On a farm, grease is the cheapest protection there is. A tractor and its implements have dozens of pins, joints and bearings that work in dust, mud and paddy water, often under shock loads. When a grease point is missed, dirt and water move in, the pin or bearing wears, and the repair arrives in the middle of the season. A simple checklist, the right grease and a few minutes a day prevent most of it.
Grease the pins, joints and PTO shaft every working day, or as often as the operator's manual states, using a good lithium complex NLGI 2 grease for most points, a wheel bearing EP grease (NLGI 3) for hub bearings, a water-resistant grease for implements in wet fields and an MoS₂ grease for heavily loaded pins. Wipe every nipple first, pump until fresh grease appears at pins, and give sealed bearings only the stated amount.
Stop the engine, disengage the PTO, lower implements to the ground and remove the key before greasing. Never grease a PTO shaft or implement while it is turning.
Intervals below are common starting points. Your tractor and implement manuals come first.
| Point | Grease | Typical interval |
|---|---|---|
| Front axle pivot, steering knuckles, tie rod ends | Lithium complex NLGI 2 | Daily (every 8–10 hours of work) |
| Three-point linkage: lift arms, top link, lower link pins | Lithium complex NLGI 2, or MoS₂ EP for heavy use | Daily |
| PTO shaft universal joints and sliding tubes | Lithium complex NLGI 2 | Every 8 hours or as the PTO shaft maker states |
| Front loader pins and bucket pivots | MoS₂ EP grease NLGI 2 | Daily |
| Wheel hub bearings (front axle, trailers) | Wheel bearing EP grease NLGI 3 | At the service interval, by repacking |
| Rotavator side-drive bearings and shaft | Lithium complex NLGI 2 | Daily |
| Rotavator gearbox | The gear oil the maker specifies, often an SAE 90 EP gear oil | Check level daily, change as specified |
| Disc harrow and cultivator bearings | Water-resistant grease (calcium soap NLGI 3) in wet work | Daily in wet fields |
| Seed drill and planter bearings, chains | Lithium complex NLGI 2; light chain lubricant | Daily in season |
| Thresher and harvester bearings | Lithium complex NLGI 2 | As the machine maker states |
Our guides to NLGI grades and EP2 vs MP3 grease explain the differences.
Water washes grease out of pins and bearings. When working in paddy or wet soil, grease at the end of each day so fresh grease pushes out the water, and choose a water-resistant grease for the most exposed points.
Belts on combines, threshers and reapers work in sun, dust and chaff. Check tension and wear before the season and carry spares for the critical drives. Our guide to V-belts for farm machinery covers sizes and care, and Beltone harvester belts are built for these conditions.
Before the season: clean the equipment, grease every point, check gearbox oil levels, replace worn belts and broken nipples, and check wheel bearings for play.
After the season: wash off mud and crop residue, let the machine dry, grease every point to push out water, and coat bare metal such as disc blades and rotavator blades with a rust preventive. Store under cover. Our guide to long-term equipment storage explains how to protect machines that stand idle for months.
Engine, transmission and hydraulic oils for the tractor follow the tractor maker's manual. For greases, gear oils and belts across farm equipment, see our page on agriculture lubricants and belts.
How often should a tractor be greased?Most pins, joints and the PTO shaft need grease every working day, roughly every 8–10 hours of work. Always follow the tractor and implement manuals.
Which grease is best for tractors?A good lithium complex NLGI 2 grease suits most points. Use a wheel bearing EP grease (NLGI 3) for hub bearings, an MoS₂ grease for heavily loaded pins, and a water-resistant grease for implements in wet fields.
How much grease should I put in a pin or joint?For pins and bushes, pump until fresh grease appears at the edges of the joint. For sealed bearings, give only the amount the manual states.
Which oil goes in a rotavator gearbox?The gear oil the rotavator maker specifies, often an SAE 90 EP gear oil. Check the level daily during the season.
Supplying farmers, running a custom hiring centre or a dealership workshop? Tell us the equipment you service, and we will quote greases and harvester belts in the pack sizes you need.