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Grease Compatibility

Conrad Hoffman

Conrad Hoffman

Diamond
Joined
May 10, 2009
Location
Canandaigua, NY, USA
Bought some new Koyo bearings and was reading their literature. I knew some greases weren't compatible, but had never seen a chart. Their training manual has one on page 105 here-

http://www.jtekt-na.com/assets/ce/Documents/Koyo Training Manual.pdf

What struck me was how many types aren't compatible, and that the Kluber NCA-15 we know and love (barium based) is compatible with almost nothing. Not normally an issue, since nobody in their right mind would rebuild a spindle without getting it surgically clean before greasing, but still something to note for other applications.
 
You should know that their chart is incomplete. I see at least 2 missing and probably more. My reference stuff is all packed away. Charts can be really bad if you don't know what you're looking at.

BTW, they don't mention Calcium sulfonate and shear stable polyurea. Barium is most likely complex and calcium is most likely stearate, but could be anhydrous. Almost forgot the sodium, are they talking sodium soap or sodium nitrate? Just saying!
JR
 
Conrad Hoffman said:
What struck me was how many types aren't compatible
Click to expand...
This is so very true, and why there are so many industrial and vehicle maintenance failures due to grease turning into porridge. Either use grease you know is compatible with the existing grease (which obviously requires you to know what the existing grease is), or remove all the existing grease before relubricating. Bubbas that buy J.Random Hot-Shot grease for their wheel bearings, or companies that "standardize" on a limited number of lubricants without paying attention to what's already in their machines have better-than-even odds of destroying perfectly good bearings.
 
I usually just call the grease manufacturer. Shell and Kluber, and I assume most others, have tribologists on phone support.
 
I remember in 1995(I looked it up) Folsom dam in California had one of the main overflow gates fail because they switched grease to a new improved type. It washed out and the bearing hub rusted. more force didn't move the bearing it bent the gate so it could not close. they lost something like 40% of the lake, over a month or so, before they could make repairs. I have no idea why they were testing the gates in the middle of summer, months before they might be moved.
Of course this was in summer when it does not rain in California.
Bil lD.
 
DanielG said:
I usually just call the grease manufacturer. Shell and Kluber, and I assume most others, have tribologists on phone support.
Click to expand...

That's great if you know what was put in before. It's like a lot of the BP owners, they think the grease in the head is "white lithium" when it's really calcium (Lubriplate 100 series).

Do you really think that they'd have a tribologist on phone support?
JR
 
The issue doesn't seem to be talked about much, thus my post. My view of a Zerk fitting is completely changed- now it's a casino game. You pull the (grease gun) lever and hope you win. Like casino games, the odds aren't in your favor. Complete cleaning and the keeping of records will now be the rule for anything important. Fortunately I own very few things, other than sealed spindles, that get greased.
 
Conrad Hoffman said:
The issue doesn't seem to be talked about much, thus my post. My view of a Zerk fitting is completely changed- now it's a casino game. You pull the (grease gun) lever and hope you win. Like casino games, the odds aren't in your favor. Complete cleaning and the keeping of records will now be the rule for anything important. Fortunately I own very few things, other than sealed spindles, that get greased.
Click to expand...

I've found, in the Ag/Turf industry at least, most new equipment is outfitted with cheap Lithium grease. I've come across some Lithium 12-Hydroxy greases that are compatable and far superior to the standard Lithium. When I rebuild a machine or component I replace the original grease with a #2 Barium type grease for high RPM applications. For pivot points I've used a #2.5 Clay based grease that was almost like bubble gum, less likely to wash out.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Conrad Hoffman said:
The issue doesn't seem to be talked about much, thus my post.
Click to expand...

You havent' read many of my older posts. I used to talk about it, but nobody wants to listen. I even left another BB because of all the name calling I took over telling somebody not to mix something.

How about all of the idiots that get on this board and talk about using bar oil for their ways and tractor oil for their gearbox? How about all of the guys that say: "I've been using this for 40 years without a problem"??

I've got more books and documentation on this subject from the schools I've been to that some guys have read. I seem more guys that know how to Google up a viscosity chart and that's it. they don't have an idea of what they're talking about.

Rant over!
JR
 
JRIowa said:
You havent' read many of my older posts. I used to talk about it, but nobody wants to listen. I even left another BB because of all the name calling I took over telling somebody not to mix something.

How about all of the idiots that get on this board and talk about using bar oil for their ways and tractor oil for their gearbox? How about all of the guys that say: "I've been using this for 40 years without a problem"??
Click to expand...
Naw...we need to fix dishworshers, Fence screws, and figure out if
the kitchen stove is indeed set for L.P......:stirthepot:
 
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