Lubes Summary spreadsheet

Greases...summary spreadsheet
from one of the bearing manufact.suppliers we've used...this is a pretty good summary sheet (albeit slightly outdated) for bearing lubricants / greases:

Link to the AST Lube Table

Note: as you would expect...the oil/mineral based products have limited temp ranges esp. @ minimums...flouros and silicones give extreme performance esp @ the low end...FEI, some of the thickeners are not compatible with bearing seals...don't be surprised by the cost of the aerospace formulas - the space shuttle budgets are traditionally alot higher than that of us expedition fatbikers!

The AST chart does not give indications regarding use of the various lubes tabled...here is another table with comments that give better indications for application of each specific formula.

Link to AHR International 'all grease' table

_________________


IMHO our best resource for greases used in extreme, with the best relationship to winter fatbiking, is NOT 'the slope' BUT 'the Alaska Railroad'...maintenance issues in that industry iare highly researched and applied and here in Alaska they experience similar temps, wet-freeze-thaw and service conditions as us fatbikers...SO...if anyone is in the vacinity of the Alaska Railroad shops down at the port maybe query some of the mechanics, I think we'll get some v. good suggestions.

____________________


FOLLOW THE MTBR THREAD HERE:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=229841

Exerpts below:

----------

Thus far, the winter winner is....

Molykote

High Oxidation resistance
Great low temp performance
Seems compatible with plastics
Definately water resistant
At least -100dF cold start temp.

Only grease with properties intact after 3 days in the cryo...at -140dF.

-------

Cold weather testing

I would suggest the physical characteristics of your lubricants are not completely linear relative to temperture. Testing at -140dF may not be of great value if your extreme riding temp is -60dF. Also - have you testing any anti-seize? Years ago we used it (very lightly) for lube on track bike hubs.

sc

------

I agree

I'm positive its not linear...and don't get me wrong...this is not a quantitative study by any means...I don't have that kind'a time.

anyway...no real need for a quanititative analysis as all of prominent industry bearing greases we're looking at have extremely comprehensive data sheets that spec out all the important performance criteria (and then some!) already...no need to reinvent.

It is nice to see how accurate some of their data is though...running the greases beyond published low working temps does give us some qualitative indicators. i.e. I want to know when my hubs, hdset and bottom bracket are going 'rock' on me.

As per your suggestion...I will look at the the most prominent and applicable greases and run them from within and outside their published low working temps.

As per the antiSieze...will put some in the mix...not sure how well the antiseize performs in the long term 'wear' category...I assume they're designed as a static coatings more than anything else...will look into it.

Quyana for the input...

Cheers,

ML


--------