Go Back   oOple.com Forums > General > General Race Chat

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 31-05-2012
neallewis's Avatar
neallewis neallewis is offline
*SuPeRsTaR mEmBeR*
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 3,368
Default Bearing Lube

What do you use?

I know bearing can be bought really cheap now, and replacing is easy, and I have plenty of spares, but I do like to give mine a clean, blow out the crud and give them a fresh lube.

Back in the day (20+ years ago) I used to use various RC specific lubes that went on as oil, which dried to leave a grease. There was also canned non-RC stuff that I used.

I've bought replacement bearings that appear to have a silicone type grease in them, when you remove the rubber seal, and others that look to be lubed with an oil.

I'd like to find out what others use or recommend?
3-in-1 oil, some kind of grease, some specific oil or grease, silicone, etc?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 31-05-2012
sosidge's Avatar
sosidge sosidge is offline
Mad Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,774
Default

I prefer to leave them with the standard grease. Once you start flushing them out and oiling them they wear out pretty quickly. That's why I don't buy the expensively un-lubricated bearings!

I doubt any manufacturers are putting a silicone grease in there, it would be very draggy. Something like 3-in-1 or a specific bearing oil would be the easiest for you to use at home.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 31-05-2012
i4n's Avatar
i4n i4n is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Deal, Kent
Posts: 708
Default

I normally use my bearing as they come out of the packet but after a wet or a very dusty day I tend to blast them with motor cleaner or WD40 to get the moisture or rubbish out and then I use Trinity Royal Oil to lubricate. The only trouble is it's a bit like rocking horse poo and difficult to get hold of but the container of it you get lasts for ages.

When mine runs out and if I can't get any more I'll probably use some sewing machine oil as I believe it's fairly similar stuff.
__________________
Dragon Paints
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 31-05-2012
neallewis's Avatar
neallewis neallewis is offline
*SuPeRsTaR mEmBeR*
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 3,368
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sosidge View Post
I prefer to leave them with the standard grease.
But what is the standard grease?

I imagine rubber sealed bearings (which all mine are) would use something that would not attack the rubber seals. e.g. silicone based.

Or is a lithium based grease which tends to be used in 1:1 cars and machine bearings?

Some new blue seal ABEC-3 kits I got from "hobbybearingstore" on ebay seamed to be lubed with a silicone looking grease when I removed the seal on a new one.

Other bearings I've seen for sale on the Internet, mostly metal shielded seem to be listed as lubricated with a light machine oil.

I've been leaving them, but wheel bearings do tend to get packed up with crud, and not much clean stock lube left. When you wash out the crud, you wash out the original lube, but in most cases have a perfectly functioning bearing once it lubed up again. I did have an AE kit bearing break a ball recently, which sounded rough. I removed the rubber seal, and washed out lots of crud and a piece of a ball bearing. I replaced it, but the bearing had been left with stock lube, and was only 3 months old. I imagine if I'd cleaned and lubed this earlier, it would have lasted longer.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 31-05-2012
Naushad Naushad is offline
Mad Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Cardiff, Wales
Posts: 1,430
Default

I tend to squirt a drop of Hudy bearing oil. Easy to use and works well..
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 31-05-2012
budfish's Avatar
budfish budfish is offline
Mad Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rochdale,Manchester
Posts: 1,853
Default

I use brake and clutch cleaner to clean the bearings as its a solvent and dries leaving zero residue then any bearing lube from your local model shop to re-lube them up

Buds
__________________

http://budsballs.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 31-05-2012
carpenterdean carpenterdean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LANCS
Posts: 143
Default

i've been told by someone who knows what he's on about to use LM2 grease.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 31-05-2012
neallewis's Avatar
neallewis neallewis is offline
*SuPeRsTaR mEmBeR*
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 3,368
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by budfish View Post
I use brake and clutch cleaner to clean the bearings as its a solvent and dries leaving zero residue then any bearing lube from your local model shop to re-lube them up

Buds
Both my local shops have said run them factory lube, then replace the bearings when they are dirty. And I can understand why they have said that :-)
One place doesn't stock a bearing lube, and the other place is totally out of stock of the hudy bearings lubes they list.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 31-05-2012
igbandy's Avatar
igbandy igbandy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 31
Default

I use a drop of Avid Slip bearing oil in bearings. Mine came from JE spares.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 31-05-2012
Robocop's Avatar
Robocop Robocop is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 597
Default

Zx1 i think its called i know schumacher used to have it only used 2 bottles in a long time
__________________
RC OCTANE
Schumacher
Cougar LD2
Lrp
Eds
Sworkz 35-4n
Alpha dragon
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 31-05-2012
neallewis's Avatar
neallewis neallewis is offline
*SuPeRsTaR mEmBeR*
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 3,368
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by carpenterdean View Post
i've been told by someone who knows what he's on about to use LM2 grease.
That's a general purpose Lithium based grease. I've a couple of tubes of that with a grease gun in my garage for my old rangerover. It's a bit thick, but a guess thinly applied it will keep them smooth, once run in.

I've just found some lithium spray grease with PTFE. Might be worth a try.

I might try some different greases and oils in some wheel bearings to compare.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 31-05-2012
neallewis's Avatar
neallewis neallewis is offline
*SuPeRsTaR mEmBeR*
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 3,368
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robocop View Post
Zx1 i think its called i know schumacher used to have it only used 2 bottles in a long time
This: http://www.team-zx1.com/Micro-Lube



I've seen that applicator stocked in a RC few places...

is it an oil, or an oil that leaves a grease residue?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 31-05-2012
budfish's Avatar
budfish budfish is offline
Mad Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rochdale,Manchester
Posts: 1,853
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by neallewis View Post
This: http://www.team-zx1.com/Micro-Lube



I've seen that applicator stocked in a RC few places...

is it an oil, or an oil that leaves a grease residue?
I got mine from Je spares it's really good gear
__________________

http://budsballs.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 31-05-2012
kaszal's Avatar
kaszal kaszal is offline
Mad Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Wembley
Posts: 1,005
Default

For winter racing outdoors I sealed up my axle bearings with TF2, which seems to be a light grease...

http://www.oople.com/forums/showpost...&postcount=377
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 31-05-2012
sosidge's Avatar
sosidge sosidge is offline
Mad Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,774
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by neallewis View Post
But what is the standard grease?
Probably a lithium grease.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 31-05-2012
Belsten's Avatar
Belsten Belsten is offline
*SuPeRsTaR mEmBeR*
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2,495
Default

another one for Trinity Royal Oil, last lot I got was from DMS, was a couple of years ago tho and still got loads left
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 31-05-2012
reelman_fishing's Avatar
reelman_fishing reelman_fishing is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 279
Default

90% of bearings are designed to run in grease except for special applications i.e. ceramic to run in extreme heat or isolate electrical current. Lm2 grease is high melting point wheel grease. Hope this helps.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 31-05-2012
DCM's Avatar
DCM DCM is offline
Spends too long on oOple ...
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Marvelous South Wales!!
Posts: 8,896
Default

To be honest, if the bearings gritty, the damage is already done and is only fit for the bin. I run my with what is in them, if they got rubber seals, I will pop the seals and soak in car cleaner which breaks down compacted dirt, then into break cleaner and then allowed to dry. Grease is then used to pack the bearing and I use white diff grease.

I have found it more economical to buy cheap bearings and replace as needed than buying expensive ones and not getting much more life.
__________________
dragon paints : team tekin : fusion hobbies :SCHUMACHER RACING : Nuclear R/C for all my sticky and slippery stuff - if it needs gluing or lubing, Nuclear RC is the man!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
oOple.com