital once a month. Now we are greasing the enter/exit wrap pivitalbearings once a week.

We grease every Sunday and Wednesday.
We use aqua grease purchased from Grainger.
I rarely need to replace a bearing - has been at least
6 years since I replaced one.

Grease is cheap insurance, it provides some mechanical learning for your attendants and gives them something to do
when we are slow.

In fact my attendants have approx. 20 maintenance/cleaning items to do weekly. They sign off on each task so I know
who did what and when.

www.crowncarwashinc.com

Joe
President, Crown Car Wash Inc.

Joe,

Could I see yourcheck off list for greasing equipment. We just do it once a week whenever we are slow and do not kee track. I know that we should. Your check sheet sign off sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Jeff

Greg, I thought we went to school together and covered that subject. Per the college. rotational weekly, pivotal monthly. dryers once a year. But as I see here there are many sucessful methods. As Ron says we do ours the same day every week.

Rory

Sure - I will send it to you.

Regards

Joe

Thank you Joe. My email is jeff@autocare-inc.com. Have a great Labor Day weekend!!!! Jeff