Hey all - this is a new spindle bearing on a HP44 I'm putting in. I'm following a tutorial from another forum, and he says his bearing was already greased, but if mine isn't, I should grease it before I press it in. There's definitely something on the rollers - maybe a very thick grease? Basically I'm doubting myself and want to be sure everything is right before I finish bolting everything up. Here's the pic:



Sure appreciate it - and my apologies if this belongs in a different subforum!

 

Looks pretty greasy...

 

Yeah, sure does - just not the typical grease I put on everything! Just wanted to be sure before I button everything up. Thanks Roler!

 

Many different greases are usually used, its whatever they can find (and usually cheap).

 

Clean it all out, I see dirt and perhaps corrosion there. That is not usable as is, grease is filthy. see the discoloring and dark particles? See the dark stuff at about the 10 oclock position, near bottom of the rollers? whats that yellow staining, cat pee on it? filthy!

Remove all traces of old grease, inspect, regrease. If bearings are rusty, damaged get new. a bad bearing here can destroy the axle $$$$$

Another option which I did was eliminate the roller bearing, replaced with a plastic bushing. I forgot who sells them, I did this about three years ago. This plastic bushing seems to be less sensitive to contamination, and self destruction like the rollerbearing. I have run many 1000s of miles highway with it, many 100s of miles off road, big tires, river crossings, sand, mud, etc.. and the plastic bushing is holding up.

Also NEVER mix greases. some greases are incompatible with each other, and when mixed will break each other down, resulting in loss of lubrication. This is why you remove ALL traces of old grease when regreasing unless you KNOW it is the same type of grease.

but yes, that bearing is greased, but it is contaminated and thus needs to be completely cleaned, then regreased at minimum. Id simply buy the plastic bushing and be done.