Equipment Greasing - Operators or Mechanics Cancel The title field is required!

1. Lehman James L

   
   10/21/2011 1:10 PM

   Who greases your equipment; the Operators or Mechanics?

   
   
   
   
2. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   10/21/2011 1:10 PM

   Grease? So that's why things keep breaking down.
   
   Here it depends on the machine and other factors. Certain machines I like the operators to grease, things that need to be done daily, mostly rotary mowers with their spindles and caster wheels. Things like greens mowers I would prefer the mechanic. When they come in for service the mechanic definitely greases everything. Sometimes it depends on how busy the mechanic is compared to the crew.
   
   I think another factor would be how many different operators are on a certain piece of equipment, too many operators and it makes it hard to hold someone accountable, in my opinion.
   
   What we were told at Lake City back in the day, you got your lowest paid grease monkey that you trusted to grease the equipment.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
3. Dinger Greg

   
   10/21/2011 1:10 PM

   BallMark said: What we were told at Lake City back in the day, you got your lowest paid grease monkey that you trusted to grease the equipment.
   
   Mel

   
   
   That stings a little.
   
   Last operator we had grease equipment could grease a 5500 fairway mower in about 3 minutes. Man he was fast...

   
   
   
   
4. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   10/21/2011 1:10 PM

   Never did understand why someone would want to put the responsibility of checking the oil, and greasing of a 20K, 40K or higher priced piece of equipment in the hands of a 7 to 10 dollar an hour employee. We as technicians should have the pride, drive, and responsibility to never allow that to happen. After all, the equipment is what we are paid to take of..

   
   
   
   
5. Spotts David A

   
   10/21/2011 2:10 PM

   I learned the hard way, in my early twenties, that it is best done by me. 38 years later I am still doing it.

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   10/21/2011 3:10 PM

   gregdinger said:

   BallMark said: What we were told at Lake City back in the day, you got your lowest paid grease monkey that you trusted to grease the equipment.
   
   Mel

   
   
   That stings a little.
   
   Last operator we had grease equipment could grease a 5500 fairway mower in about 3 minutes. Man he was fast...

   
   
   Greg, in our system, the least paid and most trusted would be me, our mechanic makes more then myself. Actually I trust our seasonal mechanic more then me but he only makes $10 per hour.
   
   Heck it takes me at least 3 minutes to get the grease gun, then 5 minutes between sips of coffee to put a new tube in, (don't know why I always find it empty, guess that is a good sign we at least was using it?) then at least 30 seconds per fitting; wipe, grease, wipe.....sip coffee; wipe, grease, wipe....sip coffee; now my coffee cup is empty go refill my coffee cup.
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   10/22/2011 5:10 PM

   If we started greasing our equipment things would start flying off left and right.
   Here, I assign duct tape duty to my assistant...if I had one.

   
   
   
   
8. Hardy Andrew

   
   10/23/2011 10:10 AM

   We hired an Assistant Mechanic last year because our Head Mechanic felt overwhelmed. Since that time the Mechanic check the oil, make sure there are no flats tires, leaks on the floor and do the end of day greasing. Our bearings now last a full season, and the incidences of hydraulic leaks have disappeared. We have a pretty aging fleet so it almost became a must for 2 workers. Our HM is 63 and I am hoping he retires sooner than later.

   
   
   
   
9. Lehman James L

   
   10/25/2011 10:10 AM

   Thanks for the input, especially from the Mechanics. Accountability is the issue with multiple Operators using the same piece.

   
   
   
   
10. Douglas Eggert

    

    1 posts
    
    10/25/2011 12:10 PM

    I have my mechanic, and mechanic only is greasing equipment. I don't trust the hourly guys to find that offbeat grease zerk under some drive shaft you can't see. Much less cleaning the machine for a grease job.
    
    We greases while checking the cut and height. He knows exactly what is broken and what isn't.
    
    To top it off he also does the Parks Equipment, and needless to say their stuff is in better shape, because their operators are held to a higher accountability now.

    
    
    
    
11. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    10/25/2011 1:10 PM

    douge said:
    To top it off he also does the Parks Equipment, and needless to say their stuff is in better shape, because their operators are held to a higher accountability now.

    
    
    Funny here it's the opposite, our old stuff is used to patch their things, yet they are the ones that keep getting new stuff.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
12. Michael Kriz

    

    0 posts
    
    11/11/2011 5:11 PM

    Actually I need all the help I can get. I am the EM/Tech/mechanic. I have my trusted rough mower operators (seniors) grease their machines but I grease greens and fairway mowers. I know none of us like those grease poop blobs on greens or fairways, takes a special touch!