Vaseline
 

Can you use Vaseline when you repack your bearings on all parts of the bike?

You can, but it won't hold up like bearing grease will.

Vaseline is too thick and can attack latex gaskets. Use K-Y Jelly instead ;)

Seriously, a tub of wheel bearing grease is pretty cheap at your local auto parts store.

White Lithium grease is the std product. Small tubs cost less than vasaline. I scoop some into a 35mm film canister for workshop use, so I don't risk contaminating the whole tub.

Excellent idea. Thanks!

I used to do this when I was a kid, never gave me any problem. These days, though I prefer Phil Wood grease.

For bearings, it's best to use grease that comes in a tube, not a tub. Grease in tubes stays clean, grease in tubs gets contaminated easily. I use a tub of white lithium grease mainly for lubricating screw threads, seat tubes, handlebar stems and the like, but for bearings I use the Phil Wood.

Sheldon "The Silent 'E' Matters" Brown

Vaseline sounds like a "I'm stuck with a crashed hub bearing in the middle of Uganda, and the natives have kindly offered me the only lubricants they have, goat fat and a tub of vaseline left there 30 years ago by the last traveller. I suppose I'll use the vaseline." kind of fix. Not that there is anything wrong with that. ;)

I normally use Harley Davidson Wheel Bearing Grease. It is bright blue, and it lets me make "VROOOM VROOOM" sounds while pedaling my bike around. Actually, its just the only tub of grease I've got, and it'll last me till the end of time at my current usage rate. Pretty heavy duty stuff, too.

peace,
sam

I recently went into my LBS to get some grease, and asked for white lithium. They told me they don't sell it anymore, and don't recommend it for bearings, because it breaks down over time. They sold me some nice looking dark grease, instead. Anyone else back up the LBS opinion?

Interesting advice on the "loob toob" and tub. I personally got a tubba park grease on the fairly cheap, but if you decide to try vaseline, let us know how it goes!

A recipe for a Vaseline based grease:

6 parts Vaseline
1 part 10 W. motor oil.

Place in a metal container and heat slowly over a very low heat source until all is liquid and mix well, allow to cool before use.

I used this for years on sailboat winches.

Doc

I don't know about bikes specifically, but in the motorcycle world people don't use white lithium grease for packing bearings anymore. In fact, the only place I use white lithium is as a spray-lube for general purpose stuff, like latches and hinges and stuff.

A dark heavy bearing grease is what I've seen most places using these day, and it is usually what is in stuff when I crack it open. ;)

peace,
sam

I always buy grease in tubs. Been using Slick 50 multi purpose. Its green and gooey but so far, i cant say I have one complaint.

I'll second that, don't buy grease in tubs. You'll end up wasting a lot since the stuff on the top will get contaminated and you end up scraping that off.

Get the phill wood grease, it's like a whole $6CAD at mec.

The Vaseline worked pretty well, my bearings are now overhauled and the pedals are almost like new. I overhauled my bearings in my pedals, it worked great.

Right...

Strange... I went into my LBS and asked about white lithium... they freaked and said "no, don't use that..." and sold me a tube of something that looks like vaseline with teflon in it. The ingrediants say "non disclosed grease" and Teflon.

I used to use Bullshot, don't see it around any more. My last tub got contaminated... just like others are cautioning...

A little off topic... I'm using Velox brand White Vaseline oil I bought at Decathelon in France and it seems to work well on my chain.

Back in the 60's I bought a bicycle repair manual that recommended Vaseline, but I wouldn't use it now.

No really, it is a chain lube! Oil of Olay, however is great for keeping your Brooks saddle looking young and wrinkle free!

I think the white lithium breaks down to easily. I have been using marine bearing grease. It is green and pretty thick.

I've repacked hubs and headsets that had white lithuim grease in them. The grease had broken down into this hardened white crap that flaked away...

All I know is that my dad is going to buy me a grease gun I had a sick ride today and nothing went wrong with the pedals yet. I am repacking my platform pedal bearings, with Vaseline stuff works great.

Ok, this guy is about to be classified as a troll.