[Rhodes22-list] is there a metallurgist in the house?

[brad haslett]

Joe,

Your situation is not unlike the "knuckles" on my landing gear.  Later models have grease zerks but early ones like mine call for a mill spec product (sewing machine oil in 1948).  LPS1 will meet the mil spec but doesn't trap dust.  Use this flow chart -

http://www.lpslabs.com/product_pg/lubricants_pg/LPS_MROLubricant.html

I'd recommend cleaning all the old lubricant out first.  You want surface contact with the lubricant and any residual will prevent that.  That's why I clean wheel bearings with gasoline instead of in a parts washer - the residual solvent from the washer will prevent grease from securing to the face of the rollers in the bearing. LPS1, 2, or 3 covers 90% of the mil specs I need in the hangar when something other than grease is called for.

Brad

--- On Sat, 1/3/09, Joe Babb <joe.babb at comcast.net> wrote:
From: Joe Babb <joe.babb at comcast.net>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] is there a metallurgist in the house?
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2009, 8:21 AM

Ok, this is not about sailing, but I'm hoping there is someone on the 
list that can help me out with a metal lubrication problem.

I work on steel guitars and most all of them have what is called a 
changer where aluminum parts ride on a steel shaft.  The range of motion 
is very small, but there is lots of pressure as the strings are curved 
around the aluminum.  There is usually lubrication between the steel and 
aluminum.  I've seen some sort of grease used and most folks recommend 
sewing machine oil or gun oil.  But over time the lubrication gets 
gummed up and/or the aluminum "appears" to gall (like when you file 
aluminum it loads up the file) and scores the steel shaft.  This results 
in a sticky action.

What is a good lubricant to use between steel and aluminum?   Does 
sewing machine oil mix with grease?  For instance, if grease is used 
originally and someone uses oil later will it still be good lubrication 
or will it gum up?
Joe

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