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

Hello all.

Just having purchased a new snow blower and being not all that mechanically inclined (not alot of grease in the garage) I was wondering where to apply, what types and what brand names of greases and lubricants that I should use before I put the machine into service to ensure proper operation and longevity.  I have a Simplicity 1428E (from dealer and "set up" by him) and was hoping to be able to pick the materials up at a local store so please try to keep the products as common as possible.  Any other tips regarding a pre-start check list would be appreciated.  Do not be afraid to go slow and dull it down for me as you will not be insulting.  Thanks for your comments.

Cannuck

Do you have a Canadian Tire nearby ?  Here's a grease that's pretty nice  :

 Product data sheet from Shell :

   http://www-static.shell.com/static/ca-en/downloads/shell_for_businesses/oils_lubricants/1-17.pdf

For chains and cables I just use 3-in-1 oil.  For cables if you want to get oil everywhere inside
tape a sandwich bag to one end, fill it with oil, and wait for it to run out the other end.  Moving the
cable back and forth in the sheath will speed things up and move the oil around more.

For spraying grease the white lithium grease in a spray can is good.

Paul

I have been using this stuff. Its a marine grease with anti-seize added. As the product's name implies its very tacky.

Borat provided some good grease options in the thread he started recently: http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/32634-0-1.html

What about lubing the wheels?  A couple of posts recommended anti-seize, but somehow the stuff I used to use on my car's spark plugs (way back when) doesn't seem right.  Is there something special?  Or just the same grease out of the grease gun that I'd us on zerk fittings?

  Use white lithium grease on the wheel shafts.  You can get white lithium in small-ish tubes that make it easier to deal with when you're not using a great deal of it.

I.M.Mike

When I prepped my new machine, using a regular size tube of grease, I bought a
cheap set of long artist brushes to scoop out the grease and paint it onto bolts and
shafts and such.  Made getting it into the wheel hubs an easy matter.  For the
wheels I applied grease both to the axle and in the hub.  Install the wheel then
clean up the mess.  I went through several rolls of paper towels...

Paul

 The 'industry standard' for this task is acid brushes.  They're intended to be disposable, but they're also made to brush on plumber's acid flux, which is the consistency of vaseline, so they're stiff enough to push grease around.  Those artist's brushes probably work just fine, but I thought I'd put in my two cents.

I.M.Mike

When you select grease for a snow blower, you need to look for the following three properties:

1) High "water (snow / slush) washout" resistance;
2) High "corrosion" resistance (including salty environment); and
3) High "wheel bearing" protection.

Most grease manufacturer will provide you with vague statements (if any) about the three properties listed above.

However, TIMKEN produces a complete line of different greases that are suitable for many applications, with each one having its own specific properties (see document in the link bellow).

The grease to be used for snow blowers is the TIMKEN BLUE for "Ball Bearing Pillow Block". This grease meets the requirement listed above.

www.timken.com/en-us/products/lubrication/Documents/Grease_082504reference.pdf

Wouldn't a good snowmobile or marine grease pretty much get the job done?  Been working for me for many, many years.  Never had a lube/corrosion problem yet providing I put the grease to it soon enough.

+1

I use the same Amsoil grease I use on the sleds.

borat wrote:

Which grease would be better? The Timken Blue, or the Amsoil Water Resistant?