5% Moly Grease for Mining/Construction

Joined
May 29, 2015
Messages
4
Location
TX
I've been running Chevron Statplex HD2 M5 grease in some Komatsu WA475 loaders with Graco automatic greasers used at a sand mine. It's a 5% moly lithium complex grease. It's been hard to find lately and now distributors are telling me it's on backorder. This has me looking at other greases like 5% moly calcium sulfonate base greases.

Generally reading about these, they seem to be highly recomended for pin and bushing applications due to the EP properties of the calcium sulfonate. However, I did read they are hard to pump especially when cold and hard to manufacture consistently. There are several out there, including many "no-name house brands", so reaching out to see if anyone has any experience with this type of grease in a pin and bushing application with an auto greaser. Not sure if I should drop down to a #1 grease since most of the performance testing indicates similar performance between a #1 and #2 except for water washout (which isn't a concern for me).

Any input would be appreciated!
 
Back when I was working construction/sand pit operations in Michigan we used D A Lubricants Thermoplex #2 and Magnaplex #2 with no pumping problems in winter (we did keep the grease in the shop that averaged 50f in winter)

D A Lubricants specializes in construction and mining equipment. They make good stuff. Give them a call. They are very helpful!
 
Check on Cenex ,they have a Calcium Sulfonate Complex grease,,,called Cenex HD Moly Xtreme,,the NLGI-2, -5 to 300f and NlGI # 1 form -20 to 300f and is 5% moly,,,,,,,,,,,they also have other useful products for heavy construction equip. engine oils,hydralic fluids etc.
 
We don't have anything that big so no experience with an auto luber but have used CAT ultra 5moly and texas refinery corp moly paragon 3000 and both seemed to work well. Milwaukee m18 grease gun is adequate for us.
 
It looks like you’re in TX so I’d tend to stay with a #2 as you shouldn’t be seeing much on the low temperature end and it should pump just fine in the system.

I’d recommend either a lithium complex or calcium sulfonate like you’re looking at and if you prefer the high moly then stick with 5%. There is also a lot of good 3% moly options out there if you want some moly plus you’ll get improved tackiness and water washout resistance with the lower moly.

Look for something with high EP and base oil viscosity and you should be fine. Having auto-lubers eliminates the biggest issue of getting the operators to grease. I’d talk with your lubricant distributor and see what they recommend especially since you should be buying kegs or drums having the auto-luber on the loaders.
 
I'll second the Texas Refinery Moly Paragon. TR makes an incredible grease and you should be able to find it easily and in the quantity and bulk containers you need.
 
If it’s not required to have moly, I really like valvoline cobalt, 800kg weld load 75 Timken, says protects like a 1000iso grease.

If you need solids triax nano xp looks to be a really good grease that just came out, uses tungsten for its solid.
 
I think your Komatsu spec is 5103. It doesn't specify a solid type or content. It simply states a maximum of 5% of lubricating solids such as moly and graphite.

I would select a a grease performing higher than spec rather then just meeting it. I would also select grease offered by a company that has specialized in lubricating mining machinery and operating in the mining environment. Not only will they have the products needed, they would also know the type of technical support necessary.
 
I've been running Chevron Statplex HD2 M5 grease in some Komatsu WA475 loaders with Graco automatic greasers used at a sand mine. It's a 5% moly lithium complex grease. It's been hard to find lately and now distributors are telling me it's on backorder. This has me looking at other greases like 5% moly calcium sulfonate base greases.

Generally reading about these, they seem to be highly recomended for pin and bushing applications due to the EP properties of the calcium sulfonate. However, I did read they are hard to pump especially when cold and hard to manufacture consistently. There are several out there, including many "no-name house brands", so reaching out to see if anyone has any experience with this type of grease in a pin and bushing application with an auto greaser. Not sure if I should drop down to a #1 grease since most of the performance testing indicates similar performance between a #1 and #2 except for water washout (which isn't a concern for me).

Any input would be appreciated!
Feel free to reach out if your having issues sourcing products. We manufacture a nlgi 1.5 calcium complex running high solids designed for shovel pins on drag lines. Its called Renolit CSX ULTRA 15. Its is very pump able and we have a synthetic NLGI 1 if necessary working well into the negative temps. I'm up in canada but i can put you in touch with a local supplier if you need help finding a reliable source.
 
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