Customer Service

Cat® Equipment Maintenance: How to Inspect and Grease Loader Pins and Bushings

Estimated read time: 3 minutes

By Cat Publications

Published Dec 24, 2025

Your Cat® equipment is built tough, but regular heavy equipment maintenance is key to maximizing performance and avoiding costly downtime. Daily inspections of Cat linkage pins and bushings should be part of your routine. Regular greasing of loader pins is essential to keep components moving smoothly and extend the life of your machine. Continue reading to learn how to perform this DIY Caterpillar maintenance task on your own. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Greasing Cat Loader Pins:

• Inspect joints and linkage pins for leaks, rust, or excess grease.
• If you notice any missing parts, replace them immediately.
• For machines with auto-lube systems, confirm that all lubrication lines are intact and undamaged.

Regular greasing helps flush out contaminants and ensures smooth operation of your Cat machine's moving parts.

Start by grabbing a grease gun and a clean shop towel to wipe down the fittings. For most applications, Cat Prime Application Grease is a great choice, but if you’re working in severe conditions, check with your Cat dealer for recommendations. Apply grease until you see it begin to squeeze out from the pin joint.

Check your Operation and Maintenance manual for the greasing locations and intervals for your machine. 

To locate the correct Operation and Maintenance manual for your machine, utilize our Guided Search.

Why it matters: Routine greasing reduces friction, prevents corrosion, and keeps your Caterpillar equipment operating efficiently.   You will find a helpful decal on your equipment that shows greasing locations, too. 

Connect with your dealer for additional support.