If this has been discussed, my apologies - I didn't find it.
It seems that the standard starter design for automotive applications has become the gear reduction type, so I need to come up with a grease for the planetary drives in these to keep my small fleet starting.
Dow Corning makes a grease specifically for this application, Molykote 7514. It is a NLGI 1-2 PAO/Ester Lithium based grease. Perfect, I imagine, but you can't get it - unless you need industrial quantities.
These drives don't really need too much in the way of lubrication, I believe, but they need some, and the most compelling need, as I see it, is the lube needs to have excellent low temp. performance. I'm sure that using the usual automotive grease would lead to disappointment when hitting the key at -45f.
I've been thinking synthetic aviation greases like Mobilith SHC 100, 220, or 460 - I haven't decided. I would appreciate opinions on these, and other alternatives. The starter I currently have apart appears to have a ABS plastic gearcase, so rubber / plastic compatibility is a factor. And it needs to be readily available in tube or tub quantities.
Thank you!
It seems that the standard starter design for automotive applications has become the gear reduction type, so I need to come up with a grease for the planetary drives in these to keep my small fleet starting.
Dow Corning makes a grease specifically for this application, Molykote 7514. It is a NLGI 1-2 PAO/Ester Lithium based grease. Perfect, I imagine, but you can't get it - unless you need industrial quantities.
These drives don't really need too much in the way of lubrication, I believe, but they need some, and the most compelling need, as I see it, is the lube needs to have excellent low temp. performance. I'm sure that using the usual automotive grease would lead to disappointment when hitting the key at -45f.
I've been thinking synthetic aviation greases like Mobilith SHC 100, 220, or 460 - I haven't decided. I would appreciate opinions on these, and other alternatives. The starter I currently have apart appears to have a ABS plastic gearcase, so rubber / plastic compatibility is a factor. And it needs to be readily available in tube or tub quantities.
Thank you!