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From: wsw@hlwpc.UUCP (Bill Weiss)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: re. grease inquiry
Message-ID: <430@hlwpc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Nov-84 15:03:53 EST
Article-I.D.: hlwpc.430
Posted: Fri Nov 16 15:03:53 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Nov-84 04:58:30 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Short Hills, NJ
Lines: 18

Some years ago, a lubricants researcher at Bell Labs advised a buddy and me
of the following:
1).  Grease is nothing more than oil with a binder to keep it in shape.
The binder in bike greases like Campy and Lubriplate is zinc, which does
a good job of keeping shape but is abrasive.  He recommended a teflon-based
grease, because the binder (teflon) also is a lubricant.  I obtained some
and used it with unsatisfactory results (not waterproof enough).  I now use
a molybdenum disulfide-based grease for bearings. Moly disulfide has the property
of lubricating better when its pushed harder.  No problems at all, and
I can now go 2-plus years on bearing overhauls.

2)  For chains, he recommended against heavy-weight motor oil in favor of
very lightweight mineral oil.  I clean my chain with kerosene, dry it, and
put it in a half-filled quart can of lightweight mineral oil sitting on top
of a garage trouble-light to warm it up.  After an hour of soaking, I remove
the chain and dry off the excess oil.  The useful oil leaches out between
the links from the friction of riding.  Works superbly.
---Bill Weiss hlwpc!wsw