Corn Head Grease Use

[Phil Gillespie]

Am in the process of exchanging my grease in steering box, 39 Standard Coupe, to John Deere Corn Head grease as this is recommended for this task by many for its special properties.
Just wondering if this is also suitable to use in King Pins, and if not why not?
For us in NZ John Deere Grease is in a special cartridge which is not standard to our regular grease gun cartridges.
So you have to also purchase the John Deere grease gun to be compatible.
Is this also the case in USA. A ploy for more revenue collecting cby the company!!
Thanks,
Phil NZ

[RalphG]

No, the John Deere grease cartridges will work in any of my old grease guns. I think they are a standard size.

[itslow]

It doesn't require the grease gun sold by Deere. It is compatible with the standard 14oz cartridge style grease guns sold here in the US. I'd expect that something similar is available down in NZ.

[ABento]

Same as a regular tube here in the states.
It is a flowable grease, thats why it works so well in steering boxes, it doesn't create a cavity around the worm and sector, but it doe not have the propertys to stick to a surface like regular grease does.

[rotorwrench]

John Deere corn head gearbox grease is thixotropic type which is for use where fluidity is necessary but an ability to resolidify is also necessary to reduce seepage and hold lubricant on surfaces. The two best uses are for the U-joint cavity and steering gearbox. It is not necessarily a good grease for high pressure applications. A good grade of chassis grease would be better for suspension parts that have higher pressures inflicted upon them.

[ABento]

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Same as a regular tube here in the states.
Its a flowable grease, thats why it works so well in a steering box it doesn't create a cavity around the worm and sector, but it doesn't have the propertys to stick, so I wouldn't use it for items like king pins and u joints

[Ford Freak]

The J D Corn grease I buy here in USA fits in my standard size grease gun .
Don't know why it is like that in N Z . I use it in the clamshell on my car because it doesn't break down over time & get " liquid like " . Hence , it doesn't leak as much .

F F

[Clem Clement]

JD Cornhead grease is good stuff. I use on my 39 pickup and 40 Merc. If nothing else, can't you use and empty NZ grease tube and full it with corn head grease?

[JM 35 Sedan]

The JDCHG I buy fits into the standard cartridge grease guns I own. I use it in my early Ford steering boxes, water punps, and torque tube type universal joint housing. I suppose it would work well in other areas on these old Fords with grease fittings. However, I would not suggest using it in transmisions, rear ends, or wheel bearings.

[Phil Gillespie]

Thanks for all that. Have also used it in the clamshell. And seems like its not really for the king pins so will stick with the normal grease as per tie rods etc, Grease nipples(Zerk).
The John Deere cartridges sold here are a smaller dia than our normal sized grease cartridges as sold and volume is also less.
Phil NZ

[Cecil/WV]

I asked for it at my local dealer and found that they don't stock it. Said they only had about 1 request a year.

[uncle buck]

I've never used the corn head grease. I used STP in my 32 steering box when I rebuilt it. Does anybody here have experience with using both? How do the 2 compare ? What is the advantage of using the corn head grease that makes it so popular? Lots of questions I know, but I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering

[Phil Gillespie]

John Deere Special-Purpose Corn Head Gun Grease - AN102562






Description


John Deere Special-Purpose Corn Head Gun Grease

Features:

• Formulated for John Deere corn head and other slow-speed gear cases
  
• -30 to 330F (-34 to 165C)
  
• Extra-soft grade of lubricating grease, required for row-unit gear cases of John Deere corn heads

Service rating:

• NLGI grade 0
  
• JDMJ13A5, J13E6, and J25A

Physical properties:

• Green color
  
• Contains extreme-pressure additives
  
• Excellent at high and low temperatures
  
• Resists moisture and water washout
  
• Polyurea thickened
  
• Contains anti-rust properties
  
• 14-oz. tube compatible with most grease guns
  
• Also available in 35-lb pail

Here is the specs and some recommendations for use.
Phil NZ

[adileo]

I used STP first - it leaked - then cornhead no leak. Never looked back.

[JSeery]

Buck, take a look at rotorwrench's post.

[Crankster]

Most people are very familiar with NLGI #2 moly chassis grease for vehicle lube orders in grease guns for general lubrication.

But there are other grades, "self-leveling" grease of which Picker head or Corn head grease is just one, is simply a NLGI #00 grease which you should be able to get just about anywhere or at least annoy the idiot behind the counter and get him to order some.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by adileo

I used STP first - it leaked - then cornhead no leak. Never looked back.

I had the exact same experience. Every type of gear oil I used in my 35 fordor steering box, including various mixes of oil & STP, including straight STP, leaked out. I was getting ready for a cross-country run in 2013 and did not have time to rebuild the steering box with new seals and gaskets, so I filled the box with JDCHG and that worked great. That's what's still in there 4-1/2 years later.

[Phil Gillespie]

If only that MM Oil was available in NZ? This seems to be a product able to solve several problems as well as being a good additive to the fuel tank.
Have searched and not available in NZ. Ebay purchase and shipping would maybe be a problem being the product it is from a safety side etc.
Phil NZ

[jrvariel48]

I used it in my pilot & throwout bearings

[Peterooster]

https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-grease/=1audb7u

Pete

[corvette8n]

https://youtu.be/7zNhli-J0Gk

Here's a YouTube video on JD cornhead grease.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by corvette8n

https://youtu.be/7zNhli-J0Gk

Here's a YouTube video on JD cornhead grease.

YES........This is the video that should convince the "nay-sayers" and non-believers as to why this JD Corn Head Grease is able to perform proper function in a steering gearbox. DD

https://youtu.be/7zNhli-J0Gk

[FireEngineMike]

I used JD cornhead grease in my fire pump grease fittings and reduced the noise coming from the pump. Also filled the nearly empty steering box with it.

[Krylon32]

I've got it in the 37 Hudson steering box in my deuce pu and it works fine, steers easy and no leaks. Also putting it in all the gear boxes in my center pivot irrigation systems. 24 per pivot to prevent leaks and gear box failure. Dealer says it virtually stops box failure and at 850.00 a piece that's a big deal. Just realized I'm being a little redundant as I said the same in the post on spring grease

[doghair3]

Silly question I guess, but how do you get the old lubricant out of a steering box to put the new lubricant in?

[Crankster]

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That's the easy part, oftentimes it has all leaked out, which is why the operator is looking for something a little different in the first place.

[David Young]

Hi Phil
Where in NZ did you find the JD Corn Head grease?
Thks Dave Young

[Phil Gillespie]

Originally Posted by David Young

Hi Phil
Where in NZ did you find the JD Corn Head grease?
Thks Dave Young

Hi David,
Purchased this from the John Deere agency, no doubt you have one up your way. Have only seen this at John Deere agencies.
Phil NZ

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

YES........This is the video that should convince the "nay-sayers" and non-believers as to why this JD Corn Head Grease is able to perform proper function in a steering gearbox. DD

https://youtu.be/7zNhli-J0Gk

Were there Nay-Sayers? I use it in the "clamshell" torque tube u-joint also.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Phil Gillespie

Hi David,
Purchased this from the John Deere agency, no doubt you have one up your way. Have only seen this at John Deere agencies.
Phil NZ

Think I had a box sent by amazon or ebay. JD Implement is probably cheaper.


https://www.amazon.com/John-Deere-Co...ornhead+grease



https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...rease&_sacat=0

[Brian]

Problem is that us kiwis are not allowed to import petroleum based materials. We can't get Marvel mystery oil here, and cannot import it.
At least our gas, whilst still crap, is better than you guys in the States get!!

[Tinker]

That's a real thing?

[DocJohn]

Phil


Try something like this
https://www.partsdirect.farm/ep00-se...kg-mg-ep00-2-5

[aussie merc]

any one in Australia know if JD grease is available here and who has it or if one of our oil company's make an equivalent

[dumb person]

No corn head grease where i live, but i was able to get this penrite stuff that appears similar.

[48-710]

Aussie Merc,
I live close to a wheat growing area, no were close to corn crops, and a John Deere agent down there had two cartridges so I snapped them up. I used one and sold the other to a mate. Like the others have said it works a treat. I can ask my JD agent if they can get some if you like. I only found mine by asking a mobile JD mechanic if he had seen any in his travels and as luck would have it he did. PM me if you need any help.
Regards,Gary

[chap52]

Amazon sells it: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...d=PIGG9NN1KNJ1

[alumcantandthd]

Anybody have comments on Cotton Picker Spindle Grease from Tractor Supply?

The Cotton Picker grease was reccomended over the Cord Head Grease for my '37 Hudson steering box.
Thanks

[Crankster]

What you want to do in situations like this, is drill down a bit into what the Ford specifications for a particular lubricant in a particular application are (or were), the numbers or names change. Most of us are familiar with NLGI #2 chassis grease used in drive shaft zerks and kingpins. Often this is the only grade available at retail outlets. But there are other grades of grease available. A "00" grade or "self leveling" grease is just about perfect for manual steering gearboxes.

Only the names are changed, to protect the innocent, something like that. Marketing and brand names just confuse people, or make them spend 10 times what they need to.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by alumcantandthd

Anybody have comments on Cotton Picker Spindle Grease from Tractor Supply?

The Cotton Picker grease was reccomended over the Cord Head Grease for my '37 Hudson steering box.
Thanks

The "OO" liquid grease, right? I have both corn head and the cotton picker spindle grease, so I'm curious if anyone has experimented with the two as well.

[Lawrie]

I Live in Central Queensland,there is no JD dealer in town but in Biloela a 100 or Kays away there is and its an easy job. to order a carton from there and get it delivered.
Lawrie

[1952henry]

No JD, no problem. Case IH and New Holland, shockingly, made corn heads for combines, and had the the same grease made for their gear boxes. It is called Case IH or New Holland cornhead grease. Cenex sells their brand, as do other jobbers. Some lawn tractors spec this, so check at dealers. It doesn't have to be John Deere. No one will know the color of the tube you got it from if you hide it when done. Main thing, NLGI 0, polyurea, EP.

For those wanting 00 pourable grease, the aforementioned Super S cotton picker spindle lube is much cheaper than Pennrite, as is Farm Oyl grease. All three are lithium based. Cant recall actual name of Farm Oyl product.

[FlatheadTed]

With respect ,Phil on the cap of the box its specifies the grease ,90 weight gear oil ,Corn head is recommended for pre 1937 Boxs that have poor oil retention ,just Cork seals ,the 37 boxs and Later have needle rollers in them so requires a thinner lub , they also have better /proper oil seals to keep the oil in , A three to one mix of grease to engine oil will work great you can Taylor it to your required viscosity ,A little thinner for post 1936 Personally I would not bother with corn head ,

[VeryTangled]

Hi Everyone,

Okay I'm reaching a bit here for my cornhead grease fanboy story, so feel free to skip.

Last week I had the great pleasure of learning more than I wanted about the front passenger axle in a 2011 Toyota Avalon. Honestly I was in there for a lower control arm R&R but the axle was a bonus education.

(Extra bonus: Of course we all know that engine mounts are now metal, rubber, hydraulic and electric. Starting decades ago. <sarcasm on> Brilliant! <sarcasm off>)

The outer CV joint boot stayed intact through the happy adventure, but the inner CV boot and joint came apart and pooped some very familiar looking greenish glop on the floor. Close to a cup of the stuff.

After some sorting and an application of official Toyota CV joint lube, from a one-use squeeze packet, went in something greenish that that looked a similar quantity as came out. Then the axle was home again.

But my senses were saying "both of those gooey piles look exactly like JDCHG!"

Your mileage likely varies. But this experience was a reminder of that lovely paper tube wrapped in yellow and green that lives in one of my two grease guns, and the U-joints and steering boxes of my 35 Touring and 36 Phaeton.

[1952henry]

Originally Posted by VeryTangled

Hi Everyone,

Okay I'm reaching a bit here for my cornhead grease fanboy story, so feel free to skip.

Last week I had the great pleasure of learning more than I wanted about the front passenger axle in a 2011 Toyota Avalon. Honestly I was in there for a lower control arm R&R but the axle was a bonus education.

(Extra bonus: Of course we all know that engine mounts are now metal, rubber, hydraulic and electric. Starting decades ago. <sarcasm on> Brilliant! <sarcasm off>)

The outer CV joint boot stayed intact through the happy adventure, but the inner CV boot and joint came apart and pooped some very familiar looking greenish glop on the floor. Close to a cup of the stuff.

After some sorting and an application of official Toyota CV joint lube, from a one-use squeeze packet, went in something greenish that that looked a similar quantity as came out. Then the axle was home again.

But my senses were saying "both of those gooey piles look exactly like JDCHG!"

Your mileage likely varies. But this experience was a reminder of that lovely paper tube wrapped in yellow and green that lives in one of my two grease guns, and the U-joints and steering boxes of my 35 Touring and 36 Phaeton.

I have read about old jeep owners using cv grease in turn knuckle housings and steering boxes.

[FlatheadTed]

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I agree with Tango CV grease is good they have needle rollers , .

[aussie merc]

found it up county JD dealer good people bought a case they threw in the grease gun at 1/2 price [US cartridge different size to standard aussie ]

[Tinker]

Like most things we are more pron to reject it then except the benefits of it. I'd guess 99% of the time you wouldn't even know if it was working or care less inless there was a issue. 99% of the time there will not be an issue with cornhead grease. Not one post over 12 yrs that said cornhead grease ruined my bearing... But it's the web so... post away.

[Tinker]

It's a semi-liquid grease. Meaning it becomes liquid with some heat. Okay for low friction areas like steering boxes and clamshells. Not a good grease for hubs. Just my thoughts.

[Ford Freak]

Originally Posted by Tinker

It's a semi-liquid grease. Meaning it becomes liquid with some heat. Okay for low friction areas like steering boxes and clamshells. Not a good grease for hubs. Just my thoughts.

I agree 100% . - F F

[craigtone]

Another use is the old PTO winches on military trucks and Jeeps. Gear oil runs right through but the JD CH grease works perfect!

[Fairlane500]

Phil,. we sell the 390g Cat grease guns at work they are not that expensive, AU and NZ are the only countries that use 450g cartridges, Cat only sell the 390 and 450 in our region.

[Talkwrench]

Originally Posted by aussie merc

found it up county JD dealer good people bought a case they threw in the grease gun at 1/2 price [US cartridge different size to standard aussie ]

Just go to a good auto shop here and buy penrite semi fluid grease sometimes labelled steering box grease.

[Tinker]

You Aussie dudes. Hey welcome to the modern sub world.


Get the lube where it's available. or use axle grease too. Jesus when did we get so pictorial about grease. Worrying about viscosity is a 1st world problem. I can run my 1927 throttler on motor oil when hot. Certainly that will not make my internet work. That is a series of tubes..........

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by Phil Gillespie

Am in the process of exchanging my grease in steering box, 39 Standard Coupe, to John Deere Corn Head grease as this is recommended for this task by many for its special properties.
Just wondering if this is also suitable to use in King Pins, and if not why not?
For us in NZ John Deere Grease is in a special cartridge which is not standard to our regular grease gun cartridges.
So you have to also purchase the John Deere grease gun to be compatible.
Is this also the case in USA. A ploy for more revenue collecting cby the company!!
Thanks,
Phil NZ

Phil where did you get that stuff here? Flag that question Phil...found the answer in a previous post (when I reread properly).

GB

[Tinker]

depending on the grease guns the tubes are the same here.

[Fortunateson]

Now trying to be a wise ass but what is a "corn head"?

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Fortunateson

Now trying to be a wise ass but what is a "corn head"?

It's a John Deere semi liquid grease. agriculture use. used in the us to lube combines heads. Not a substitute for axle grease. It's a luxury really to regular grease made for the crop heads of harvesters. Probably nominal difference to this hobby. It has a low melting or liquid point to axle grease.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Fortunateson

Now trying to be a wise ass but what is a "corn head"?

A corn head is an attachment on the front of a farm machine called a combine. As the combine travels through a cornfield the corn head snaps the ears off the stalks and sends them to the threshing part of the combine. If soybeans are to harvested, the corn head is detached from the combine and a "bean head" is put on.

[Tinker]

A combine is capable of harvesting multiple crops. Corn heads attached to a combine is common in the US. There is wheat heads and soy also. But corn, is a standard. Probably the grease is also, just called cornhead.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4racQZPE34

[Lawrie]

The corn head grass add says for slow speed gears,I don't know how ,but it works great in the u/joint cavity and that sure is not low speed.
Lawrie

[Tinker]

as usual Lawrie you are 100 percent correct. You put on more real miles then most of us combined

[Fortunateson]

Well thanks for th "corn head" education. I know quite well what a combine is but mainly in the grain realm. I do know you guys down south grow a hell of a lot of corn though.f..

[ssffnomad]

You guys remove existing steering box grease prior , or just add JD grease to existing situation ?
Thanks.
Stretch

[Tinker]

I'd just add it if you choose to do so. It's a steering box. You could probably add olive oil if you could keep it in there. It's just a worm gear with small amount of use, certainly no heat related friction. The only heat is from the general local to the exhaust manifolds.


Mixing the oil and the grease will just dilute the grease. They are made of the same compound for the most part. A few will argue but non will say their box didn't work.


Cornhead will be closer to true 190w. Bit of oil in the box is fine.

[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by Tinker

Mixing the oil and the grease will just dilute the grease. They are made of the same compound for the most part.


Cornhead will be closer to true 190w. Bit of oil in the box is fine.

Tink .....It is AMAZING that you are able to find so much FACTUAL data to substantiate so many of your replies. So....just WHAT is that "same compound" that you speak of? It is almost mind-blowing to comprehend how you are able to accurately determine such a definitive "190w" resultant product from your suggested concoction. DD
.

[Lawson Cox]

DD, your sarcasm is amazing as well. And, you are so consistent with it in your musings. (The devil made me do it.)

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

DD, your sarcasm is amazing as well. And, you are so consistent with it in your musings. (The devil made me do it.)

Tell me Counselor .....Which would be the nicer way to approach a situation? Long-time member feels need to arbitrarily add comment on legitimate questions asked by members who MAY not have the experience with these old used cars as YOU do (is that sarcastic enough?). Those comments, as often as not, come across as more fantasy bull stuff from some experimental imagination. So, is it nicer to ask for some reasonable challenge to support those comments, or would it just be more appropriate to tell the commenter that I think he's full of it? Whether or not you have noticed, I stay busy on this forum addressing the subjects that I believe I have a little knowledge about, and hope that I may be able to share a little useful info with others, like posting pictures, for instance. BUT......when a subject presents itself for which I have little or nothing to offer, I generally keep my mouth shut. I try very hard not to run my mouth about something just to feel my lips flapping! DD
.

[Ken/Alabama]

Think I’ll just sit this one out.

[tubman]

I agree with Mr. Coopman; sometimes it's a little embarrassing to be from Minnesota.

[Brian]

Ah...I thought the 'common compound' in both oil and grease was the oil? Grease is, to my understanding, a mixture of oil and soap.

[1952henry]

Originally Posted by Brian

Ah...I thought the common compound in both oil and grease was the oil? Grease is, to my understanding, a mixture of oil and soap.

My understanding as well.