A grease thread -- Wurth, etc.

[Moto]

I'm finally getting around to my Griso swing arm maintenance (don't ask).

As I put it all back together, I have some grease questions.

First, the order of battle, my on-hand greases:

1) Wurth SIG 3000 -- high-impact-resistant grease, bought from MG Cycle for drive shaft splines

2) Valvoline moly-fortified multipurpose grease

3) NLGI No. 2 Mystik high performance marine grease -- "excellent water resistance ... protects boat trailer wheel bearings"

I'll put #1 on the splines, of course.

My question is: What should I put on the swing arm bearings, especially in view of the possibility that grease is being washed away by water, as some have suggested? Marine wheel bearing grease (#3)? Valvoline (#2)? Wurth SIG 3000 (#1), which also claims excellent water resistance?

Thanks in advance, and advanced apologies for possibly starting a quasi-oil thread,

Moto

[yogidozer]

UGH, thought this was about Olivia Newton John 

[nc43bsa]

I used Mystic on my Mille.

But, then again, I'm probably not going to let it go 10 years between swing arm removals again, either.

[lucian]

I used marine .  Any of the above would be fine . Marine will not harden over time with exposure to water and salt.

[pete roper]

Go the marine grease. It hangs about really well and sticks like shit to a blanket. Pack them really good, bash it in until you can't get another drop in there and pack the area inboard of the race and outboard of the seal in the frame. Once you've splotched the bearings into their races then wipe off the excess that will blurt out.

Oh, and be careful you don't dislodge the RH seal from the frame when you push the spindle through. It helps if you glue it in with Stag or some such.

Pete

[Moto]

Go the marine grease. It hangs about really well and sticks like shit to a blanket. Pack them really good, bash it in until you can't get another drop in there and pack the area inboard of the race and outboard of the seal in the frame. Once you've splotched the bearings into their races then wipe off the excess that will blurt out.

Oh, and be careful you don't dislodge the RH seal from the frame when you push the spindle through. It helps if you glue it in with Stag or some such.

Pete

Thanks! I couldn't ask for more specific, useful advice than that. Really outstanding.

Now if I can just forget how well marine grease sticks to blankets.

Moto

[Paul Brooking]

Thanks! I couldn't ask for more specific, useful advice than that. Really outstanding.

Now if I can just forget how well marine grease sticks to blankets.

Moto

LOL ... the other "Australianism" is that it "sticks like snot to a child's lip"

Take your choice 

[fossil]

Johnson/Evinrude (BRP) Triple Guard Grease.

[sign216]

To add to this discussion I'll just put in that there's some disagreement on the amount of molybdenum disulfide (moly) the grease should have.  Amounts range from none, to 5%, to as much as 50% in some extreme examples. 

This isn't my area of expertise, but I hope someone knowledgeable weighs in.


For example, from a essay by NitroNine lubricants:

"The different types of greases are not interchangeable. For instance, using general-purpose grease on a drive spline can end up in disaster, due to the pressures involved. On the other hand, moly grease would not work well on an axle due to the fact that it is very slick."

"(M)oly grease ... is recommended for shock loading and bearings that are subject to especially heavy loads such as those that are found in CV joints and universal joints. Conversely, problems can be experienced if this type of grease is ever used in parts such as high-speed bearings."

[organfixsing]

I recently purchased moly grease with supposedly 73% moly. I have yet to try it but it looks good, somewhat shiny.
I purchased it from Customairseals which specializes in air rifle parts. Apparently they have some heavy duty sliding parts (probably in the air pump).
I think it was A$15.75 for 10 grams, postage included.

Cheers
Brian 

[Muzz]

For the Breva 750 (not as much power as a big block) I use the Valvoline Moly for CV's on the shaft and wheel bearing grease on the swingarm.  The Breva has just 6000 series ball bearings in the swingarm; I just prize the cover off, pack as much in as I can and spin it a bit to put the balls in a different spot, and then a little bit around the outer to help stop  any water ingress from having popped the seal.

My bearing man was quite surprised about the bearing used, and said it was not really designed for that application.

It is what it is.  <shrug>

[Roebling3]

Since barely out of being a teenager (60+ yrs.), I've not thought roller or ball bearings aught to be in swing arms. Where's the travel?  Wouldn't a tapered oilite bushing be a lot better? With a grease fitting to occasionally push moisture and crud out?
Also; while being suspicious? Paranoid? Annoying? In my serious past 2 bottles of Motul gear oil w/ Molybdenum, had obviously too much shelf time. When emptied the Moly stayed in a cement like hard slug, in the bottle. Also, in excess useage, it will build up or settle in tight corners, refusing to drain. I've seen it in final drives and gear boxes. Perhaps current formulations are more homogeneous?  R3~

[larrys]

+1 on marine grease. I'm a boat guy so there's always a tub around someplace.
Larry

[fossil]

For years now I use Sierra Marine Bearing Grease for ball bearings of all kinds, Evinrude Triple Guard Grease for splines and others (this I like to call "the best grease of the world" to my Friends). So - yes: Marine grease.