Hey fellow Red Tool enthusiasts! I'm curious if anyone here has experience replacing the factory grease in their angle grinder. What type of grease did you end up using? I know there's the NLGI grading system, but I can't seem to find anything locally other than NLGI #2. I've linked a video that covers the grease replacement process for some context.
3 Answers
Just a heads-up, besides the specific type of grease, make sure to clean out the old grease thoroughly before applying the new stuff. It makes a huge difference in performance!
If you can track down some #2 lithium grease mixed with moly, that should work just fine. It’s not super critical, especially if your tool won’t be exposed to freezing temperatures. Corded grinders tend to do okay since you can usually warm the grease a bit before using. I have a cordless model and it gets pretty thick in cold weather, which can stall it during startup. But if your grinder stays in a heated shop, almost any grease is better than none!
For my 2880-20 model, the service replacement is actually a type J grease, which is really soft and technically a #1 grease. I've found Valvoline has a grease that matches the viscosity of the Milwaukee type J, things like VV985 or VV986 work well. It’s almost like a warm peanut butter consistency, so it's quite manageable!
Good point! I’ve dealt with similar issues during winter and really noticed how the grease affects performance. Keeping it in a warm place definitely helps!