Re: SP 4449 Axle grease
Author: T.I.Runout
Date: 01-09-2021 - 21:57
"Greasecakes" are large blocks of (special, hard) grease, formed with the radius of the journal on the top of the block, and which ride in the grease cellar beneath the axle. They sit on a spring loaded plate which keeps them pressed upward as they are consumed.
The top of the cake has a metal screen (perforated sheet steel with lots of small round holes) which is shaped to fit very well against the bottom half of the axle journal. As the journal begins to warm up, the very top layer of grease softens and is slowly squeezed through the screen and onto the journal, where it is wiped between the bearing surfaces, providing the lubrication.
Keeping greasecake lubricated journals behaving properly can require much more careful attention than oil lubricated journals.