What grease for combine bearings?

In combine harvesters, which are key agricultural machines, bearings are exposed to extreme conditions such as dust, high pressures, moisture and temperature changes. Proper lubrication of these key components is essential to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the machine. In this article, we will look at how choosing the right lubricants can help protect bearings from harsh operating conditions.

The combine harvester in its basic design has many places where different types of bearings are used. Here are a few of the main ones:

1. The header is an assembly whose task is to cut, and the bearings are in the elements driving the cutting knives and in the shafts transmitting motion in the screw feeder.
2. Threshing drum - a key element separating the grain and bearings are an element of the threshing drum.
3. Inclined feeder, where bearings support the shafts and rollers that transport the grain from the header to the threshing drum.
4. The straw walker shafts, which move the material to separate grain from straw, use bearings for smooth movement.
5. Cleaning systems, e.g. fans or sieve vibration mechanisms.
6. A set of conveyors and augers for transporting grain.
7. Bearings in the wheel hubs that enable smooth movement of the combine harvester across the field.
8. The system spreading straw and chaff in the so-called rotors, bearings are crucial for the moving parts.

All the above-mentioned components and therefore the bearings contained in them are exposed to:

Dust and dirt

High dust levels in the fields can lead to particles entering the bearings, which significantly shortens their service life by increasing friction and wear. To prevent this phenomenon, it is crucial to use synthetic greases with high adhesiveness and greases containing EP (Extreme Pressure) additives, which create a protective layer on metal surfaces. Synthetic grease with anti-wear additives, which maintains its consistency even in the presence of dust particles, prevents to the greatest extent the dust and dirt to which every grease is exposed in such conditions.

Big pressure

Bearings in combines are often subjected to high loads, especially during harvesting. Lubrication with those greases that can withstand high loads is therefore essential. Typical greases that can withstand high pressures are greases containing heavy metal sulphides or other chemical compounds (molybdenum disulphide, Teflon, tungsten, graphite, graphene, etc.) that can withstand high forces acting on the bearings.

Moisture and corrosion

Humid conditions, especially during rainy season or in wet fields, or dew in the case of morning cutting, can lead to bearing corrosion. Water-resistant greases that do not lose their lubricating properties even in contact with water are essential for protecting bearings from corrosion. Calcium, silicone, PAO and lithium or lithium-calcinate complex greases and polyurea-based greases provide excellent corrosion protection and are resistant to water washout. Synthetic greases that are water-resistant provide protection in harsh environments where the presence of water can lead to corrosion and accelerated wear of machine components.

Temperature

Combine harvesters operating for long hours in full sun can reach very high temperatures, which puts additional strain on bearings. Greases that can withstand extreme temperatures are essential to maintaining optimum bearing performance. The best greases to withstand temperature amplitudes are those with a high viscosity index and thermal stability that maintains its properties even at higher temperatures.

Selecting the right grease is crucial to maintaining the performance and longevity of combine bearings.

Using high-quality lubricants that are designed to handle harsh conditions such as dust, high pressures, moisture and high temperatures can significantly reduce downtime and maintenance costs. Investing in better lubricants is an investment in longer life and greater reliability for your combine.

This approach will not only save money, but also increase the efficiency of harvesting, which is crucial in agriculture. It is also worth carrying out regular inspections and checking the condition of bearings and grease to ensure that the machine is always ready to work in the best possible conditions.

The ABS Serwis company, which has been a supplier of agricultural lubricants for many years, offers several products in its store https://sklepsmary.pl/ that meet all the requirements for combine bearing grease in both the cheaper mineral version and the professional synthetic version. The seller with many years of experience also offers the possibility of selecting such grease as part of the questions asked in the store.