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Lubricating Idler Pulleys

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dkirk

Well-known member
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Oct 20, 2003
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513
Location
Fond du Lac, WI
displayname
David Kirk
You can extend the life of your idler pulleys by annually lubricating them with a large animal syringe filled with grease. The syringe can be purchased at most farm supply stores. Insert stylus under the seal lip and inject grease into the bearing. Doesn't take much, only a few cc's.
 

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Another option, which I have used, they make a needle for your grease gun, it has a 3 ish incl long needle, and grease zerk. Just be careful, because it is a needle…. and is sharp….
 
I just squirt some WD-40 each time I mow. That is about an hour for me. Some will say it’s too light, but frequent application is the key. Just wipe any excess off the bottom of the pulleys before starting the mower.
 
Another option, which I have used, they make a needle for your grease gun, it has a 3 ish incl long needle, and grease zerk. Just be careful, because it is a needle…. and is sharp….
Where o you get it? My gun needle is heavy enough to only push the ball in on a zerk
 
Where o you get it? My gun needle is heavy enough to only push the ball in on a zerk

I think I got mine at a farm store (TSC, Orschlein, Rural King)... it's not a tiny needle.... but has worked everywhere I have tried to use it

The one that I have is something like this:

grease_gun_needle.jpg
 
I've used Mobil 1 synthetic grease with good success, a heavy bodied red grease. I normally keep a couple spare idler pulleys on hand. I had an idler pulley fall off once. No mowing after dark so I missed the shower of sparks from the bearing running on Outer race to inner race after the balls flew out. Then the outer race wore half way through the bolt holding the bearing in place. I laughed all the way through that repair.
Injecting a little grease would really help those bearings live longer.
 
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