Tigercat expert, Pierre Fortin, explains the importance of regular greasing.
In Logging-on’s first issue of January (http://www.loggingon.net/?cid=300), we examined information contained in the official publication of Tigercat, titled “Between the Branches”, on diesel exhaust fluid. Another good article within the publication explains greasing. Logging-on provides a brief summary of the article here, and the full article can be accessed via Tigercats website using the link at the end of the article. The first important point that Tigercat highlights is that good quality grease must be used for logging machines, as it is designed to withstand the harsh operating conditions. Tigercat indicate that in order for grease to work properly, it must be present, it must be clean and it must be good quality:
- Grease must be present: When machine joints run dry, damage to metal components occurs very quickly. Only a few movements of a dry joint can result in permanent damage. In very high cycle operations (such as a feller buncher operating in small trees), greasing frequency may even need to be more often than once a shift.
- Clean grease: If the grease fittings are not cleaned before greasing, dirt can be pumped into the joint. This can form a grinding paste which can cause premature damage.
- Grease quality: The increased productivity of modern logging machines makes using good quality grease even more important. Tigercat recommends lithium base grease that has a minimum of 3 % molybdenum disulphide on all pin joints. This grease is water resistant and does not break down under the pressure of harsh logging conditions. Tigercat has its own brand of grease which is specifically made for logging conditions.
The article can be accessed at www.tigercat.com