Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Have never owned one. Will pick one up to suumerize the ariens.  I know ariens recommends stens hi temp grease.

Assume i will go to an auto parts store or HD to pick one up. Any suggestions or are they all about the same.

Is stens the grease to but or is any hi temp grease ok?

Thanx

Stens is the grease Snowmann recommended. That is what I would use.

Otherwise I would use a quality boat trailer wheel bearing grease. Non-synthetic.

Lubriplate makes one that I use that works well for me. I don't own an Ariens, if I did, I would follow the advise of Snowmann.

Lincold makes some good guns. Any of them will work but some are just nicer than others. The cheap ones have more trouble with the plungers and rods getting hung up or caught and can be troublesome to operate.  Check out Lincolns at Sears, they have pressure release valve that's nice to have. I also prefer to opt for a flexible extension. You can chose lever action or pistol grip, both have advantages.

If you want to go cheap, pick up a small on at Wal Mart that comes with grease.

Sears Grease Guns

robmints wrote:

just wondering why you say not to use synthetic ?? thanks

ok bought a gun and summerized the  Ariens.
  Grease:
went to 7 stores for  the "stens" grease.  The 3 smaller tubes were  on back order from stens.    Got the single large tube.


Everything says do not mix grease.  But until u know what is in there there is no way to know if u r or r not mixing it,



Grease gun:

got the small gem PROFESSIONAL ....... ..that was 14$.  the  non professional was $8. (at AUTOZONE)  I am sure that the Non propfessional would have been just fine.


the professional had extra extensions.  none were needed as all the zerks  and other points were easily reached.

(now that i know the stens is  lithuium based one of the 8-10 guns w/  a tube of grease probably would have been more than enuf._

Non zerks:

Lastly the ariens diagram shows a zerk on the axle.  Never saw that. took of both wheels and grease the axles.

I have two different types of greese guns. One is a 20 dollar light duty without a flex hose greese gun, the other is a 40 dollar heavy duty large greese gun with flex hose. I am currently using the smaller one and I like using lithuium greese to greese small engine equipment.

Hi Guys !

Love the newer style grease guns with the push button style bleeders instead of the screw type.

Prefer the small type grease guns for OPE with the rigid tube so I only have to use one hand.

Mints- Why not the synthetic?

Marc

Marc,
I'm as confused as the next guy. OK, more confused.
Here's my take. Don't mix any grease unless you are sure the base stocks are compatable.
Where's Blue99 when you need him?

Many motor oils seem to be compatable.

Many greases seem to have issues reguarding mixing weights. And different types can be plain old incompatable. What this may have to do with synthetic? Don't know.

Sorry, I'm a wealth of information, as usual.

The grease compatabilty charts I have seen are pretty clear, but most of the types I have never heard of. If I wanted to mix, I think I would check with the manufacturers to be double sure.

http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/10590-0-1.html

Here's a link. If you want to be confused.

You brought up a good point Rob,

I have referenced a few charts in the past only to notice today that all charts are not created equal.

I have used the one from Bobisoilguy and the one in your post before, and today I found this one, then I notice that they all have different compatability ratings for some of the same combinations. Now I don't know who to believe.

GRANTED the differences are found in the less used grease types, but I thought it interesting that there was not a "Universally True" agreement on compatability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grease Compatibility Chart

B = Borderline    C = Compatible     I = Incompatible

Al C o m p l e x

Ba C o m p l e x

Ca S t e a r a t e

Ca 12 H y d r o x y

Ca C o m p l e x

Ca S u l f o n a t e

C l a y N o n s o a p

Li S t e a r a t e

Li 12 H y d r o x y

Li C o m p l e x

P o l y u r e a

P o l y u r e a S S

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1. Aluminum Complex

X

I

I

C

I

B

I

I

I

C

I

C

2.  Barium Complex

I

X

I

C

I

C

I

I

I

I

I

B

3.  Calcium Stearate

I

I

X

C

I

C

C

C

B

C

I

C

4.  Calcium 12 Hydroxy

C

C

C

X

B

B

C

C

C

C

I

C

5.  Calcium Complex

I

I

I

B

X

I

I

I

I

C

C

C

6.  Calcium Sulfonate

B

C

C

B

I

X

I

B

B

C

I

C

7.  Clay Non-soap

I

I

C

C

I

I

X

I

I

I

I

B

8.  Lithium Stearate

I

I

C

C

I

B

I

X

C

C

I

C

9.  Lithium 12 Hydroxy

I

I

B

C

I

B

I

C

X

C

I

C

10. Lithium Complex

C

I

C

C

C

C

I

C

C

X

I

C

11. Polyurea Conventional

I

I

I

I

C

I

I

I

I

I

X

C

12. Polyurea Shear Stable

C

B

C

C

C

C

B

C

C

C

C

X

OK, so suppose you were a fanatic with time on your hands and had completely stripped the drive system and auger drive of an old Ariens and solvent brushed all the parts so that there was no lubricant of any kind remaining? [this can happen]

I have to lube the rakes; the chain sprockets; and all the other bushings and moving parts. Can I just use a good automotive Lithium grease, or should I use something else? I have plenty of Lubriplate 130A.

What about for the auger gearbox. It's a 1970 model with a cast iron gearbox, it's not clear if I should use an Ariens lubricant or can use an industrial product.