Best grease for threading freewheel to hub?
#26
Newbie
I'd reach for the copper ease grease which is a conventional lithium soap with added copper particles normally, but freewheel to hub might involve tightening brass or bronze down onto aluminium, and the copper might cause the components to bind rather than separate freely. So I'd just use normal lithium grease. Or just oil.
#27
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I'd reach for the copper ease grease which is a conventional lithium soap with added copper particles normally, but freewheel to hub might involve tightening brass or bronze down onto aluminium, and the copper might cause the components to bind rather than separate freely. So I'd just use normal lithium grease. Or just oil.
#28
two wheels only
Galling is the problem to be avoided when screwing a steel threaded freewheel onto an aluminum hub and anti-seize compound is the right stuff to use to prevent galling. I use a Permetex compound purchased from the local auto parts store. A small tube lasts just about forever.
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If you use liberal amounts of marine grease (the stuff for boat trailer hubs found at any auto parts store), removal will be a little tougher simply because the stuff is viscous, but nothing will change over your lifetime. I keep an open tub at my workbench to encourage its use.
#31
Junior Member
I've been working on an early 80s tandem, and FINALLY got the freewheel off the Atom drum brake rear hub. Don't want to deal with that again, or pass that problem on to a future owner. I always grease the hub and freewheel before spinning them on, but haven't given much thought to the grease I use--whatever I've been using in bottom brackets. I'd be interested in hearing if there are any best practices out there that I am overlooking.
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As stated above: Permatex Anti-seize. A 1 oz. tube doesn't cost much and will last a long time. I use it for freewheels on my bikes, spark plugs and lug nuts on my vehicles. I use an old toothbrush to make sure it goes into the threads.
https://www.permatex.com/products/lu...ubricant-1-oz/
https://www.permatex.com/products/lu...ubricant-1-oz/
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Not a bad thought that also occurred to me. I recall when our Shell lubricant distributor convinced us to move to the super high pressure greases for some applications in the plant, the new additives being divalent metal salts and salt being the last thing I wanted anywhere around my spiffy Dura Ace seat posts.
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I use "Super Lube" grease. Not only do I have access to as much as I want, it works great on just about anything.
I own a design/manufacturing facility, and I have to specify down to the last "ingredient" what is used in one of our designs for military contracts. I was using Phil's to lubricate the steel on steel on an optical interface unit (because that is what I had on hand during the prototype/submission phase) so the initial shipment was spec'd for the stuff. The end user (US Army) was like "what is that?" so I then spec'd Super Lube. After years of Super Lube we have found that it is truly a fantastic product under real world conditions.
Grease is grease..................to a point.
I own a design/manufacturing facility, and I have to specify down to the last "ingredient" what is used in one of our designs for military contracts. I was using Phil's to lubricate the steel on steel on an optical interface unit (because that is what I had on hand during the prototype/submission phase) so the initial shipment was spec'd for the stuff. The end user (US Army) was like "what is that?" so I then spec'd Super Lube. After years of Super Lube we have found that it is truly a fantastic product under real world conditions.
Grease is grease..................to a point.