Automatic lubrication not only improves the long-term operational reliability and service life of agricultural machinery, but also of all moving parts.
Friction in moving parts incurs significant costs. These include unexpected downtime, lost production, increased maintenance costs, reduced maintenance intervals, and more. Agricultural machinery is no exception.
Why is continuous lubrication important in agriculture?
Anyone who has ever used a combine harvester, baler, or vineyard sprayer knows that lubrication is no joke. One missed lubrication, and the machine breaks down at the worst possible moment. You’re standing there in the field or between the rows, busy with work, pressed for time, and then a sprocket breaks, a bearing seizes up, or a bushing cracks.
It’s not ideal to have to run after tools during harvest time. Not because the machine was faulty, but because it didn’t get the small amount of lubricant it needed in time. Agricultural machinery is full of hard-to-reach lubrication points – and let’s face it, when it’s 35 degrees outside, people tend to overlook them.
This is where the Simalube automatic lubrication system comes in. It’s not a magic wand, it doesn’t replace a careful farmer, but it can save you a lot of hassle.
What is the essence of automatic lubrication and how does the Simalube system work?
Simalube is essentially a small, bottle-shaped unit that is filled with grease or oil. Inside, a gas cell builds up pressure, which slowly and continuously pushes the lubricant into the bearing, chain, or shaft.
Advantages of automatic lubrication in agricultural machinery
No more missed lubrication points
A baler, for example, has a lot of points that need to be lubricated. Some of them can only be accessed by partially dismantling the machine. People tend to maintain the more easily accessible points properly, while sometimes “neglecting” the more difficult ones. Simalube, on the other hand, dispenses continuously and evenly – no gaps.
Uniform lubrication
Manual lubrication always depends heavily on the human factor. Sometimes you apply too much, sometimes too little. In contrast, the automatic system dispenses evenly, so there is always exactly as much as is needed.
Time saving
It makes a difference whether you have to go through the machine with a grease gun before every shift or just glance at the Simalube to see if it is working. This is especially valuable during harvest time.
Safety
Greasing next to a moving chain on a baler is always dangerous. With the automatic lubrication system, there is no need to reach into dangerous places.
Durability
Simalube works at temperatures between -20 and +55 degrees Celsius and can withstand dust, vibration and even water.
Where can the automatic lubrication system be used in fields and plantations?
- Combine harvesters: on the chopper, on the cutting table drives
- Balers: on chains, rollers, rotating shafts
- Tractors: on front adapters, on mounted implements
- Plantation machinery: on the bearings of sprayer fans
- Grain and corn dryers: on fan and conveyor bearings
- Livestock farms: on fans, feeding and manure removal system chains
Disadvantages and pitfalls of automatic lubrication in practice
- Without cleaning, it is useless: if the lubrication point is dirty or rusty, Simalube will not work.
- Setting error: too much or too little lubrication due to poor timing.
- It does not replace the farmer’s eye: the machine must be checked regularly.
When is it worth investing in an automatic lubrication system in agriculture?
Honestly, it is not mandatory for all machines. It is not that useful on a simple disc or cultivator. But where there are many bearings and chains, it is worth its weight in gold.
The biggest enemy in farming is downtime. If Simalube helps keep your machine running smoothly, then it is well worth the price.
The land won’t wait. If your machine breaks down, your harvest will suffer. The Simalube automatic lubrication system is not a miracle cure, but it is a tool that takes the hassle of regular lubrication off your shoulders and extends the life of your machines.
Get in touch with us!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our expert colleagues! Whether it’s installation, lubricant selection, or cartridge settings, we can help.
You can find our webshop selling maintenance tools HERE.
FAQ – Automatic lubrication in agriculture
What is the essence of automatic lubrication in agriculture?
Automatic lubrication ensures the continuous, controlled delivery of lubricant to bearings and other rotating/oscillating components. The Simalube cartridge uses gas pressure to deliver grease or oil to the lubrication point, thus preventing under- and over-lubrication, reducing wear and downtime.
What are the advantages of using an automatic lubrication system?
Uniform dosing, fewer human errors, less downtime, longer bearing and machine life, improved work safety (less intervention with moving parts), and reliable lubrication of hard-to-reach points. It is particularly valuable in arable and plantation environments with dust, moisture, and varying temperatures.
Where is automatic lubrication useful on a farm?
Combine harvester cutting tables and drives, baler chains and rollers, tractor front adapters and mounted implements, fan bearings on plantation sprayers, grain/corn dryer fans, and feed and manure conveyor chains on farms. In short: many lubrication points + little time = automatic lubrication.
Are there any disadvantages or pitfalls?
Yes. It is essential to clean the connections and grease nipples before installation; incorrect time/current settings can lead to over- or under-lubrication. For machines with an extensive lubrication network, a centralised, progressive system may be more economical.
What time intervals can be set on the Simalube?
Typically, it can be set between 1 and 12 months. During the set period, the gas cell ensures stable pressure, so that the lubricant is delivered continuously and evenly to the lubrication point. It is worth fine-tuning based on seasonal loads and environmental conditions.
Is it a refillable and environmentally friendly solution?
Yes, Simalube units can be refilled multiple times and the components can be recycled. This reduces waste and the total cost of ownership compared to manual, ad hoc lubrication.
