To Grease or Not to Grease

[lmichael]

That is the question. I am curious about the coupler that hooks up the mower deck drive to the PTO drive under the tractor. Last year I took that whole thing apart, cleaned it and greased it with moly grease. This year when I took it apart it was packed with dirt and other "nasties". So my question is: Is it better to leave this simply clean and dry (maybe a very light coat of oil) i.e. gun oil or such? Or better to grease the splines and the release mechanism? I am including a photo in case I am not calling the device by proper name. I think all the belly mower decks hook up similarly (some in front some at the rear).
I am starting to put this thing back together I can't afford to keep hiring someone to do my lawn

 

[crbr]

Grease the u-joint or you will continue to pay someone else with their greased machine to mow your lawn.

.

 

[jnschnit]

I assume your talking about the coupler? I don't grease mine, I make sure the spline on the tractor side is clean and on occasion put a light coat of oil on the splines just to keep any chance of rust forming. My B2620 was 10 years old when I traded it in and never had an issue. The RCK Work Shop Manual does not mention any lubing of the coupler. The U Joint is greased and also a light greasing of the splines where the driveshaft halfs connect. I mow 4 acres weekly.

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

Mine gets greased. The splines ,as well as the coupler gets grease, I even grease the stub shaft under the tractor. You can call it over grease if you like. It's easy enough to wipe clean it off every time the deck gets removed and add new .

 

[mcfarmall]

If it moves, grease it. If it doesn't move, paint it.

 

[RMS]

If it moves, grease it. If it doesn't move, paint it.

Great line, I may have to use that one of these days!!

 

[whitetiger]

Definitely grease the splines, they are metal to metal and rub each other.

 

[lmichael]

OK a little moly on the splines of the coupler. I hit the coupler itself with a little of the gun oil in the photo. I will leave that be. I greased it all last year and this year it was packed with filth. And yes I know to grease the fitting. I was just asking about the coupler mechanism itself and the splines

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I like using the 'thick' version of Rust-Check. It sprays on nice and even, gets where it needs to, STAYS there almost 'forever' and not a messy cleanup months later.
I've used it on the PTO shaft coupling tractor end and it's EASY to release and slide it onto the tractors PTO shaft BETTER than grease, well for me...

 

[lmichael]

I like using the 'thick' version of Rust-Check. It sprays on nice and even, gets where it needs to, STAYS there almost 'forever' and not a messy cleanup months later.
I've used it on the PTO shaft coupling tractor end and it's EASY to release and slide it onto the tractors PTO shaft BETTER than grease, well for me...
[/QUOTE
I have never seen the stuff.

 

[SDT]

That is the question. I am curious about the coupler that hooks up the mower deck drive to the PTO drive under the tractor. Last year I took that whole thing apart, cleaned it and greased it with moly grease. This year when I took it apart it was packed with dirt and other "nasties". So my question is: Is it better to leave this simply clean and dry (maybe a very light coat of oil) i.e. gun oil or such? Or better to grease the splines and the release mechanism? I am including a photo in case I am not calling the device by proper name. I think all the belly mower decks hook up similarly (some in front some at the rear).
I am starting to put this thing back together I can't afford to keep hiring someone to do my lawn
View attachment 80611

View attachment 80612

I lightly grease both male and female splines each year.