This has likely been discussed before, but what do folks use to grease the gears in their angle grinders? It's the nature of grinders that any grease applied to the teeth gets flung off, which makes me wonder if there's a stickier option.
Grease for angle grinder gearbox
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rlitman
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The gearbox gets hot enough to melt the grease and sling it around.
Farmall450
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I'd probably use any high speed/temp grease you've got laying around.
https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...LHH3dSb3vu_18ExwG-QHdHbCCZJLuLahoCeKoQAvD_BwE
Looks like a good option for the money.
https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...LHH3dSb3vu_18ExwG-QHdHbCCZJLuLahoCeKoQAvD_BwE
Looks like a good option for the money.
Wamsutta
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I took the grease out of mine. The grease was blocking the air flow from the fan. Now it runs cooler and I can actually touch the gear case without getting burned.
neophyte
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Most power tools use a non-soaping grease with Molybdenum disulfide(MoS2) as an additive.
The exact type of grease will vary.
Most major power tool manufacturers use one type of grease for most of their tools, with specialty greases for certain special applications.
Fein, Dewalt, and Flex all have at least one specialty grease they use in dozens of tool models, with specialty greases reserved for specialty tools.
I think the Fein grease was actually affordable, but that might be do to the quantity you got.
The Dewalt and Flex greases were $$$$.
The exact type of grease will vary.
Most major power tool manufacturers use one type of grease for most of their tools, with specialty greases for certain special applications.
Fein, Dewalt, and Flex all have at least one specialty grease they use in dozens of tool models, with specialty greases reserved for specialty tools.
I think the Fein grease was actually affordable, but that might be do to the quantity you got.
The Dewalt and Flex greases were $$$$.
rlitman
Well-known member
The grease helps carry heat from the gears. Of course, too much grease also can cause heating.
The specialty greases will be for parts that slide. That would be worm gears or hypoid gears (some angle grinders use hypoid designs). Regular bevel gears don't need anything special.
Rabid Badger
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This doesn't make any sense. The grease in an angle grinder is in a separate, sealed housing that doesn't get air flow from the motor fan.
Running an angle grinder with no lubricant on the gears is a bad idea.
rlitman
Well-known member
CV joint grease is excellent. That's a specialty formulation that has extra protection for sliding surfaces and would be fine in a worm gear or hypoid, and would also certainly be fine in bevel gears. It just smells awful.
Fwiw, the current Dewalt grease for the angle grinder gears is Nye Rheolube 380 GL1. Here's a direct link to the PDF datasheet, for those who are interested.
metaldad
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i use chevron nlgi 2
Wamsutta
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https://www.mmtoolparts.com/store/1375a-601375039-parts
The fan on the end of the armature, blows air through Part #30.
Part #30 protrudes through the gear housing where the gear housing has the slots cut out for the air scoops of Part #30 to go through. It flows more air without the grease. The grease never stays on the gear anyway. It gets flung onto the walls of the gear housing by centrifugal force.
Rabid Badger
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I don't know how to respond other than to reiterate for any future readers of this this thread:
1) Every part of that statement is wrong.
2) Running steel on steel at 5800 linear feet per minute without lubrication is a recipe for unpleasantness.
Wamsutta
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All I know is that any kind of thick grease doesn't stay on the gear and is pretty much pointless. Eventually I plan on trying some #00 grease that's used in self propelled mower transmissions. It's thinner and might make it's way back onto the gear if it gets flung off.
Rabid Badger
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As the gears heat up even thicker grease liquifies and gets flung around the gallery. That's why the housing gets warmer when there's grease; it transmits the heat from the gears to the housing so it can be dissipated by the air flowing through those slots you mentioned before.
Harley94
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What about a semi liquid type grease like John Deere corn head grease?
great white tj
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I guess I have been doing this wrong for a few years.... (OOOO hell a long time ) I have been using grease out of the grease gun... I think this is why my cords don't last as long as I think they should....
Rabid Badger
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Good quality axle grease is fine. If you want to get fancy use some moly grease.
Do not put in too much. Just put a dollop in the top of the housing and smear a little on the crown gear so it isn't running dry when you first spin it up.
Do not put in too much. Just put a dollop in the top of the housing and smear a little on the crown gear so it isn't running dry when you first spin it up.
bumping up am almost 3 year old thread here.
Tomorrow I plan to install new gears in my MAkita angle grinder and am going to use some extreme pressure marine grease I have in a tube.
hey, it's red just like the grease in the angle grinder, it must be the same !
Tomorrow I plan to install new gears in my MAkita angle grinder and am going to use some extreme pressure marine grease I have in a tube.
hey, it's red just like the grease in the angle grinder, it must be the same !
Great grease for lower RPM drives, but I don’t know if I’d use it in an angle grinder. I use Lubriplate Power Tool grease.
Lubriplate GR-132
Now you can grind underwater without any worries!bumping up am almost 3 year old thread here.
Tomorrow I plan to install new gears in my MAkita angle grinder and am going to use some extreme pressure marine grease I have in a tube.
hey, it's red just like the grease in the angle grinder, it must be the same !
^^^ yeah, I never thought of that . I wonder if the extreme pressure is water pressure or torque pressure?
Ton ton
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I like the idea of grinding underwater. The water should be able to cool the grinder.
thool
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Wow, got me thinking, when should the grease be replaced? I have an older Dewalt 4.5" that has given me nothing but awesome service, and while I am all about PM, I also subscribe to the "if it's not broken don't fix it" newsletter.
Rabid Badger
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Oh God, it's back. I still have nightmares about this thread.
Crack it open and see what the grease looks like. If it's cooked, replace it. Changing grease won't break anything as long as you don't put in too much and don't strip the threads when you put the screws back in.
Crack it open and see what the grease looks like. If it's cooked, replace it. Changing grease won't break anything as long as you don't put in too much and don't strip the threads when you put the screws back in.
redwrench60
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When I researched this years ago the recommended factory Dewalt grease was expensive but the aftermarket equivalent was NLGI “00” grease. I had a tube of Snapper “00” grease on hand so I’ve used that. It makes for a quieter, smoother grinder for sure.
Don’t over do it, about a teaspoon is all it takes. “00” grease is soft and melts to a semi liquid when hot then solidifies when cold. It’s actually perfect for the application.
Don’t over do it, about a teaspoon is all it takes. “00” grease is soft and melts to a semi liquid when hot then solidifies when cold. It’s actually perfect for the application.
dnschmidt
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John Deere corn head grease or its Tractor Supply equivalent. These are NLGI 00 greases that are very thin and thixotropic meaning they turn to a liquid when under stress (in this case that means use) and congeal when not. If you use thick grease (the omnipresent NLGI #2) all that happens is when you turn the grinder on it flings the grease onto the sides of the gear case never again to be seen by the gears.
I'm not sure if all angle grinders will seal 00 grease, it's very oily. All I've seen have a more solid grease inside from the factory.
I assume engine assembly grease (mos2) would work well too. That said, most greases will work just fine anyway and I doubt there will be a big difference with whatever you use. Angle grinders rarely wear out, I assume broken teeth are a bigger issue if it is abused or just from material fatigue...
The head can go up to 60 or 80 degrees, but that's generally not problematic if it's designed to run hot. The grease will melt and lubricate everything. It might actually be worse if it runs too cold.
I assume engine assembly grease (mos2) would work well too. That said, most greases will work just fine anyway and I doubt there will be a big difference with whatever you use. Angle grinders rarely wear out, I assume broken teeth are a bigger issue if it is abused or just from material fatigue...
The head can go up to 60 or 80 degrees, but that's generally not problematic if it's designed to run hot. The grease will melt and lubricate everything. It might actually be worse if it runs too cold.
I buy cheaper grinders, use them accordingly and toss them when they don't work anymore. I would buy better a better grinder but they aren't all that much better. My old man had a few Makita grinders that needed gears, he wouldn't toss them cause they were expensive. They just sat there waiting for the gears. He would pick up a new one cause that's easier and faster than ordering gears for the broken ones. When you use one regularly they become almost disposable, at least the cheap ones.
dnschmidt
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Cheap angle grinders aren't that cheap when one considers what carpal tunnel surgery cost. That's why I use Metabo. It's the vibration.
That doesn't narrow it down very much. There's probably 20 different #2 Chevron greases. I sell the stuff and it's confusing to me even!
I have a tough time with gripping on grinders. Was supposed to get carnal tunnel surgeries a while back then the rona hit and the VA cancelled all "elective" surgeries. I wasn't too on board with it anyhow, don't have the ability to take 1-2 weeks off and not use my hands.
I never thought to grease my angle grinders. I've broken a few, but it's usually from overheating and melting the brushes or another electrical component. Not to suggest grease is a bad idea - just probably not all that critical unless your tool has survived a very long time.
I ended up using a vintage can of " water pump grease" that I acquired from somewhere and it seems to be working well .
I did originally put too much grease in the housing and it heated up very hot very fast . took it apart again, removed some of the grease and all is good
I did originally put too much grease in the housing and it heated up very hot very fast . took it apart again, removed some of the grease and all is good
dutchgray
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I have never changed or topped up greas in a grinder bevel gearbox either, I have killed plenty of grinders, mostly Makita as thats what I usually get but all have been motor failures.