Maintenance, Oiling your Riding Mower??

[platefire]

Sometimes I think I may go overboard on oiling so I wonder if I am the only one?! At least every other mowing or sometimes
every mowing task is started by oiling that includes every lever/pedal connection where movement occurs and medal meets medal. This is includes tie rod ends, steering gear, front axle pivot point and etc. One of the down sides is it attracts dust and globs up. The dust attracted by the oil could very well defeat the very purpose I'm trying to accomplish?

So I would like to open this up for discussion because if I'm doing more damage than good, I'd like to know. Thanks!

 

[ILENGINE]

I think it is a level point. There is no really good way of knowing if it is doing damage or not. Only way that would be proven is if somebody oiled one part on their mower and left the same part on the same mower dry and see if there is a major difference. And if that part lasted longer was the increase in life significate enough to overcome the cost/time benefit.

 

[platefire]

Well I guess it's just something I'm inclined to do and feel better about doing it rather than not. I know some that are a lot more knowledgeable than me that never oil or grease and I can't help but wonder about that. Guess I'll continue since nobody scolded me real bad

 

[SeniorCitizen]

I've seen a few things from both schools of thought and i oil / grease .
Being there is dirt not seen on dry fittings i grease / oil because i prefer lubricated dirt opposed to dry dirt .
A lawn tractor as an example . Steering rack / pinion bearing and sector gear . I've nearly mastered but I'm still looking for a good way to lube the sector gear pivot bearing .

 

[TonyPrin]

I use a dry spray lubricant, specifically WD-40 Specialist Silicone at the start and 2-3 times during the season. Being a dry lube, it doesn't attract much dirt or clump. BTW, I typically use dry lube anywhere dust or dirt can be an issue, like bike chains.

 

[platefire]

The WD-40 Specialist Silicone sounds interesting. I'll have to pickup a can of that and try it. Thanks!

 

[MParr]

I use white lithium or silicone spray lube on things that don’t have grease fittings.

 

[7394]

 

[Skippydiesel]

I love grease & oil - nothing better than hearing that slight popping sound, as the fresh grease pushes out a smiggion of old BUT this is, for the most part, limited to bushes/bearing that have a grease nipple fitted.

Where no nipple fitted, best to leave clean & dry.

If you insist on lubricating, what should be a dry bushing, use graphite powder mixed, with a little oil, to a near dry past. Push the past into the bushing with a spatula (plastic, wood or even a flat screwdriver). The oil will help the graphite persist (continue lubricating) for longer than any of the wonder sprays and likely be a lot cheaper.

 

[platefire]

That's a new one on me. Graphite powder mixed with a little oil.

For non grease fitting lubricating, in the past I have been using 30 SAE oil applied with a oil squirt can.
Same oil that goes in the crank case. A little messy I reckon

Got a lot of options opened up now. Let me see Hmmmm