How to Grease a Mini Excavator
Qisheng Machinery · Updated October 16, 2026
Quick Answer
Knowing how to grease a mini excavator starts with the lubrication diagram for the actual machine. Identify each service point, the specified grease, the required amount and its interval. Prepare the machine in the prescribed service position, clean the fitting, lubricate according to that point's instructions and record the work.
Do not use "pump until fresh grease appears" as a rule for every fitting. A pin joint, a bearing, a gear-lubrication point and a track-tension connection can require different treatment. The correct amount and purpose matter as much as finding the fitting.
Make a Point-by-Point Lubrication Record
| Record field | What to enter from the applicable instructions |
|---|---|
| Component and point | Diagram reference and exact location, including left/right identification where relevant |
| Grease specification | Approved product or full specification, not only cartridge color |
| Quantity or method | The stated amount and application method for this point |
| Interval | Operating hours, calendar requirement and any specified severe-service adjustment |
| Service position | Required machine, attachment and access arrangement |
| Completion | Date, meter reading, product used and any defect found |
Check that the diagram covers the installed attachment and configuration. An aftermarket hitch or powered tool may have its own instructions. A photograph of a similar machine is not a complete grease-point map.
Before starting, establish the manufacturer's parking, shutdown, isolation and support requirements. Never rely on hydraulic pressure alone to hold equipment while servicing it. If reaching a point requires a different position, arrange it using the prescribed procedure rather than reaching into an unsupported mechanism.
Do Not Give Every Component the Same Interval
One published example makes the distinction clear. The Bobcat E08 service schedule, printed page 65, places machinery pivot-point greasing in the 8–10 hour column and swing-circle/pinion greasing in the 50 hour column. Its swing entry identifies two fittings.
| Identified example | Interval shown in that E08 schedule |
|---|---|
| Machinery pivot points | 8–10 hours |
| Swing circle and pinion | 50 hours |
These are Bobcat E08 entries, not QS service intervals or a substitute for the E08 procedure. They show why "grease the whole excavator daily" is an incomplete instruction. Qisheng's v9 sales catalogue does not establish a point-by-point QS lubrication schedule.
Apply the Specified Amount and Keep the Fitting Clean
Clean dirt from the fitting and grease-gun connection before attaching it. Verify the grease identity, particularly if several cartridges or guns are used on the same site. Record the product so the next service does not begin with an unknown previous fill.
Apply the amount or endpoint stated for that component. Where a pin-joint procedure uses displaced grease as an indicator, follow that specific instruction; do not transfer the endpoint to a sealed bearing or an unidentified housing.
SKF's lubrication guidance explains that a bearing needs a suitable lubricant and a controlled quantity; overfilling can impair operation. This general bearing principle does not provide a QS grease quantity or a pump count.
The number of gun strokes is only useful when the service instruction and the delivery from that gun make it a defined amount. "Ten pumps everywhere" leaves both the component requirement and the delivered quantity unresolved.
Keep Abnormal Findings Separate from Routine Greasing
If a fitting will not accept grease, identify and assess the problem instead of continuing to increase pressure. Record a damaged fitting, abnormal leakage, seal damage or joint movement for service review. Adding grease does not repair a worn pin or establish that a damaged bearing is usable.
The track adjuster's grease connection serves a tensioning mechanism. It is not another pivot to fill during a lubrication round. Use the actual track-adjustment instructions; this article does not provide a universal valve-release or pressure-setting procedure.
After the prescribed work, remove excess material where instructed and leave the access area clean. Mark incomplete tasks clearly in the service record rather than recording the whole machine as "greased" when some points remain unresolved.
Changing grease and identifying swing-lubrication points
Before changing grease, record the exact old and proposed product names and obtain their technical data. SKF’s bearing guidance treats base-oil and thickener compatibility as separate checks and recommends expert verification; a general compatibility chart is only a screening aid. Ask the lubricant and equipment suppliers for a changeover procedure appropriate to the component. Cartridge colour or a shared NLGI grade does not establish a compatible mixture.
For the swing system, identify which connection serves the bearing and which serves the gear or pinion arrangement from the fitted machine’s diagram. Keep the specified lubricant, amount, machine position and interval beside each point. Remote fittings may lead to different components, so their positions on the body alone do not establish their purpose. Stop and request the correct diagram when a point cannot be identified; do not rotate or service the machine while someone is in its movement area.
The separate grease-fitting identification guide covers the replacement connection. A powered attachment may have its own requirements: see hydraulic breaker grease and chisel paste for the service information to obtain with a breaker. SKF’s lubrication and miscibility guidance explains the general compatibility checks; it is not a QS product approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grease should I buy?
Obtain the specification for the actual component. A familiar brand, color or general-purpose label does not establish that it meets every point's requirements.
Is fresh grease at the seal always the stopping point?
No. Use that endpoint only where the applicable procedure calls for it. Other points may have a specified quantity or different method.
Can the E08's 8–10 and 50 hour intervals be used for a QS machine?
They illustrate component-specific scheduling on that Bobcat model. Obtain the correct QS machine and attachment instructions before assigning its intervals.
Organize the Machine's Service Information
Use the parts and maintenance record to connect the machine identity with the correct documents. The hydraulic-oil guide addresses a separate fluid-selection task. For a model enquiry, see the QS-18 product.
Send Qisheng the machine serial, configuration and the service point you need to identify. Request the applicable lubrication information rather than a generic grease recommendation.