Angle Grinder Grease

[Tomfromuk]

Hi,

I was poking around in the garage abit today, (just collected my 1st rent free bottle from an SGS outlet) and found that my angle grinder wasn't sounding its best. I was curious as to what went on inside so took the gearbox apart, only to find the gears where bone dry. All the grease was packed in around the gears but not actually on them. I scraped some of the grease out and put it on the gears but I wondered if perhaps the grease needed topping up/changing.

Is there a certain type of grease I need? Or am I alright just using whats already inside the gearbox.

I appreciate that new angle grinders wont last a lifetime, but I've had this one for 6 or 7 years and would like it to keep going for a few more.

Thanks

 

[brightspark]

heres some. don't over pack it. it serves no purpose and still flings off http://www.mtmc.co.uk/Dewalt-870889-02-Gear-Box--Bearing-Grease__p-66911.aspx

 

[Bill Edwards]

I'm never very keen on the kind of grease usually found in these things. I don't know if it's dried out over time but I too also seem to find it's mostly around the gears not on them. I'd be tempted to use a regular grease inside that's more runny.

 

[pedrobedro]

I used the same LM grease I use on car wheel bearings.

 

[Paul.]

I used the same LM grease I use on car wheel bearings

Me too, the way I work my grinders its usually something else that fails before the gears,

 

[sardine]

I have repaired quite a few grinders, and from what I've seen the grease is flung off the gears, and never touches them ever again. If the gearboxes were sealed I suppose you could use an oil, but they aren't, it would leak back into the motor.

 

[doubleboost]

I use CV joint grease in mine

 

[brightspark]

using 2 thicker grease slows the motor down and makes it work harder. your not doing it any favours . use the proper stuff recommended

 

[gaz1]

ive tried 2 greases axle grease and copper grease for my grinders the copper grease is a no way the axle grease isnt much better as i found comes out of the spindle area

however i do grease them up well probably a little too much

 

[pedrobedro]

ive tried 2 greases axle grease and copper grease for my grinders the copper grease is a no way the axle grease isn't much better as i found comes out of the spindle area

however i do grease them up well probably a little too much

Copper grease is not a lubricant it is anti seize for bolts and nuts. LM turns to a liquid under high temperature and will get through gaps if you overdo it.

 

[Tomfromuk]

Wow! That's alot of replies, thanks guys. I'll order some of that Dewalt grease I think.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I use high melting bearing grease.
But one of my grinders was repaired under warrantee and in the box was a small tube of Teflon grease. Not used it yet.
Out of curiosity I opened that one and the gears are very well packed. One other I had re packed in HM bearing grease is still looking good.

But what scared me, was in side a brand new one, not used. Opened up the gear box and there was next to nothing in the way of grease. It has now.

 

[brightspark]

I used to repair and hire out power tools the 900 kango hammers wouldn't work properly when they were cold and when hot they wouldn't work at all as the grease melted .just use the proper stuff unless u know something more than the manafacturers

 

[WorkshopChris]

The factory grease normally has a blend of relatively low melting point lubricants, the theory being no matter what grease you use the centrifugal forces will soon throw it clear of the gears.
So you need something that will re melt at low working temp in use to coat the lowest point when the tool is warm after work. When re started next this will again be thrown off, coating enough of the gears each time to provide lubrication.

 

[MattF]

There's also the fact that grease does dry out over time. Personally, I pack gearboxes with whatever lithium type grease I have to hand. Enough in there so that there's a good amount in, but not packed solid.

 

[anjum]

Another vote for the moly or CV grease.

 

[MCKDAVID]

just use lithium grease too, not too much, but then again I clean mine fairly regularly, not through choice, but the Skil grinders (I have 6) switches are a really poor design, and stick fairly regularly so have them apart often enough to free the sticking switches.

shame the switches are cack, the skil grinders are light, confortable and powerful... hence why I still keep them.

 

[sardine]

It doesn't matter what you use, if its not actually on the gears for more than one second after you grease it.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, I use CV grease as others do. However the speed the gears run at will tend to throw the grease off, so would a motorbike chain grease stay on longer? Not being a biker I don't have experience of it.

Colin

 

[roofman]

General grease in mine and when i buy a new grinder (very rare..lol) i strip and re-pack the gearbox before i run it.