Is grease good all the time?

[JimboJones21]

Just a question about grease. I have a rotary table with bronse bearings and they say in the instructions not to use grease.

I thought grease was good all the time?

Also we have been greaseing belts on our machines to bring the noise down. Does greasing a belt make sense?

I'm trying to understand why this company has these ideas.

Thanks

 

[dimjim]

Grease will deteriorate the belts.
I assume they are made of rubber.

 

[satchmo]

Grease is not "always" the answer. If you have a sintered bronze bearing, grease is not good. As a general rule, only lubricate a plain bearing that has a groove.

What kind of belt are you greasing?

 

[prohammy]

JimboJones21,

You say you have a bronze bearing... do you mean a phosphor bronze bush/oilite bush (see the page

http://www.ondrives.com/products.as...ry=Bronze+Oilite+Bushings+-+Oil+Impregnated).

If you do, then you never need to grease them, they are self lubricating.



Kevin Hammond

Mechanical Design Engineer
Derbyshire, UK

 

[FACS]

Grease also collects dirt; it's possible that greasing oil impregnated bearings, the dirt can clog the pores thus reducing the natural lubricating qualities if the bearing.

Charlie

http://www.facsco.com

 

[NickE]

And just remember Johnny who thought grease was always good and so he used it on the fittings of an O2 line.... And never was heard from again.

(Seen on the wall at a weld shop w/ a cartoon.)

 

[patdaly]

Most greases also have EP additives, which can attack the Bronze under extreme pressure conditions.

 

[JimboJones21]

Thanks for the respose!

We put synthetic grease with teflon on the belts.

When I started working here this idea sounded strange because you don't put grease on car engine belts! I won't be able to change this idea even if it's wrong, but I'd like to know.

 

[evelrod]

Before changing to Gilmer type belts on some of the drive systems at US Borax, the maintenance crew would regularly grease or sometimes shoot WD40 on the belts of multiple 'V' drives (high hp applications) to stop the squealing. How it affected the life span of the belts, ??? It did make for a quiet work area. I still use either a commercial belt dressing compound on v belts or, as on my old Model A, I keep a bar of soap handy for those noisy occasions. Soap still works the best.

Rod

 

[JimboJones21]

Our aplication is much samller scale, they are size you would see in a VCR for instance. The belts are toothed so there shouldn't be any slipping.

Soap, never would have thought of that one!

Thanks for the responses.

 

[automatic2]

many of the greases in the old days where soap based. The problem was the soaps caked and prevented lubricant from getting to where it was needed.

 

[unclesyd]

Grease is still based on different types of soaps, Sodium, Calcium, Lithium, and others based on the desired properties.

Ivory Soap is the best for belt lubrication.

 

[electricpete]

I agree with those who have said that greasing belts is not a good idea. It may give short-term relief but will result in long-term degradation.

=====================================
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[ornerynorsk]

What is the problem for the belt squealing in the first place? Fix the problem, not the symptom!

 

[MechanicalChef]

^^ +1

In my experience, squeaky belts = slipping belts. *cringe* A slipping belt doesn't need lube.

 

[GregLocock]

I've had a belt that squeaked due to static build up. It would stop squealing if you sprayed it with almost anything.

Then we changed the filler in the plastic pulley to a conductive one and the problem went away.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[PatBethea]

Greg,

How did you figure that out? I've never heard of that.

 

[Compositepro]

It is more likely the filler changed the frictional properties of the pulley rather than static causing the squealing.

 

[GregLocock]

We could see the sparks in the dark.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[evelrod]

Awww, yes! The technical explanation. ;-)

Rod