6 Best Rake Lubricants For Smooth Operation Old Farmers Swear By
Discover 6 time-tested lubricants seasoned farmers use for their rakes. Ensure smooth operation, prevent rust, and extend your tool’s lifespan.
A squealing hay rake is more than just an annoyance; it’s a warning sign of wear, friction, and a potential breakdown in the middle of your field. Keeping your rake running smoothly isn’t about finding one miracle product, but about using the right lubricant for the right job. A few minutes with a grease gun and the correct can of oil can save you hours of frustration and hundreds in repair bills.
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Choosing the Right Grease for Your Farm Rake
The shelf at the farm supply store can be overwhelming, with tubs and tubes of grease in every color. Don’t just grab the cheapest one. The key is to match the grease’s properties to the task at hand. Think about temperature, pressure, and exposure to water.
A thick, tacky grease is great for high-pressure joints that move slowly, like wheel bearings. A thinner, more penetrating oil is better for tight pivot points and chains. The biggest mistake is thinking all grease is the same. Using a light oil where heavy grease is needed will lead to premature wear, and slapping thick grease on a delicate linkage will just attract dirt and gum up the works.
Lucas Oil Red ‘N’ Tacky: All-Purpose Choice
If you could only have one grease gun in your shop, this would be a strong contender. Red ‘N’ Tacky is exactly what its name implies: a red, very sticky grease that stays where you put it. This is its greatest strength. It resists being flung off spinning parts and won’t wash out easily in a light rain.
We use it on general-purpose zerks, pivot points on the rake arms, and other spots that need a reliable, long-lasting coat of lubrication. It’s a fantastic generalist. While it might not be the absolute best for extreme high-temperature wheel bearings or underwater use, it handles 90% of the jobs on a typical side-delivery or wheel rake without any issue. It’s the dependable workhorse of farm greases.
John Deere Polyurea Grease for Heavy-Duty Use
When you get to high-stress, high-heat components, you need to step up your game. John Deere’s Polyurea grease is what you reach for when lubricating the wheel bearings on a larger wheel rake or the gearbox on a PTO-driven model. Polyurea thickeners give this grease exceptional temperature stability, so it won’t break down and liquefy when things get hot on a long summer day.
This isn’t your everyday grease, and it comes with a higher price tag. But for those critical components that are expensive and difficult to replace, it’s cheap insurance. Think of it this way: you might only grease those wheel bearings once a season, so using the best product available is a smart investment. Don’t mix it with other types of grease; clean the old stuff out first for best results.
Sta-Lube Marine Grease for Wet Conditions
Farming is a wet business. Whether it’s baling damp hay, getting caught in a pop-up shower, or just parking the rake in the dew-covered grass, moisture is a constant enemy. Standard greases can get milky and wash away when exposed to water, leaving metal unprotected. This is where marine grease earns its keep.
Sta-Lube Marine Grease is formulated with additives that make it highly resistant to water washout. It creates a protective barrier that repels moisture and prevents rust on critical joints. I use this on any low-hanging pivot points, wheel spindles, and the jack stand—anything that’s likely to get splashed or sit in wet grass. It’s a simple switch that dramatically extends the life of parts in a damp environment.
WD-40 Specialist Penetrant for Seized Parts
Let’s be perfectly clear: WD-40 is not a long-term lubricant for your rake. Using it in place of grease is a rookie mistake. Its job is to penetrate, displace water, and free up stuck parts. And at that job, it is absolutely essential.
Before you can properly lubricate a rake that’s been sitting all winter, you’ll inevitably find a rusted pin or a seized pivot. This is where you grab the WD-40 Specialist Penetrant. A quick spray, a few taps with a hammer, and a little patience will save you from breaking a part with a pry bar. Once the part is moving freely, wipe off the excess penetrant and apply the correct grease or oil for long-term protection.
3-IN-ONE Oil: The Classic Farmer’s Standby
Every old farmer has a can of 3-IN-ONE oil sitting on a workbench, and for good reason. It’s the perfect solution for light-duty, quick-hit lubrication. It’s not meant for high-pressure bearings, but it’s ideal for getting into tight spaces where a grease gun can’t reach.
Use the long-spout can to hit the small springs on the rake tines, the linkages for the height adjustment, and any other small metal-on-metal sliding parts. A single drop can silence a squeak and ensure a mechanism moves freely. It’s thin, so it doesn’t attract a lot of dirt, but it also doesn’t last as long as grease. Think of it as a tool for frequent, light maintenance, not a set-it-and-forget-it solution.
CRC White Lithium Grease for Smooth Pivots
White lithium grease is a fantastic mid-weight lubricant that comes in a convenient aerosol can. Its biggest advantage is that it sprays on as a thin liquid to penetrate into joints and linkages, then quickly sets up into a thick, durable grease. This makes it perfect for complex assemblies where you need lubrication to get inside the part.
I find it’s the best option for the intricate pivot points where the rake arms attach to the frame. It coats everything evenly and stays put without dripping or running. The white color also gives you a great visual indicator of where you’ve lubricated and when it’s getting dirty and needs to be cleaned and reapplied. It offers excellent protection without making a huge, greasy mess.
Key Rake Lubrication Points and Best Practices
Knowing what products to use is only half the battle. You also need to know where and how to use them. A consistent routine is your best defense against breakdowns.
Before you start, always clean the grease zerks with a rag. Pumping dirt and grit into a bearing along with new grease does more harm than good. Apply grease slowly until you see a small amount of fresh grease pushing the old, dirty grease out. Don’t overdo it; excess grease just attracts dirt.
Key spots to hit on nearly every type of hay rake include:
- Wheel Bearings: The most critical point. Use a high-temp grease like John Deere Polyurea.
- Pivot Points: Where the frame and arms connect. White lithium or Red ‘N’ Tacky works well.
- PTO Shaft U-Joints: A non-negotiable point. Requires a good all-purpose grease.
- Height Adjustment Cranks/Linkages: A light oil like 3-IN-ONE or white lithium keeps these moving freely.
- Hitch and Jack Stand: Marine grease is a great choice here to fight off moisture and rust.
Ultimately, the brand on the tube matters less than the habit of regular maintenance. Pick the right product for each specific job, spend 15 minutes with your equipment before you head to the field, and your rake will give you years of reliable service. A little grease is the cheapest repair you’ll ever make.
