Which grease is best for bearings?

Published by Charlie Davidson on

Which grease is best for bearings?

Lithium based greases are very popular as bearing grease due to their water resistance and performance characteristics in both high and low temperatures. Greases comprised of synthetic lubricating fluids perform well in extreme low and high temperature ranges.

How do you choose grease for bearings?

The most common NLGI grade is two and is recommended for most applications. For bearings, speed factor and operating temperature can be used to determine the best consistency or NLGI grade for a given application. It may seem counterintuitive, but higher speed factors require higher consistency greases.

Is oil or grease better for bearings?

Grease works well in bearing applications that operate at moderate speeds where temperatures are not excessively high. Oil performs better under high speed and extreme friction applications. Many grease lubricated bearings can operate for years without the need to repack the bearings.

Is Lithium Grease OK for wheel bearings?

For example, lithium grease can be applied both in chassis and wheel bearing applications of transport vehicles. Traditionally, calcium greases were used for chassis, and sodium-based greases were utilized for wheel bearings.

How much grease does a bearing need?

Using the chart and the formula, the bearing only needs 8 grams of grease every 10,000 hours. If your grease gun delivers around 1.35 grams per stroke, that means the bearing needs 6 strokes every 13 months; you could average it out to a stroke every 8 weeks or so.

Is it OK to put WD40 on skateboard bearings?

It’s important to use a silicone-based lubricant. WD40 or others like it will dry out your bearings and attract dust and dirt. It doesn’t take much, and the excess will just spin out when you replace your shields, pop your bearings back in your wheels and start shredding. Skate safe and enjoy your new-found speed.”

Can I oil my bearings?

Do not add oil to dirty bearings. It may seem like they roll faster initially, but in reality you are only spreading the dirt around, and it will still be there to ruin the high precision rolling surfaces of your bearings. Clean your bearings before re-lubricating them.

Can you lubricate bearings with oil?

Oils are the preferred lubricant in open bearing designs or when low torque or high speeds are the priority during bearing operation. “This is due to the relatively lower viscosities as compared to greases. Oil lubrication allows for more efficient movement of the ball through the lubricant, as compared to greases.”

What kind of grease is best for rolling bearings?

Classification of greases by consistency is in accordance with the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI), ISO 2137. Greases with a metallic soap thickener and a consistency grade of 1, 2 or 3 (soft to stiff) on the NLGI scale are typically used for rolling bearings.

When to use high pressure SKF bearing grease?

When you combine high loads and high pressure, the bearings’ rolling elements take a lot of punishment – this is where high load, extreme pressure SKF bearing grease can deliver excellent mechanical stability. SKF greases also include products that can resist very harsh environments.

What should the ltpl be for roller bearings?

Diagram 2 provides the LTPL values for roller bearings. The LTPL values for ball bearings are approximately 20 °C (35 °F) lower. Within these two limits, the grease fulfils its function reliably and the relubrication interval or grease life is predictable.

How is the mechanical stability of a grease measured?

This property is known as the mechanical stability of the grease and is measured in standardized tests, ASTM D217 and/or ASTM D1831. Greases that soften may leak from the bearing cavity. Those that stiffen may restrict bearing rotation or limit oil bleeding.

Categories: Contributing