Greases
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I've noticed various types of grease being used in various places on my bike/supplied with
components - for example:
some sort of white grease on the seatpost bright green grease in the wheel bearings/freehub very
light green/translucent grease on the crank splines yellowish thick grease on the chain
On the other hand, the only 'bicycle-specific' grease I found at Halfrods was a tube of pink stuff,
allegedly containing teflon and being more water repellent than other greases. And when I grease
things I normally just use either this or copper antiseize depending on purpose.
Does anyone know what all these different types of greases are called/where you get them? I like
the grease that comes on chains - it seems to be drier and pick up less dirt than chain lube -
don't know if chains could be regreased when the stuff wears off. Is this bright green grease
better for bearings than the pink stuff I've got? The white stuff that seems to be used for
antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike
shops, but what is it?
Rich
"Richard Goodman" <rich@NOSPAM.rsk.homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3fb742c3$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...
> The white stuff that seems to be used for antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more
> pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike shops, but what is it?
>
Could be a PTFE based grease, often "food grade" grease is white. One source
is:-
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/searchresultstwo.jsp;jsessionid=POK1W4UQSDY
3DQFIAEXSFE4AVAAS4IV3?action=0&ImgDisp=Y&QText=GREASE
I think Simon Mason is the person most qualified to answer the other questions.
Pete
"Richard Goodman" <rich@NOSPAM.rsk.homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3fb742c3$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...
> The white stuff that seems to be used for antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more
> pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike shops, but what is it?
>
http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/39724.pdf
"Peter B" <peter28@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:bp7ieu$baq$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
>
> "Richard Goodman" <rich@NOSPAM.rsk.homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:3fb742c3$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...
> > The white stuff that seems to be used for antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more
> > pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike shops, but what is it?
> >
>
> http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/39724.pdf
>
>
>
>
>
Chris Juden wrote a learned piece about the suitability of different kinds of grease for bicycles in
the CTC magazine. It was a good few years ago though, if anyone has a lot of back numbers!
Alan
"Richard Goodman" <rich@NOSPAM.rsk.homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3fb742c3$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...
> I've noticed various types of grease being used in various places on my bike/supplied with
> components - for example:
>
> yellowish thick grease on the chain
If it's a SRAM, they come with 'Gleitmo' grease on them. After various conversations about it I
thought I'd give it a try, and it seems quite good so far. (Although _very_ difficult to clean off.)
Not entirely cheap though, and I only found a litre bottle of the stuff.
cheers, clive
I've used white lithium grease before from an aerosol. Very light and slippery.
Could somebody please explain the difference between oil and grease ? Is it more than just
viscosity ?
Jon
Peter B wrote:
> "Richard Goodman" <rich@NOSPAM.rsk.homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:3fb742c3$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...
>> The white stuff that seems to be used for antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more
>> pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike shops, but what is it?
>>
>
> http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/39724.pdf
I doubt it. I know we all love our bikes to bits but most of us draw the line at licking the grease
off. It'll be one of the many teflon or lithium greases you can buy. As for the rest the colour is
just a marketing feature. Oil doesn't come out the ground in different colours. What goes in the
original bearings on the bike depends on what the individual manufacturers bulk buy. Just get a good
waterproof grease for the bearings and a wax or oil based lubricant for the external pivots and
chain. Avoid the lithium greases on suspension fork bushes.
Tony
"Peter B" <peter28@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:bp7i61$8t7$1@titan.btinternet.com...
>
> "Richard Goodman" <rich@NOSPAM.rsk.homechoice.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:3fb742c3$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...
>
> > The white stuff that seems to be used for antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more
> > pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike shops, but what is it?
> >
> Could be a PTFE based grease, often "food grade" grease is white. One
source
> is:-
>
>
>
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/searchresultstwo.jsp;jsessionid=POK1W4UQSDY
> 3DQFIAEXSFE4AVAAS4IV3?action=0&ImgDisp=Y&QText=GREASE some sort of white grease on the seatpost
bright green grease in the wheel bearings/freehub very light green/translucent grease on the crank
splines yellowish thick grease on the chain
> I think Simon Mason is the person most qualified to answer the other questions.
Sorry, I don't know the specs of the different sorts of cycle greases, but I would guess they won't
be as critical as the ones used in car bearings,
e.g. lithium grease that has to stand high temperatures without running out of the bearings.
The white stuff is more likely to be a silicone grease. The others sound like various ordinary
mineral oil based greases of differing viscosities.
Have a look around this site http://www.parktool.com/tools/PPL_1.shtml (they recommend polyurea
grease for bearings. You can even e-mail their Mr Calvin info@parktool.com if you can't find what
you are looking for.
Simon
"Jon Schneider" <jon@jschneider.n.e.t.> wrote in message
> I've used white lithium grease before from an aerosol. Very light and slippery.
>
> Could somebody please explain the difference between oil and grease ? Is it more than just
> viscosity ?
It's explained here:
http://www.assalub.com/eng/useful.html
Simon
Clive George wrote:
>
> If it's a SRAM, they come with 'Gleitmo' grease on them. After various conversations about it I
> thought I'd give it a try, and it seems quite good so far. (Although _very_ difficult to clean
> off.) Not entirely cheap though, and I only found a litre bottle of the stuff.
>
If it is grease you are putting on the chain then it is unlikely to penetrate to where its needed -
on the inside of the chain. Putting lubricants on the outside of the chain is only useful for
stopping corrosion.
Tony
Tony Raven wrote:
> If it is grease you are putting on the chain then it is unlikely to penetrate to where its needed
> - on the inside of the chain.
Unless you immerse the chain in grease and bake it at a low heat in the oven for a while - that can
be very effective, also very messy!
--
Guy http://chapmancentral.demon.co.uk (http://chapmancentral.demon.co.uk/) "Sic hoc adfixum in obice legere potes, et liberaliter
educatus et nimis propinquus ades"
"Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote in message
news:bp7soj$1m59te$1@ID-178940.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Clive George wrote:
> >
> > If it's a SRAM, they come with 'Gleitmo' grease on them. After various conversations about it I
> > thought I'd give it a try, and it seems quite good so far. (Although _very_ difficult to clean
> > off.) Not entirely cheap though, and I only found a litre bottle of the stuff.
> >
>
> If it is grease you are putting on the chain then it is unlikely to penetrate to where its needed
> - on the inside of the chain. Putting lubricants on the outside of the chain is only useful for
> stopping corrosion.
It comes in a solvent, so it does the penetrating thing like the various wax based chain lubes.
cheers, clive
Just zis Guy, you know? <outlook.bugs@microsoft.com> said:
> Tony Raven wrote:
>
>> If it is grease you are putting on the chain then it is unlikely to penetrate to where its needed
>> - on the inside of the chain.
>
> Unless you immerse the chain in grease and bake it at a low heat in the oven for a while - that
> can be very effective, also very messy!
It also sounds quite tasty.
<homer>Mmm, grease...</homer>
Regards,
-david
Richard Goodman wrote:
> I've noticed various types of grease being used in various places on my bike/supplied with
> components - for example:
>
> some sort of white grease on the seatpost bright green grease in the wheel bearings/freehub very
> light green/translucent grease on the crank splines yellowish thick grease on the chain
>
> On the other hand, the only 'bicycle-specific' grease I found at Halfrods was a tube of pink
> stuff, allegedly containing teflon and being more water repellent than other greases. And when I
> grease things I normally just use either this or copper antiseize depending on purpose.
>
> Does anyone know what all these different types of greases are called/where you get them? I like
> the grease that comes on chains - it seems to be drier and pick up less dirt than chain lube -
> don't know if chains could be regreased when the stuff wears off. Is this bright green grease
> better for bearings than the pink stuff I've got? The white stuff that seems to be used for
> antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike
> shops, but what is it?
It's called "white grease"!
Personally I use Castrol LM lithium grease (about £5 for a metric shedload) for bearings and
Copaslip where it's just to stop things seizing (seatpost, stem, bottom bracket threads, crank
tapers^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H).
I use a medium-strength nutlock for things like crank bolts. It has anti-corrosion qualities as well
as preventing loosening.
Jon Schneider wrote:
> I've used white lithium grease before from an aerosol. Very light and slippery.
>
> Could somebody please explain the difference between oil and grease ? Is it more than just
> viscosity ?
Grease contains soap to thicken it. Lithium grease uses a lithium-based soap (the soap you wash your
face with is usually sodium based).
On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 21:18:21 +0000, Zog The Undeniable <ggg@hhh.net> wrote:
>Richard Goodman wrote:
>
>> I've noticed various types of grease being used in various places on my bike/supplied with
>> components - for example:
>>
>> some sort of white grease on the seatpost bright green grease in the wheel bearings/freehub very
>> light green/translucent grease on the crank splines yellowish thick grease on the chain
>>
>> On the other hand, the only 'bicycle-specific' grease I found at Halfrods was a tube of pink
>> stuff, allegedly containing teflon and being more water repellent than other greases. And when I
>> grease things I normally just use either this or copper antiseize depending on purpose.
>>
>> Does anyone know what all these different types of greases are called/where you get them? I like
>> the grease that comes on chains - it seems to be drier and pick up less dirt than chain lube -
>> don't know if chains could be regreased when the stuff wears off. Is this bright green grease
>> better for bearings than the pink stuff I've got? The white stuff that seems to be used for
>> antiseize seems lighter than the copper stuff, more pleasant to handle, and commonly used in bike
>> shops, but what is it?
>
>It's called "white grease"!
>
>Personally I use Castrol LM lithium grease (about £5 for a metric shedload) for bearings and
>Copaslip where it's just to stop things seizing (seatpost, stem, bottom bracket threads, crank
>tapers^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H).
>
>I use a medium-strength nutlock for things like crank bolts. It has anti-corrosion qualities as
>well as preventing loosening.
Am I the only one who uses the general purpose cheapo auto grease around here? Mind you, am I the
only one you rides old salvaged crap dumpster bikes too? A tub seems to last quite some time.
garryb [grease that you can rely on...seems to do me ok]
"Garry Broad" <somebloke@somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:hq0grvk7o891l0jjhjclg9dpr94qmjqepl@4ax.com...
> Am I the only one who uses the general purpose cheapo auto grease around here?
Ah but even auto grease comes in so many different types - I think I've got about four tubs of the
stuff - copper antiseize, lithium, moly, and something else.
Some of us just like to have the right lubricants for the job.....
Rich
Garry Broad wrote:
>
> Am I the only one who uses the general purpose cheapo auto grease around here? Mind you, am I the
> only one you rides old salvaged crap dumpster bikes too? A tub seems to last quite some time.
>
General purpose cheapo marine grease is better. Designed to resist washing out with water better.
Tony
On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 05:29:59 -0000, "Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote:
>Garry Broad wrote:
>>
>> Am I the only one who uses the general purpose cheapo auto grease around here? Mind you, am I the
>> only one you rides old salvaged crap dumpster bikes too? A tub seems to last quite some time.
>>
>
>General purpose cheapo marine grease is better. Designed to resist washing out with water better.
>
Oh right, never heard of that, but there again I don't exactly keep my ears to the ground when it
comes to these kind of things. Where would I find such a product? The sheds? I kind of resent paying
for these dedicated more-expensive bicycle lubricants, mainly because I'm cynical and, more
relevantly, I don't ride the quality of bike that warrants them really....even though my bikes are
quality as far as I'm concerned<g>.
I've always used chainsaw oil for the chain and basic auto grease for wheel bearings, BB
spindles/bearings, seatposts and nuts and bolts etc.
Garryb
"John Hearns" <jhearns@nospam.nospam> wrote in message
news:pan.2003.11.17.09.03.31.901721@nospam.nospam...
> Talking about greasing bearings, this is a job I have never done.
>
> I saw a pair of cone spanners on my visit to DEcathlon yesterday, only 5 quid or so. The
> packet said 2mm thick steel, and they had six different cutouts for different sized nuts, at m
> steps. French brand - can't remember the name. Are these any good or should I go for a more
> expensive brand?
Dunno.
> An yonline guides to greasing bearings?
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_hub.shtml
>Or am I better just to let things alone, as the wheels on my bike seem to be running just fine?
Depends on the conditions you ride in and the age of them and the only way to find out is to have a
look (he says, stating the bleedin' obvious). Once you've got to the point of having a look by
loosing the cones if they look sound be careful not to introduce muck and actually create a problem
then tighten 'em back up. But having got to this point it may be as well to strip, clean, grease and
reassemble them. And now you're in a position to judge your next service interval with the knowledge
you've gleaned :-)
Pete
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