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| Issue 39 (September 2009) |
Words: Ryan Kephart |
With all the talk about maintenance and lubricating your bearings, it is about time to show you a product that can get the job done and done fast. Have you ever wondered what type of oil or grease was used on your helicopter's bearings? Did they use high-quality grease? Most of us could not answer these questions, so why not replace the stock grease with high-quality grease that you know will keep your bearings operating in tiptop shape? The Greaser can do just that. Let's take a look at this product and see how it puts the "grease" in Greaser.
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Features
"The Greaser" is built using solid pieces of 6061-T6 aluminum that have been CNC-machined to create a nice overall finish. The aluminum is accented with machined Delrin to provide years and years of use. This is one of those tools that will last a lifetime. The Greaser can lubricate any bearing in your helicopter using only your hand pressure. The grease you select will flow through the bearing's protective shield and squeeze out the old dirty grease at the same time. The Greaser can be bought as a kit, which comes with the grease, or separately if you want to select your own. The unit is made up of four separate pieces, which include the base, the plunger, the O-ring, and the top.
Installation/Testing
The Greaser must be assembled before using. The kit comes with an instruction manual that is very accurate and easy to follow. First, you place the O-ring on the plunger and fill the base with grease until it is about 1/4" away from the top. Place the plunger on the top O-ring first and apply a small amount of pressure. This will bring the grease up inside the center hole on the plunger. The plunger is machined with a cup that will allow a wide range of bearing sizes. Next, place the bearing into the cup of the plunger and use the top, which has a Delrin insert on the inner race of the ball bearing. Next, place a small amount of pressure on the bearing, which causes the plunger to sink and press the grease through the bearing. The old grease will simply be pushed out through the other side and the new grease will come out.
The Greaser was very simple to use and provided excellent results, giving my helicopter a brand new feel. When I was finished using the Greaser, the top was used as a cap to keep dust and dirt out of the new grease. The cap fits snugly and keeps the Greaser handy at all times. I decided to take the helicopter up in the air after I was finished greasing over 50 bearings to check how smooth the helicopter flew. Before I flew, I noticed that the main rotor felt a bit gummy, and I was a bit skeptical at first to see how much power that would rob from the engine. I noticed a big difference from the start. The helicopter seemed much quieter and felt really smooth. After landing, I noticed almost every bearing that I had greased was spitting out excess grease. I wiped down the helicopter and took it out for another spin. After this flight, a lot less grease was seen and the helicopter seemed to be getting smoother and smoother. After about the third flight, the bearing eliminated the excess grease and performed well. I put over 10 gallons of fuel through the helicopter after I greased the bearings using the Greaser, and I have not had one fail yet.
Conclusion
The Greaser is an easy-to-use piece of equipment that should be in every pilot's box. Maintenance is the number one item on our list and it should involve our bearings as well. As mentioned before, the Greaser is made from high-quality material and will last you a lifetime. This greaser can be purchased for about $40 and can save you much more than that in bearing replacements. Overall, the Greaser makes a hard job simple and will make your helicopter smoother then it has ever been.
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HITS
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• High-quality machine work
• Easy to use
• Center plunger acts as a cap
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MISSES
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• Cannot fit some of the large bearings
MANUFACTURER:
PART NUMBER(S): THEGREASER
STREET PRICE: $39.99
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