To get the most out of your fields and crops, it is essential to take care of the farm equipment used to work them. Especially after the winter months of inactivity, lubrication becomes one of the most important maintenance tasks: proper lubrication prevents seizing, reduces wear, and ensures consistent performance throughout the working season.
Seeders, rotary harrows, haymaking machines, balers, round balers, forage harvesters, silage tanks, dump trucks, and PTO drives: nearly all equipment requires regular lubrication to operate at its best and minimize downtime and sudden breakdowns.
Lubrication and Greasing: Why They Are Essential
Lubrication involves applying a layer of lubricant between two moving surfaces, with the aim of:
- reduce friction
- minimize wear and corrosion
- improve the efficiency of engines, transmissions, and mechanical components
- extend the service life of pins, bearings, chains, and universal joints
These are critical components that are constantly under stress and responsible for transmitting power to the working parts of agricultural equipment. For this reason, technical manuals always specify specific lubrication frequencies and methods.
In agriculture, lubricants are mainly divided into oils and greases:
Oil: reduces friction, cools, and cleans. It requires a sealed housing and is suitable for reducers, gearboxes, and sealed systems
Grease: adheres to surfaces, resists water, and does not drip. For this reason, it is suitable for exposed points, bearings, joints, and universal joints.
Lubricating greases: materials and NLGI classification
Lubricating greases are classified by consistency according to the NLGI scale, which ranges from 00 (very soft) to 3 (hard). In the agricultural sector, the most commonly used is NLGI 2 lithium grease, valued for its versatility, durability, and stability.
There are also:
- generic, suitable for multiple applications
- specific greases, formulated for high temperatures, heavy loads, or the presence of water or dust
The quality of the grease directly affects the machine’s durability, protection, and performance.
Among the NLGI 2 generic lithium greases is the Strong brand grease in a cartridge, which, thanks to its lubricating, antioxidant, and anti-corrosive properties, is suitable for industrial and automotive applications.
Lubrication Methods: How to Speed Up Maintenance
Stopping work to lubricate may seem like a waste of time, but it’s an investment that prevents far more costly breakdowns. To make the process faster, there are specialized tools available, including:
- grease guns (manual, battery-powered, pneumatic)
- syringe-style grease guns
- pump grease guns
The grease gun is the most widely used tool: it allows you to dispense lubricant precisely and cleanly, reaching even hard-to-reach spots.
Sabart offers its customers the new Forestal EX1000 20V battery-powered grease gun, which delivers up to 690 bar of pressure for fast and effective lubrication. Lightweight, ergonomic, and easy to use, it features three grease-filling modes for up to 455 grams and allows for adjustable flow (an adapter ring for use with screw-in cartridges is also included). It also features a built-in LED and electronic safeguards that ensure safe operation in all conditions.
Thanks to these features, it is perfectly suited for use in agriculture, forestry, construction, and industry.
But that’s not all! The catalog also includes grease pumps with bulk grease loading, available in three versions: 300 g, 800 g, and 1000 g, as well as the pneumatic grease pump, which is also available in two versions—one for 20–30 kg drums and the other for 50–60 kg drums—and comes complete with a cart and grease gun featuring a 1/4” flexible hose (3 meters long) and a 4-jaw nozzle.
How and When to Lubricate Major Farm Equipment
Every machine has specific requirements. Here are some examples:
Rotary harrows
Drive shafts are under heavy stress and prone to lubricant loss. They require frequent lubrication or the use of thicker greases (NLGI 00).
Seeders
They have numerous lubrication points, including:
- guide wheels
- bar joints
- roller bearings
- marker arm pins
- chains and drive belts
- seeding components and wheel hubs
The most common mistake is using a generic grease for everything: each component has different requirements.
Haymaking machines and balers
Mowers, conditioners, and balers require frequent lubrication, especially at the drive points to the cutter bars.
Round balers
These require special attention to bearings, clutches, and chains, which are often equipped with automatic lubrication systems.
Lubrication of shafts and universal joints
European safety regulations require that all tractors using cardan shafts must also be equipped with guards. In most cases, these guards are fixed, making installation and maintenance difficult and dangerous. A solution to this problem is Bare-co cardan shaft guards, distributed exclusively in Italy by Sabart, designed to facilitate both installation/removal and routine maintenance, making the agricultural operator’s work much safer. These universal guards consist of two interlocking flaps that open in just 15 seconds, allowing the joint to be removed and all lubrication points to be easily accessed, making maintenance—especially that of cardan joints—extremely fast, simple, and safe.
Cardan joints are among the most heavily stressed components and must be lubricated very regularly. The Univer-co grease nipple is another product designed specifically to simplify this task:
- Compact: no protruding lever, ideal for hard-to-reach spots.
- Practical: it attaches with a simple press and remains stable even on worn grease nipples.
- Universal: the clamping jaws fit most grease fittings.
Connected to a quick-release hook, it allows grease to be introduced into the universal joint immediately, cleanly, and without waste.
For universal joints, the following are generally used:
- NLGI 2 lithium greases
- aluminum or calcium/lithium soap-based greases
- formulations with solid additives for high loads
These products ensure protection even under harsh conditions: humidity, dust, high speeds, and fluctuating temperatures.
Golden rule: Check daily for the need for lubrication.
Conclusion
Proper lubrication is the foundation for an efficient, safe, and downtime-free farming season. Choosing the right lubricant, following the intervals recommended by manufacturers, and using the appropriate tools helps extend the life of your equipment and allows you to work with greater peace of mind.
