Best lubricant for metal on metal connections

Peter Ross

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Apr 14, 2022, 9:13:03 PM4/14/22

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What's the consensus on the best grease/lubricant/oil to use on sailplanes? I see a lot of pilots use white lithium grease on their ships at our airport. It seems to cake and collect gunk. An AmP recommended using regular car oil. What do you use? Thanks

2G

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Apr 14, 2022, 9:53:43 PM4/14/22

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On Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 6:13:03 PM UTC-7, peter....@gmail.com wrote:
> What's the consensus on the best grease/lubricant/oil to use on sailplanes? I see a lot of pilots use white lithium grease on their ships at our airport. It seems to cake and collect gunk. An AmP recommended using regular car oil. What do you use? Thanks

Grease is oil suspended in a thickener, which keeps the oil in place for extended periods of time. That said, there are many different types of oil and grease:
https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/29658/multi-purpose-grease
https://knowhow.napaonline.com/know-how-notes-different-types-of-grease-and-where-to-use-them/#:~:text=Fresh%20and%20salt%20water%20attacks,compatible%20with%20lithium%2Dbased%20grease.
https://bisleyinternational.com/difference-between-white-lithium-grease-silicone-grease/
You can use oil alone, but it's lubricating capacity will degrade faster than grease. I lubricate internal bearings with a general purpose oil, such as control linkages. I use grease on external parts such as landing gear. Any grease will attract dust, etc., because that is what grease does.

Tom

Charles Longley

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Apr 14, 2022, 11:34:28 PM4/14/22

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I started using Super Lube Synthetic grease a few years ago. I think I bought it for my boat but tried it on my glider and really like it. It doesn’t seem to attract a lot of dirt.

kinsell

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Apr 14, 2022, 11:46:58 PM4/14/22

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On 4/14/22 19:13, Peter Ross wrote:
> What's the consensus on the best grease/lubricant/oil to use on sailplanes? I see a lot of pilots use white lithium grease on their ships at our airport. It seems to cake and collect gunk. An AmP recommended using regular car oil. What do you use? Thanks

There's lots of variations on lithium grease, but in general there's
synthetic and petroleum based products. Synthetic in my experience
dries out and cakes, I wouldn't use it on main pins. Petroleum based is
better, but attacks rubber and plastics, so make sure it doesn't contact
them.

For small bearings, many people use a lightweight spray containing
Teflon, which isn't sticky and doesn't attract dust and dirt.

-Dave

6PK

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Apr 15, 2022, 10:39:17 AM4/15/22

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On Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 6:13:03 PM UTC-7, peter....@gmail.com wrote:

> What's the consensus on the best grease/lubricant/oil to use on sailplanes? I see a lot of pilots use white lithium grease on their ships at our airport. It seems to cake and collect gunk. An AmP recommended using regular car oil. What do you use? Thanks

I also use Super Lube. I think pretty much available everywhere

bumper

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Apr 15, 2022, 11:39:17 AM4/15/22

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Synco Super Lube synthetic grease (and oil for guns). Used it for years on glider wing pins etc. clean, broad temperature range and never experienced drying out or any other issue. For electrical plugs and connections, use either silicone grease, Dow DC-4, or other dielectric grease.

George Haeh

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Apr 15, 2022, 12:18:26 PM4/15/22

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My AME (Canadian for A&P) is a fan of TriFlow Superior which happens to be required for certain rotor heads which have a much harder life than glider components.

Another AME uses LPS lubricants which may have approvals for aviation use and is offered by Aircraft Spruce.

Both are greaseless.

Dan Marotta

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Apr 15, 2022, 12:39:43 PM4/15/22

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White lithium grease. Every few flights, I wipe off the gunk and
reapply. Works like a charm.

Dan
5J

On 4/14/22 19:13, Peter Ross wrote:

Eric Greenwell

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Apr 15, 2022, 9:57:44 PM4/15/22

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What parts of the glider are you wiping? "Every few flights" sounds like "high
maintenance" to me.

--
Eric Greenwell - USA
- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications

Dan Marotta

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Apr 16, 2022, 11:21:27 AM4/16/22

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Not high maintenance. The (what do you call them?) lift and drag pins
and the l'Hotelier fittings are presented at the outer tips of the
center wing section of the Stemme. A simple wipe with a paper towel and
a dab of grease is all it takes. Of course, I need to clean my finger
tip. That's the "high maintenance" part. :-)

Dan
5J

6PK

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Apr 17, 2022, 2:59:29 PM4/17/22

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I have to agree with the TriFlow but mostly for things like bearings. etc.
For spar pins, spikets I still Use Super Lube through..

Herbert Kilian

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Apr 18, 2022, 11:05:14 AM4/18/22

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Super Lube also makes an awsome oil, comes with a needle applicator. Very easy to use with bearings that have a felt cover and under Mylar.

jfitch

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Apr 18, 2022, 11:26:53 AM4/18/22

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I'll be contrarian here: I don't like SuperLube for this. After many years of using an HP marine lithium grease, I switched to Superlube, even got the High Pressure variant. I noticed what I thought was an increase in fretting on the drag and lift pins, and for sure an increase in corrosion. It does not stay between the surfaces well. I've gone back to the marine grease.

Craig Reinholt

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Apr 18, 2022, 2:56:43 PM4/18/22

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I agree with Jon. Upon a recommendation from Craig Funston, I've gone to Lucas Red n' Tacky grease.
https://lucasoil.com/pdf/TDS_Red-Tacky-Grease.pdf