I need to add some gear lube to the snapping roll gear boxes on my 326 picker. Is there a plug I am not seeing or do I need to take off the cover and make a new gasket?
My 324 has a plug on top of the inclined round cast housing, approximately belly button high, under the sheet metal on each side. If memory serves correctly, the two plugs have square heads, maybe 3/4" or 1" square. If you find it on one side, you will find it on the other, as well. I might be a bit off with that description, since it has been almost a year since we lubed it after last year's harvest. I am comfy in my easy chair for tonight, but I can take a closer look this weekend.
The lube guide in my owner's manual says to "keep right and left snapping unit gear boxes (located on main drive shaft) filled to level of main shaft with No. 90 transmission oil." One of my pickers is a bit loose, so that one's gear boxes get corn head grease instead of 90 weight. There is also one grease zerk for each snapping roll end bearing and two grease zerks for each snapping roll gear housing assembly.
We have 324s, not a 326, but maybe the plugs will be close to the same spot on each. I only added the zerk information in case you don't have an owner's manual. We copied off the lube guide pages from our owner's manual and laminated them. We use a dry erase marker each year to mark off each grease zerk/oil point as we lube it. We wipe off the marks, grease, oil, dirt, etc. when we are done. It really helps keep things straight. Hope all this helps.
Thanks for your response. I will have to take a close look when I get home. I should have said it is a 324. The 326 is on the husking unit. I was thinking of putting corn head grease in them. The one drips a bit and will leave a spot on the floor after setting awhile. I like the idea of copying the lube chart and laminating them. I think I will do that. It is a lot cheaper and easier to grease the machine than to try and find parts for the old gal.
For some reason I was thinking 325 last night when you wrote 326--must have been a bit foggy that close to bedtime. Let me know if you still have trouble finding the plugs and I can get my Tech Department (the Mrs.) to help me post a photograph of the plugs and their locations on each side. You might not need corn grease in all the gear boxes--I try to only put it in the loose or leaky ones.
Chester5731, I sent this to your e-mail, too. I circled the oil plug in the first picture, then drew back for the next two pics to show the location on the right side of the picker. It is behind the right snoot, on the main drive shaft for the right snapping unit gear boxes. The left side oil plug (nearest the PTO shaft) is pretty much in the same place. This is my first picture posting, so I apologize to all in advance if I messed it up.
There are three more gear boxes for 90-weight, too: the main drive gear case and a gear box for each of the long gathering chains.
Let me know if this is what you were looking for. If not, I will try again.
Chester5731, I was wrong. I had the snapping unit gear boxes mixed up with the long gathering chain gear boxes. I never paid that much attention to which was which, just made sure I put 90-weight in all gear boxes every harvest. The oil plug I circled above is for the right long gathering chain gear box. (It still needs 90-weight.) I fill the snapping unit gear boxes by removing the cover and filling about halfway up the shaft. I have not made a new gasket, and have not had trouble with oil coming out of the cover. It shouldn't be under pressure, and gravity should keep the oil below the cover (for the most part).
