herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 476
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Post by herb on Mar 6, 2017 17:27:54 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
I've had an HP 18" slab saw for almost 5 years, and I just realized the other day that I have never re-greased the pillow block bearings! So I bought myself a grease gun and some grease at Lowes. The grease is labeled "X-tra Heavy duty grease" and says it can be used for heavy trucks, farm equipment, and construction equipment. It says it is NLGI #2 Polyurea grease. Is this OK to use?
I've never greased a bearing before! I just pumped the gun until I saw the old grease starting to get forced out of the sides of the bearing. Is that all there is to it? Or should I pump some more to force out more of the old grease? Also, how often should one re-grease the bearings on a slab saw?
Thanks for your wisdom!
-Herb
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Post by spiceman on Mar 6, 2017 21:24:28 GMT -5
If the bearings are sealed you can't add more grease. Just leave them go. Only if they are sealed.
If not sealed you can repack with a good grease.
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minerken
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466 
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Post by minerken on Mar 6, 2017 23:13:18 GMT -5
if there is a grease zerk which I expect there must have been or you couldn't have used a grease gun they aren't sealed but as Az said you don't need to see it coming out just a couple pumps every so often should do. I wouldn't worry too much about the seal on the one's you did too much just try not to do it any more.
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Mar 6, 2017 23:27:47 GMT -5
Make sure you rotate the blade by hand as you pump grease into the zerk. You do not need to pump it full until you see greese squirting out. Bearings on an 18" hp saw have a plug in them that can be removed with an allen head wrench, screw in a grease zerk, fill, and them put the plugs back. They only need to be lightly tight. I grease mine every 3-4 seasons, but I cut more than most people.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 476
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Post by herb on Mar 7, 2017 10:46:37 GMT -5
Yes, the bearings have zerks, hence the grease gun. I didn't know how much to fill them, and since I've had the saw 5 years without greasing them, and I didn't know how long ago (if ever) the previous owner greased the bearings, I wanted to make sure there was enough in them. It wasn't like big gobs of grease were pouring out the sides of the bearings! I stopped when I saw the first hint of grease coming out.
My HP only has the zerks, there are no plugs to remove to install the zerks. I should probably find a plastic cap or something to cover the zerks so crud does not get into them.
I've cut a few slabs since re-greasing and nothing blew up so I guess I'm OK :-)
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Mar 7, 2017 11:52:15 GMT -5
The plugs are only on the square rail 18" HP, with internal bearings. You cannot put the cover back on if you have the grease zerks in place.
External bearings are on the round rail saws, and just turn the blade or belt as you fill the grease zerks, they do sell plastic caps to cover the zerks.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 7, 2017 13:36:36 GMT -5
You can buy plastic caps to cover zerks but dirt won't get in unless you add grease without wiping the zerk clean first. The pump creates a lot of pressure to force grease through the zerk. When I serviced kitchen exhaust fans that ran 24/7 we greased every 6 months a squirt or two. Unless you are running a production shop cutting full time you likely can get by greasing annually.
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