Why does everyone keep greasing the swing gear wrong?

I swear half the guys I see at the Evansville yard just pump grease into the swing bearing until it oozes out the seals. That's a fast way to blow them out and cost you a day swapping seals. Last week I watched a new hire do exactly that on a 2019 Cat 329, and now it's leaking like a sieve. Has anyone else noticed this shortcut getting passed around too much?

2 comments

2 Comments

gibson.robert9d ago

Fast way to blow them out and cost you a day swapping seals" - thats not quite right tbh. The seals are already blown if grease is oozing out, you're just seeing the aftermath. The damage happened way before that when the bearing got dry or overpacked and busted the seal lip.

benlewis9d ago

Bad bearings fail fast once the grease starts leaking, and then you are just chasing the mess.