Originally Posted by Rowan
Anyway, I aim to get over all this in future by using only sealed bearings... but, I just realised... most sealed bearings used on bicycles are the generic types used in car alternators, ceiling fans and various industrial electric motors and other applications... and they *don't* use bicycle-specific grease.
Sorry, Pete, I just had to point out that little tidbit. Maybe a quick email to Shimano to find out the type of grease they use in their sealed BB and wheel bearings might put the issue to rest.
(Of course, having said that, you'll probably get a reply along the lines of "we use on our sealed bearings grease plating, a patented Shimano process that we also use in fishing reels". I doubt it, though.
)
Funny you should mention electric motor bearings. They kept coming up when I was researching polyurea grease (the same thing as Park Tool's bicycle specific grease). It turns out that polyurea grease is the grease of choice for electric motors. A quick google search for "polyurea grease" will turn up a bunch of links to electric motor sites. Maybe bicycle specific grease is just electric motor bearing grease repackaged.
"FAIRFAX, Va. - August 18, 2004 -- ExxonMobil today announced the introduction of Mobil Polyrex(R) EM polyurea grease, which is designed specifically to enhance the performance and reliability of electric motor bearings and ball or lightly loaded roller bearings operating at high temperatures."
http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/454781