Agricultural Equipment Lubrication Guide: Tractors, Combines and More
In farming, a mechanical breakdown during planting or harvest can cost thousands of dollars. A rigorous lubrication program with the right AMSOIL products dramatically reduces that risk.
Agricultural equipment operates under particularly hostile conditions: field dust, mud, constant water exposure during irrigation or wet-weather harvests, high drivetrain loads, and extreme temperature swings between Canadian winters and summers. A proper greasing program isn't a luxury — it's insurance against costly breakdowns at the worst possible time.
1. Key Grease Points on a Tractor
A modern agricultural tractor has on average 15 to 40 grease points depending on the model and attachments. The main ones include:
- Steering kingpins and ball joints — exposed to mud and shock loads, require frequent regreasing
- PTO driveshaft u-joints — subject to high variable speeds and loads
- Front wheel and axle bearings — constant dust and moisture exposure
- Hitch bar pivot joints — high cyclic loads during tillage operations
- Center pivot (articulated tractors) — critical point under lateral load
AMSOIL Synthetic Water-Resistant Grease is particularly suited to points exposed to moisture and frequent pressure washing, thanks to its calcium sulfonate complex thickener that resists washout.
2. Combines: Critical Lubrication Points
A combine harvester is an extraordinarily complex machine with hundreds of moving components. During harvest, it runs continuously for 12 to 16 hours a day. Critical lubrication points include:
- Cylinder and concave bearings — intense vibration and grain dust
- Conveyor chains and rollers — continuous lubrication required
- Rotor bearings (axial combines) — elevated temperature under continuous load
- Header platform pivot joints — maximum exposure to moisture and mud
- Unloading auger — bearings under intermittent but severe load
For muddy, wet field conditions, AMSOIL NLGI 2 Synthetic Polymeric Off-Road Grease provides extreme pressure protection and resists throw-off under intense vibration.