How to Grease a Compact Tractor Without the Mess
A compact tractor has a lot of moving joints: the front axle and steering, the three-point hitch, the loader arms and bucket pins, plus whatever attachments you run behind it. Each of those joints has a grease fitting (a zerk) for a reason. Keeping them greased pushes out old grease and dirt and keeps metal from wearing on metal.
The job isn't hard. Most of the frustration comes from the grease gun, not the tractor. Here's a simple routine.
Before you start: check your operator's manual
Your tractor's manual is the authority on three things this article can't answer for your machine:
- Where the fittings are. Most manuals include a lubrication chart or diagram.
- How often to grease them. Intervals are usually given in operating hours and can differ from one fitting to another.
- Which grease to use. Follow the grade or specification the manufacturer lists.
Write down the fitting count from the chart. It's easy to miss one under the loader or behind a wheel.
Step 1: Park safely and clean the fittings
Park on level ground, lower the loader and any implements to the ground, shut off the engine and set the parking brake. Wipe each fitting with a rag before you attach the coupler. Pushing dirt into a joint along with fresh grease defeats the purpose.
Step 2: Attach the coupler squarely
Press the coupler straight onto the fitting so it seats fully. If it's on at an angle, grease will squirt out around the fitting instead of going into the joint.
Step 3: Pump until fresh grease appears
Pump slowly while watching the joint. When you see clean grease starting to push out the old, dark grease at the edges of the joint, that fitting is done. Don't keep pumping after that. More isn't better, and some joints have seals that over-greasing can damage.
Step 4: Detach, wipe and move on
Remove the coupler, wipe away the old grease that was pushed out, and work through your fitting list in the same order every time so nothing gets skipped. If a fitting won't take grease, don't force it. Clean it, try again, and replace the fitting if it's blocked.
Step 5: Do the attachments too
Mowers, brush hogs, box blades and other attachments have their own fittings. They're the ones most often forgotten.
Making the grease gun part easier
Most of the mess in tractor greasing comes from reloading a standard grease gun: unscrewing the barrel, fitting an open tube, then pumping to clear the air before any grease comes out.
AET Systems' Lube-Shuttle guns use a threaded cartridge instead. You take off the cap, push up the plunger, thread the cartridge in and start greasing. AET says there's no need to take the gun apart and no air release needed. For compact tractor owners, AET puts together a Hobby Farm Greasing Kit, which it describes as made for subcompact and compact tractors, mowers, brush hogs and attachments. According to AET's listing, the kit includes:
- a Lube-Shuttle pistol grip grease gun (approximately 300 bar / 4,350 psi pressure capability)
- a 500 mm high-pressure hose
- a 4-jaw hydraulic coupler
- 10 cartridges of Air-Tec G200 multi-purpose grease
AET describes G200 as a multi-use grease with extreme pressure (EP) additives, anti-oxidants and corrosion inhibitors, for ag, construction and general use. Before you switch, check it against the grease specification in your tractor's manual.
You can see the kit and the other tractor greasing products AET sells on its tractor greasing collection.
A quick routine to keep
- Check the manual for fitting locations, intervals and grease type.
- Clean every fitting first.
- Pump until fresh grease shows, then stop.
- Wipe off the purged grease.
- Don't forget the attachments.
Do it the same way every time and greasing becomes a short habit instead of a chore you put off.
By the AET Technical Team, AET Systems, Inc.