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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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kbastro
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/20/08

Loc: Running from Clouds

Best grease possible for a mount
#5497039 - 10/30/12 10:51 PM

any recommendations on a good grease for the re-do of greasing a mount?

I am looking for something that can handle +30C/86F to -10C/14F?

what is better lithium (white) or teflon based like duralube?

Kev b

Post Extras:

Midnight Dan
Postmaster

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: kbastro]
#5497049 - 10/30/12 10:57 PM

Superlube.

-Dan

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m2k
member

Reged: 12/10/06

Loc: Massachusetts, USA

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5497050 - 10/30/12 10:59 PM

Quote:

Superlube.
Yep...

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FaronD
super member

Reged: 03/25/10

Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: kbastro]
#5497067 - 10/30/12 11:20 PM

Another Superlube

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orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: FaronD]
#5497114 - 10/31/12 12:13 AM

I used superlube on the sliding (plane) bearings on my AP600 and it was too sticky.

AP and Bisque both recommend lubri-plate 105. since I couldn't find that i used white lithium grease. which is not recommended, but it certainly performs better than superlube for me.

the ball bearings on my CGEM though i use superlube.

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Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: orlyandico]
#5497417 - 10/31/12 08:32 AM

I used SuperLube on my iEQ45 and didn't see any problems. I reduced my PE so assuming it at least didn't hinder things

Rated temperature range from -40°F to +450°F.

Wow, looked up lubri-plate on Amazon. Not cheap, worth the price?
http://www.amazon.com/Lubriplate-C105-03492-293-L0034-092...

Edited by Phillip Easton (10/31/12 08:33 AM)

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5497426 - 10/31/12 08:42 AM

Er..Phil...that's the price for 12 tubes. So, about 5-6 bucks a tube?

Paul

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orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5497430 - 10/31/12 08:47 AM

all of the China mounts I've seen use ball bearings on both of the axes.

while my AP600 and my old Vixen GP both used plane bearings, which don't have balls or rollers. I guess a less charitable word for these would be "bushings" or "sleeve bearings."

i suspect these sleeve-type bearings aren't too amenable to thicker lubricants, hence my lack of success with superlube.

Post Extras:

johne
sage

Reged: 11/10/06

Loc: Prescott, AZ.

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5497433 - 10/31/12 08:50 AM

I use Lubriplate No.105 for my Paramount ME.

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Phillip Easton
super member

Reged: 12/24/10

Loc: DFW

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5497514 - 10/31/12 09:59 AM

Quote:

Er..Phil...that's the price for 12 tubes. So, about 5-6 bucks a tube?

Paul

LOL Thanks Paul, guess I shouldn't be so quick to reply.

Cheers!

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EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Phillip Easton]
#5497566 - 10/31/12 10:47 AM

SuperLube.

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TxStars
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/01/05

Loc: Lost In Space

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: kbastro]
#5497614 - 10/31/12 11:23 AM

For ball bearings "Superlube"
For Bushings (metal to metal surfaces sliding against each other)"Lubriplate No.105"

Post Extras:

Bart
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/28/06

Loc: Somewhere near Charlottesville...

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5497635 - 10/31/12 11:42 AM

Quote:

Superlube.

-Dan

Post Extras:

Midnight Dan
Postmaster

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: TxStars]
#5497789 - 10/31/12 01:35 PM

Quote:

For ball bearings "Superlube"
For Bushings (metal to metal surfaces sliding against each other)"Lubriplate No.105"

What about for gear surfaces? Lubriplate 105 is marketed as an "engine assembly" lubricant, and they sell other lubricants that are targeted at gears. Would one of them be better?

-Dan

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kbastro
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/20/08

Loc: Running from Clouds

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5498288 - 10/31/12 07:08 PM

it seems that superlube is a good choice,,,, the part I was talking about re-lubing is the worm and gear assembly,,, not the whole mount!!

Kevin b

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EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: kbastro]
#5498336 - 10/31/12 07:36 PM

I use SuperLube for HyperTuning and have no problems with it at all, hot or cold, wet or dry. But it must be used sparingly. A very thin coat is all that is needed. Like most grease, too much is not a good thing, especially for slow moving parts like these. It's not an automobile, so you don't grease it like one.

Locally, Superlube is often available at Harbor Frieght and sometimes at Ace Hardware. Otherwise it is easily available on line. A 3 oz. tube is enough for many mounts. You can actually get by with a 1/2 oz. tube just fine.

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orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: EFT]
#5498380 - 10/31/12 08:07 PM

Oh and superlube is food safe. Smells pleasant too. I expect that means you can chomp on it without dying.

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TxStars
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/01/05

Loc: Lost In Space

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5498478 - 10/31/12 09:16 PM

Quote:

What about for gear surfaces? Lubriplate 105 is marketed as an "engine assembly" lubricant, and they sell other lubricants that are targeted at gears. Would one of them be better?

-Dan

The Lubriplate No.105 works good for gears that are low speed (under 100 rpm) low heat (under 200deg).

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: TxStars]
#5498508 - 10/31/12 09:42 PM

Probably going to get flamed for this but their is more rubbish talked about mount grease than just about any other thing,I worked as an industrial mechanic for years and also on cars, aircraft etc, any good quality light grease will be fine, the secret is to use it sparingly not slap it about willy nilly and stuff the whole tube into the mount then wonder why its running all over the place in hotter weather.One place I worked for had a large number of pick and place assembly robots running at high speed, using a steel worm and bronze worm wheel, they got checked maybe once a year and a dab of grease on the worm was enough to keep them in good shape and running sweet, again use sparingly, grease everywhere just attracts dirt and dust,DA.

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johntrob
sage

Reged: 03/14/11

Loc: Georgia, USA

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Binojunky]
#5498569 - 10/31/12 10:14 PM

Different opionions and experiences is what makes this forum so good. Tech info for Astronomy based on real world experience.

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Pauls72
sage

Reged: 10/28/07

Loc: LaPorte, IN

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: johntrob]
#5498637 - 10/31/12 10:53 PM

Harbor Freight carries Super Lube for $5 a tube.
That's what I used on my LXD-55.

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EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: orlyandico]
#5498679 - 10/31/12 11:23 PM

Quote:

Oh and superlube is food safe. Smells pleasant too. I expect that means you can chomp on it without dying.

The fact that I am always getting it all over my hands makes this a plus for me.

Post Extras:

EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Binojunky]
#5498686 - 10/31/12 11:25 PM

Quote:

Probably going to get flamed for this but their is more rubbish talked about mount grease than just about any other thing,I worked as an industrial mechanic for years and also on cars, aircraft etc, any good quality light grease will be fine, the secret is to use it sparingly not slap it about willy nilly and stuff the whole tube into the mount then wonder why its running all over the place in hotter weather.One place I worked for had a large number of pick and place assembly robots running at high speed, using a steel worm and bronze worm wheel, they got checked maybe once a year and a dab of grease on the worm was enough to keep them in good shape and running sweet, again use sparingly, grease everywhere just attracts dirt and dust,DA.

My point exactly. Some greases may be better than others, but any grease overused is no good. I've seen it done and cleaned it and the dirt out of pleanty of mounts. The only stuff I really hate to see in mounts is white lithium. OK at first but like clay later on.

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Ranger Tim
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/25/08

Loc: SE Idaho, USA

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: EFT]
#5498755 - 11/01/12 12:06 AM

Another lube I use for worms is Magic Lube. It is used in pool pumps where the ceramic bearing is contacting the pump housing. It is mostly silicone. Vixen recommends a "gel-type silicone" for their worm assemblies. Me? I use Superlube for bearings and the Magic Lube for the worm. Both are synthetic and remain soft in cold weather, but don't run in warm weather. One tube of Superlube will last a lifetime.

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blueman
Vendor Blue Sky Accessories

Reged: 07/20/07

Loc: California

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: Ranger Tim]
#5498769 - 11/01/12 12:14 AM

I use Slick-50 grease, works well, cost is marginal but comes in a regular lube gun tube. Losmandy recomended this grease and I have used it on every mount for years. It sticks to the part, does not separate or run.
Blueman

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EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: orlyandico]
#5499212 - 11/01/12 11:07 AM

Quote:

all of the China mounts I've seen use ball bearings on both of the axes.

while my AP600 and my old Vixen GP both used plane bearings, which don't have balls or rollers. I guess a less charitable word for these would be "bushings" or "sleeve bearings."

i suspect these sleeve-type bearings aren't too amenable to thicker lubricants, hence my lack of success with superlube.

A very tight fit on metal bushings like those could be more problematic with a thicker grease.

Post Extras:

Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Best grease possible for a mount new

[Re: EFT]
#5499822 - 11/01/12 07:54 PM

The Superlube seems to get the most thumbs up, have to be fair years back I had a car that went through wheel bearings,used Superlube and it solved the problem,my local auto store has toothpaste sized tubes for about $5, looks like it would be good stuff for fishing reels etc,as Ed stated stay clear of the white lithium, its ok for around the home but will degrade over time.DA.

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