Lithium grease
#26
SE Wis

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,546
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From: Milwaukee, WI
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
I had a tube of Phil for years until it ran out. Now I just use marine grease I've had for years.
For rubber applications I have tubes of Silglyde, Molykote 55 o ring grease, and Honda Shin Etsu. Dielectric grease for electrical stuff.
For rubber applications I have tubes of Silglyde, Molykote 55 o ring grease, and Honda Shin Etsu. Dielectric grease for electrical stuff.
#27
Senior Member


Joined: May 2010
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From: Bastrop Texas
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Geezzzzzz... How many different lubes have I used over the years? And how many different things do I use grease on? Cars, Boats, Bicycles, Appliances, Fence Posts, even some parts of my fire arms... Ha! Now days for me there is only one grease.
Do note that I do not know what the best grease would be for a Carbon Bike...
Marine Grease
Do note that I do not know what the best grease would be for a Carbon Bike...
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#28
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,137
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From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Hi, I recently purchased a set of V3 Pedals. Unfortunately, the guy didn’t have any lithium grease left, so I need to buy some to grease them. I’m curious about the differences between lithium grease and lithium soap grease. Also, what do the colors mean, like white or green lithium grease?
Lithium grease takes this "soap" or surfactant and uses it to dissolve up oil in the solid to make grease. The mixture is likely 90% oil and the rest the surfactant and/or other stuff. The resultant mixture will remain stable for a very long time. Over time and exposure to the elements, however, the oil can start to bleed out. The surfactant is left behind. None lithium grease can be a mixture of surfactants or it can contain clay or both. When people open up old bearings and find "peanut butter" or "grape jelly" inside, what they are seeing is the binder (soap or clay) left behind. The oil didn't "harden", it flowed away over time.
Modern polyurethane greases use polyurethane as the binder. It still uses oil but the oil seems to hold in the polyurethane better than soap based greases to. It's more stable for longer.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#29
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,324
Likes: 5,235
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Lithium grease takes this "soap" or surfactant and uses it to dissolve up oil in the solid to make grease. The mixture is likely 90% oil and the rest the surfactant and/or other stuff. The resultant mixture will remain stable for a very long time. Over time and exposure to the elements, however, the oil can start to bleed out. The surfactant is left behind. None lithium grease can be a mixture of surfactants or it can contain clay or both. When people open up old bearings and find "peanut butter" or "grape jelly" inside, what they are seeing is the binder (soap or clay) left behind. The oil didn't "harden", it flowed away over time.
N.B. this separation issue is a reason why many old-school cup-and-cone hubs have an oil port where you can add more oil to replace that which leaked out. The act of riding will re-emulsify the oil with the surfactant and restore the grease.
#30
Mad bike riding scientist




Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,137
Likes: 6,188
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
How long it takes for the oil to separate from the surfactant depends on how well the grease was emulsified in production. Cheap greases will separate faster than better greases. My experience is that good quality grease like Pennzoil #705 and Campagnolo grease can go years without separating, while bargain auto parts discount store grease can start to separate in a few months.
Modern polyurethane greases don’t have that problem because they don’t really separate.
N.B. this separation issue is a reason why many old-school cup-and-cone hubs have an oil port where you can add more oil to replace that which leaked out. The act of riding will re-emulsify the oil with the surfactant and restore the grease.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#31
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,324
Likes: 5,235
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
#32
Senior Member


Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Bikes: Lynskey R230, Trek 5200, 1975 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Falcon ,Trek T50 Tandem and a 1968 Paramount in progress.
That was also likely the reason that the suggested interval for greasing bearings was about 6 months or twice a year.
Now, I mainly use the white stuff in a syringe when I work of cheap or kids bikes. Back off the cones a little, squirt some stuff in and readjust.
As soon as I use my tub up, I will buy some "proper grease." At this rate, that should be around 2075.
#33
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,324
Likes: 5,235
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.




