Plastic planetary gear grease suggestion?

[Voltstein]

Before putting the motor back into my front hub I'd like to dab a little grease on the planetary gears, for good measure, and possibly to reduce the noise a fraction. Elsewhere on ES I read that Ezee uses Dow Corning Molykote PG 21as their plastic gear grease. This is an industrial grease that does not seem readily available (unless I want to buy a $200 tube of it on Ebay).

Anyone have a grease recommendation? Can I use most any silicone based grease for high speed plastic gears? I understand you only want a little on those gears, so I am not planning on putting on very much.

-_Brian

 

[neptronix]

http://ebikessf.com/technical/bmc-motors-faq

BMC uses Mobilgrease 28
Manufacturer's description:
Mobilgrease 28 is a supreme performance, wide-temperature, antiwear grease designed to combine the unique features of a polyalphaolefin (PAO) synthetic base fluid with an organo-clay (non-soap) thickener. Its consistency is between an NLGI No. 1 and No. 2 grease. It offers outstanding performance over a wide temperature range. The wax-free nature of the synthetic base fluid, together with its low coefficient of traction compared with mineral oils, provide excellent low temperature pumpability, very low starting and running torque, and can reduce operating temperatures in the load zone of rolling element bearings.
The clay thickener gives Mobilgrease 28 a high dropping point value of around 300?C, which provides excellent stability at high temperatures. Mobilgrease 28 resists water washing, provides superior load-carrying ability, reduces frictional drag, and prevents excessive wear. Tests show that Mobilgrease 28 lubricates effectively rolling element bearings under conditions of high speeds and temperatures. Mobilgrease 28 has also shown superior ability to lubricate heavily loaded sliding mechanisms, such as wing flap screw jacks.

There you go. Should work for plastic gears just fine. I forked over $30-$40 shipped for a tube of the stuff and put it in my MAC motor last year - no negative effect thus far.

I still have a crapton of the stuff left. If you want 2 motor fills worth ( in a little tub ), shoot me a PM and we can work something out for $5 + shipping.

Otherwise;

http://www.skysupplyusa.com/mobilgrease-28/?gclid=CL2lpvLK-bECFcKDQgodtmYACw

 

[knoxie]

you can use any grease to be honest, you dont need much though less is more 8) nylon gears are self lubricating anyway but a little dab of grease is a good idea.

 

[neptronix]

Well actually, i believe there are some greases out there that will attack the plastic. I think those may be lubricants that are derived from petroleum products.

I suppose you could experiment and find out of that is true or not, if you can get a spare set of gears

 

[knoxie]

:lol: the attack on the gears will only come from how he uses the throttle, I have gouped all my motors in std engine grease for over 5 years or so with no probs, the one way bearings tend to be the weak spot from my experience, too much grease isnt good though

 

[Samd]

The mobil one above does mention it is a synthetic one, not petrol based. And the Dow Corning one prob would be too as that is their lot - synthetics.

Sounds like silicon based ones might be the go...

 

[knoxie]

yup..if you are concerned go with silicon grease

 

[jateureka]

Both the eZee and Hebb Service Manuals say to use silicon grease on the motor gears and ring.

http://site.nycewheels.com/manuals/eZeebike/Service_Manual.pdf
http://www.hebbebikes.com/pdf/Hebb-ebike-EG500-Service-Manual.pdf

 

[Voltstein]

Thanks all for the responses. Since the Ezee user manual specifies just silicone grease, I'll use that. Keeping it simple.