A presentation shared with the Saudi Arabia Grease Interest Group on January 30, 2024

1. Basics of Grease Sampling:
Grease Thief goes to KSA

2. Establishing a successful grease program
 Identify components that are
high value or critical for
operation to start with
 Ensure that samples are
collected per D7718 and
that those sampling and
been trained and know the
expectations for taking a
representative sample
 Have a good and open
dialogue with your lab
 Root cause analysis of
failures to help improve
lubrication program
 Have a set schedule for
sampling to build trend
history

3. Sampling per ASTM D7718
 There are different Grease
Thief kits
– Wind Turbines
– Electric Motors
– Robots
– Pillow Block
– Motor Operated Valves
 Compliant with ASTM D7718
Type I Grease Thief Type II Grease Thief
Type II GT on T-Handle

4. Grease Thief ‘’Pick-pocket’’ (Patent Pending)
 Same smaller diameter for openings access
 Automatically separating section for transfer to testing vial
 Low-cost sampling and testing for color and ferrous content
 Easy transfer using retained piston to standard Grease Thief for
additional testing

5. Grease Analysis Applications
 Pharmaceutical manufacturing and research
 Robots (Automotive applications, manufacturing)
 Wind turbine samples (main, blade, generator, etc.)
 Electric motors (purge points)
 Motor Operated Valves (Nuclear, coal & petro-chemical)
 Marine applications
 Military: Current project for helicopters to evaluate
intervals and maintain flight safety
 Food-Grade lubricant management
 New grease quality control

6. Grease Thief Samplers

7. Grease Thief Slim for small openings
 Access opening often smaller than sampler
diameter
 Blade bearing research leads to slim version, dia.
drops from 0.50in (13mm) to 0.28in (7mm)

8. Grease Thief ‘’Pick-pocket’’ (pat. Pending)
 Same smaller diameter for openings access
 Automatically separating section for transfer to
testing vial
 Low-cost sampling and testing for color and ferrous
content
 Easy transfer using retained piston to standard
Grease Thief for additional testing

9. Pillow Block Electric Motor Grease Thief SlimTM
MOV Gearbox Robot Kit Wind Turbine

10. Electric Motor Sampling
 Grease Thief can be threaded into drain in place of a
plug
 QC to deliver 1-5 psi relief pressure to ensure purging
 Active methods may be required; T-handle or GT Slim
 Mixing is a common failure mechanism, causing
softening and separation of grease and allowing to
migrate to windings
 Periodic grease sampling can detect such issues early;
hardened grease can be a source of energy losses

11. Robot Sampling
 Industrial robots are
often 6-axis gearboxes,
grease or oil lubricated
 Grease lubricated
robots can be evaluated
for wear, contaminants,
and grease breakdown
 Transitioning from time-
based grease purges to
condition based can
save $$$

12. Sampling per ASTM D7718
 Sampling with extension rod
– Grease Thief is attached to T-handle and red piston is flush
with body
– Clean area around the access port with a lint-free cloth/wipe
– Shut down, lock out, and tag out machine properly for safety
– Guide in Grease Thief on the T-handle to predetermined
depth and then the sample is taken
– Remove T-handle, clean outside of the Grease Thief and
cap sample
– Placed in shipping tube with label that has identifying
information

13. Sampling per ASTM D7718
 Sampling without extension rod/port for Pillow
Block
– Use the large side of the spatula to move any
grease/debris on the outside of the bearing before
grease is added
– Slowly grease is added and old grease is purged out
– Clean end of the spatula is used to sample the
purged grease and pack into syringe
– Using the syringe the Grease Thief is filled and
capped
– Placed in shipping tube with label that has identifying
information

14. Sampling per ASTM D7718
 Sampling without extension rod/port for
split housing Pillow block or similar
bearing
– The top of the housing is removed to expose
the bearing
– Clean end of the spatula is used to sample
the purged grease and pack into syringe
– Using the syringe, the Grease Thief is filled
and capped
– Placed in shipping tube with label that has
identifying information

15. Establish an effective grease analysis program
with these seven steps
• Step 1: Select appropriate equipment for inclusion
• Step 2: Evaluate grease flow in the machine to determine “live zone” target
• Step 3: Select appropriate equipment for obtaining a representative sample
• Step 4: Establish a Standard Operating Procedure for grease sampling methodology
and conditions
• Step 5: Create an appropriate and cost-effective test slate that is right-sized for the
individual component
• Step 6: Generate a sampling schedule with optimized frequencies
• Step 7: Review analysis results for systemic issues and implement pro-active measures to
improve reliability and life

16. Questions?