Episode notes
How Whitmore SURTAC 2000 protects dragline open gears is the core question every surface-mining procurement and reliability team needs answered before the next scheduled lube changeover. This episode tears into the chemistry, grade selection, and multiservice application map for one of the most capable open gear lubrication products on the market — no asphalt, no solvents, no lead.
SURTAC 2000 builds its wear barrier through a dual solid-additive system: graphite plus molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) that bonds directly to metal under load and forms a dense gray film between mating gear teeth. That physical separation holds the line during boundary lubrication phases — exactly the condition dragline open gears face under shock loading. Field results show lubricant consumption drops approximately 50% versus traditional asphaltic fluids, while operating temperatures fall enough to measurably extend gear life.
The extreme pressure credentials are hard to argue with. All four SURTAC 2000 grades achieve a 620 kg weld point on the ASTM D-2596 Four Ball EP test — the same base oil viscosity of 48,000 cSt at 40°C (380 cSt at 100°C per ASTM D-445) underpins every grade. A non-melt bentonite clay thickener keeps the film physically stable on hot surfaces, including high-temperature kiln open gears. Corrosion resistance is verified at a 1B rating on ASTM D-4048 (Modified), 3-hour test at 212°F (100°C).
Grade selection comes down to climate and system design. The Lincoln Ventmeter pumpability test at 400 psi tells the story: SURTAC 2000 (NLGI <000) pumps to -30°F (-34°C) for extreme sub-zero ops; RD (NLGI 000) to -20°F (-29°C) for standard cold climates; HD (NLGI 00) to 15°F (-9°C) for mild temperate sites; XD (NLGI 0) to 35°F (2°C) for warm climates or where a thicker consistency is preferred. Order the XD in caulking tubes here: https://www.pe-energy.com/product/surtac-2000-xd-caulking-tubes-open-gear-lubricants/ — and spec the RD in TCLP-safe pails here: https://www.pe-energy.com/product/surtac-2000-rd-tclp-safe-pail-open-gear-lubricants/
As a true multiservice lubricant, SURTAC 2000 consolidates your lube inventory across swing racks, house rails, rollers, wire ropes, and drum laggings on draglines — plus heavily loaded bushings (including pneumatic hammers) and slow-moving bearings at or below a 150,000 DN speed factor. It is also rated for sealed crawler track pins and bushings. Critically, the formulation does not attack seals or packaging materials in automated pumping systems and injectors. Grab the HD grade in a TCLP-safe drum for fleet-scale rollouts: https://www.pe-energy.com/product/surtac-2000-hd-tclp-safe-wli-drum-open-gear-lubricants/
Wholesale orders scale from a single spare pail to a full-fleet drum program. Browse the complete Whitmore catalog — including companion products for gearboxes, wire ropes, and conveyor systems — at https://www.pe-energy.com/brand/whitmore/
Resources
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