How Much Grease Should a Mini Excavator Use?

I. Core Standards for Greasing

1. Based on "new grease squeezing out old grease"
   When greasing each lubrication point (such as pins, bearings, etc.), stop when you see new grease squeezing out from the gaps and the old grease (which may be mixed with dust and impurities) is completely discharged.

• Example: For the pin connecting the boom to the frame, observe the pin gap when greasing. After new grease appears, press the grease gun 1-2 more times to avoid damaging the seals due to excessive extrusion.

2. Avoid "over-filling"
   Excessive grease will cause excessive internal pressure in the components, which may damage the sealing rings and oil seals, and even cause overheating of the components (especially in high-temperature environments).

II. Specific Operations for Different Parts

• Working device pins (most common)：
  Each pin is usually equipped with 1-2 grease nipples. When greasing each time, press the grease gun 3-5 times per nipple (the specific number depends on the capacity and pressure of the grease gun) until new grease is squeezed out.
  Note: Pins are high-frequency moving parts and require key lubrication to avoid accelerated wear due to insufficient lubrication.
• Slewing bearing：
  The grease nipples of the slewing bearing are distributed on the bearing ring (usually 3-6). When greasing, you need to fill them evenly one by one, press each nipple 5-8 times to ensure that the grease fills the raceway gap, and observe whether old grease is discharged from the raceway gap.
• Travel mechanism (crawler/tire type)：

• Crawler type: For parts such as track pins, drive wheels, and guide wheels, each grease nipple is greased 3-4 times to avoid abnormal track tightness caused by excessive grease.

• Tire type: For parts such as steering knuckles and drive shafts, operate according to the "new grease squeezing out" standard, usually 3-5 times.

• Other parts：For small-sized pins such as hydraulic cylinder earrings and joystick connections, 2-3 times of greasing is sufficient to avoid grease overflow contaminating hydraulic components.

III. Auxiliary Judgment Skills

1. Observe the state of the grease：New grease should be in a uniform grease-like state without particles or impurities; if the squeezed old grease is turbid and has metal debris, it is necessary to thoroughly clean it before adding new grease and check whether the components are worn.

2. Combine with the maintenance cycle：Mini excavators usually recommend greasing every 10-20 working hours (refer to the instruction manual for details). During each greasing, operate according to the above standards to avoid insufficient lubrication due to too long a cycle.

IV. Precautions

1. Clean the grease nipple before greasing：Wipe the surface of the grease nipple with a rag to remove dust and dirt, and prevent impurities from entering the components with the grease.

2. Use the appropriate type of grease：Choose the appropriate grease according to the working conditions (such as general lithium-based grease, extreme pressure lithium-based grease). For low-temperature environments, choose low-temperature grease; for high-temperature environments, choose high-temperature resistant models.

3. Check the grease nipple regularly：If the grease nipple is blocked, it needs to be unblocked or replaced in time to avoid component damage due to inability to inject grease.