Home » Blog » How Often Should I Grease Caster Bearings For Optimal Performance?
ByTyler George Inside Sales
Posted on: June 2, 2022
Categories: Casters
Brand-new casters or wheels offer great ergonomic benefits in most applications, and so does proper caster maintenance, including regular greasing of bearings.
If someone installs a caster on their cart, they typically see a 40% reduction in push/pull forces. (If you are still determining this, please explore our videos and blogs to understand better the push/pull forces on carts and how to calculate them.)
Achieving optimal performance from the start is easy with brand-new casters. The real challenge is maintaining older casters through regular maintenance, like greasing, to keep them at a high level of performance.
A maintenance schedule does not follow a standard process across all applications. Each application is liable to a different duty cycle (how long you’re using the casters in a work day) and weight. Other things to consider are whether the cart the casters are on has any regular washing requirements. If so, what chemicals will the casters be around? Depending on the wash and the chemicals used, you may have to grease the casters and wheels after each wash. This would also apply if the casters were fully submerged in water for any time. Please discuss with a rep if you will be regularly washing your carts.
Maintenance Schedules
- In a working environment that requires using the casters 18-24 hours per day, 7 days a week, you will want to grease at least once monthly.
- In applications where casters are used for a couple of hours daily, you would want to ensure you maintain the casters every 3-4 months.
- For carts moving larger machinery on and off during a week or even a month, you could go 6 months between a maintenance check. It is important to note that Heavy Duty Applications, starting around the 5,000 mark, should use Lubriplate No. 1444.
This grease comes standard in Caster Concepts casters, starting with the 80 Series and higher. For all casters 80 Series and below, we use Mystic LT200 Low Temp grease. Those are the two standard options at Caster Concepts, but alternatives can be used upon request or dictated by the application’s environment.
When selecting a grease, consider the caster load, runtime duration, and temperature variations. Applying grease to friction points within the wheel hub and the leg surfaces of roller bearings helps reduce drag and improve longevity. For further information on your maintenance schedule, please consult a rep for help.
Maintenance Free Options
Not all casters and wheels need to have a maintenance schedule. If casters fail for you due to lack of maintenance, you should consider a maintenance-free caster. This caster style has a completely sealed swivel section and precision ball bearings in the wheel. However, some applications don’t allow for a maintenance-free caster due to the extreme environment or application conditions.
FAQs
They recommend removing, flushing, and re-lubricating their driver bearings every 1,000 hours of operation. A chart also indicates the lubrication interval based on belt speed. This 1,000 hr.
Should you grease caster wheels? ›
Lubricate all caster wheels and fittings every six months to keep them working properly. If your equipment is used in wet or corrosive environments, the lubrication schedule should be more frequent – as often as once per month.
Can you over grease a bearing? ›
Over greasing
Over lubrication can cause excess heat build-up, bearing seal damage, clean up issues and increased downtime. Surplus grease in a bearing cavity will cause the rollers or balls to slide rather than turn, pushing and churning the grease out of the way.
Can you over grease trailer bearings? ›
In addition, a bearing housing full of grease can generate heat. One of the biggest differences between grease and oil is that grease cannot transfer heat out of the load zone. By putting too much grease in a bearing, you can create heat from fluid friction.
How do I know if my trailer bearings need grease? ›
Check the grease level by pressing on the edge of the spring-loaded piston. If you can move or rock the piston, the hub has enough grease. Don't add anymore. If the piston doesn't move, you need to add more grease.
What happens if you don't grease trailer bearings? ›
If your bearings are not kept well-greased the increased friction will eventually cause your wheel to seize. If this happens while you are hauling, it will not only leave you stranded roadside, but it will also cost you a lot of money in trailer repairs.
What is the best lubricant for caster bearings? ›
For everyday office or furniture casters, a standard lithium-based grease may suffice. Application of Caster Grease: Proper application is just as important as the type of grease you choose. Apply a thin, even layer to the wheel's bearing, ensuring it penetrates to reduce friction effectively.
What is the best lubricant for casters? ›
If they are made of plastic, use silicone oil and if they are metal, use oil without grease. If you use the wrong lubricant, your wheels might keep getting dirty even after cleaning them.
Can you use WD-40 on caster wheels? ›
Lubricating Caster Wheels
Here's how you can lubricate your caster wheels: Step 1—Clean caster wheels and remove any debris. Step 2—Taking an appropriate lubricant like WD40 or an OEM-recommended one, apply it to all moving parts of the caster wheel.
Should bearings be greased or oiled? ›
Besides, grease is the better lubrication choice for linear guide and drive applications. That's because it sticks to the bearing surfaces longer and is better than oil lubricants. Besides, it is less likely to run off or get ejected from rotating parts.
While some bearing applications use oil as a lubricant, grease is the lubricant of choice for 80 to 90 percent of bearings.
What is the best spray grease for wheel bearings? ›
Did you know a spray of WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease is a great lithium lubricant for bearings? It reduces friction on bearings and helps keep them protected from rust as well. Simply apply by spraying directly onto the area.
How often should you grease industrial bearings? ›
Using the chart and the formula, the bearing only needs 8 grams of grease every 10,000 hours. If your grease gun delivers around 1.35 grams per stroke, that means the bearing needs 6 strokes every 13 months; you could average it out to a stroke every 8 weeks or so.
What is the best grease for conveyor bearings? ›
These recommendations are a guideline for typical conveyor applications. They do not overrule bearing or greasing manufacturer's recommendations. PPI recommends a high-quality, #2 Lithium Complex based mineral oil grease with a viscosity of 200 to 250.
How often should a conveyor be serviced? ›
weekly/monthly maintenance
On a weekly or monthly basis, maintenance tasks should focus on preventing common conveyor issues like belt mistracking, belt slippage, and material carry-back.
Do you have to grease a carrier bearing? ›
Do NOT use bearing grease on your carrier bearings or pinion bearings when setting up your differential. This could cause premature failure from the oil not having the ability to lurbicate the bearings properly. Use clean gear oil only to pre-lubricate your bearings during the install.
Brand-new casters or wheels offer great ergonomic benefits in most applications, and so does proper caster maintenance, including regular greasing of bearings.
