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Grease Points – The Spots Everyone Forgets

By Sammuel MacMullin | Proven Mining Solutions Inc.


🛢️ Grease Points – The Spots Everyone Forgets

Grease is cheap. Failures from lack of grease are not. Yet time and again, equipment rolls into the shop with seized pins, noisy bearings, or cracked housings — all because a grease point got overlooked.

A proper greasing routine is one of the simplest, lowest-cost maintenance habits that pays back tenfold in uptime and reduced repair bills.


⚙️ Why Greasing Matters

  • Lubrication. Prevents metal-on-metal wear and heat buildup.

  • Contamination control. Grease pushes out dirt and moisture that eat components from the inside.

  • Longevity. A few minutes of greasing can double or triple the life of pins, bushings, and bearings.

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🔎 The Grease Points Most Often Missed

1. Center Pins

The articulation joint on loaders and graders is a big-ticket item. Missing it even once speeds up wear dramatically.


2. Steer Cylinders & Linkages

Ends of steering cylinders are often hidden and missed. If it pivots, it needs grease.


3. Boom Base & Stick Pins

Operators usually hit the bucket, but the upper pins often get ignored. Those upper joints see more load than most think.


4. Swing Bearings

A dry swing bearing is a very expensive repair. Always rotate the house while greasing to distribute evenly.


5. U-Joints & Driveshafts

Caked in mud and hidden under guards, they’re easy to forget until they let go on the job.


6. Attachment Couplers

Quick couplers and auxiliary tool connections need grease to stay reliable — especially in muddy or frozen conditions.

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📏 Preventative Practices

  • Use the right grease for the application — not all greases are equal.

  • Wipe fittings before and after to keep dirt out of the joint.

  • Grease until fresh product pushes contaminants out.

  • Rotate, tilt, or lift components during greasing to ensure full distribution.


❌ Common Mistakes

  • Skipping “hard-to-reach” fittings. Out of sight = out of mind = expensive repairs.

  • Over-greasing seals. Pumping until seals blow out does more harm than good.

  • Mixing grease types. Not all grease plays well together; mixing can reduce effectiveness.

  • Relying on auto-greasers alone. They’re great tools, but they still need inspection and manual backup.

  • No routine. Random greasing = random failures.


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🧠 Pro Tips from the Field

  • Keep a flashlight handy — most “forgotten” fittings are hidden.

  • Grease on a warm machine; product flows and distributes better.

  • Mark grease points on new-to-you machines until it becomes habit.

  • Always carry a manual gun in your service truck for emergencies when auto-greasers fail.

  • Refer back to OEM maintenance manuals. Every manufacturer provides detailed greasing charts showing every point and the required frequency. Following OEM guidance is always the most accurate way to know where and when to grease.


🔧 Proven Mining Has You Covered

Whether it’s setting up greasing routines, troubleshooting auto-greasers, or servicing seized pins, Proven Mining Solutions keeps your equipment moving smoothly. We’ll get your fleet greased, protected, and reliable.

📞 587-723-8777

 
 
 

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