Why Doesn't My New Loader Come Pre-Greased? (And How to Grease It Right)
When your new Little Buck or Little Bull Loader arrives on your doorstep, one of the first things you might notice is that the grease zerks (fittings) are dry.
We occasionally have customers ask why we don’t pre-grease the fittings at the factory before shipping. It’s a great question with a very practical answer: It ensures a much cleaner delivery.
The Benefit of Shipping Dry Zerks
Grease is incredibly sticky, and during the shipping transit process, it acts like a magnet for everything it touches. If we packed the fittings with grease before boxing them up, the loader would inevitably capture cardboard dust, packing debris, and road grime along the way.
By shipping the loader dry, we guarantee that no abrasive debris gets trapped in your fittings during transit. You get a perfectly clean piece of equipment delivered straight to your door.
Your First-Day Greasing Routine
Once your loader arrives, getting it ready for the field is simple. Just follow this quick startup routine:
Mount the Loader First: Follow your standard installation steps to get your Little Buck or Little Bull securely mounted onto your John Deere lawn and garden tractor.
Hit the Zerks Immediately: Before you take your first scoop or lift your first heavy load, grab your grease gun.
Two Pumps is Plenty: For the initial setup, two pumps of grease per fitting is perfectly fine to get everything adequately lubricated.
Ongoing Maintenance: How Often to Regrease
To keep your loader arms moving smoothly and to prevent premature wear on the pivot points, we recommend re-greasing your fittings every 10 to 15 hours of operation.
Our Top Product Recommendation: We use and highly recommend Valvoline Multi-Purpose Grease (VV614). It provides excellent heavy-duty protection for the types of lifting, hauling, and landscaping work your tractor handles daily.
Taking care of your grease points takes less than two minutes, but it ensures your loader remains a reliable workhorse for years to come.