I have a large Ford 917 tractor PTO powered flail mover which uses a ring and pinion style reduction gearbox to both make a right angle turn and to reduce speed between the driveshaft and the driven rotor.
Recently while doing maintenance I removed the cover from the gearcase (much like a solid automotive rear axle diff) I drained the gear lube which was in there.
Much to my surprise when I looked in the owner's manual it called for grease as the service fill, not gear oil. Hmmm, it seems to me that in a closed case like that gear oil would do a better job than grease.
I refilled with 85W-140 gear oil. Should I switch over to grease? I am inclined to keep using gear oil as the gears and bearings were in good shape when I inspected them and I saw no signs of it ever having been filled with grease.
John
Recently while doing maintenance I removed the cover from the gearcase (much like a solid automotive rear axle diff) I drained the gear lube which was in there.
Much to my surprise when I looked in the owner's manual it called for grease as the service fill, not gear oil. Hmmm, it seems to me that in a closed case like that gear oil would do a better job than grease.
I refilled with 85W-140 gear oil. Should I switch over to grease? I am inclined to keep using gear oil as the gears and bearings were in good shape when I inspected them and I saw no signs of it ever having been filled with grease.
John