Grease that won’t run off a gear?

[Tim Good]

Whatever grease you select, make sure it is designed for extreme pressure use. Worm gears are notoriously difficult to lubricate because unlike spur gears whose faces roll against each other, worm gear interfaces slide. Effectively wiping any lubricant off the mating faces. Several factors need to be taken into consideration such as rotational speeds and whether movement is continuous or spasmodic. Out of curiosity, what is the equipment in which it is installed?
Mike.

Hi Mike,

Take a look at the photo below. Effectively the small wheel on the front of the pedestal is turned and pushes a small clutch plate onto the lower gear which forms part of the worm drive.

You can see that on my original photo at the top of the thread. Once that worm drive is locked but it means that the autopilot motor can drive the wheel and therefore the reader.

 

[Tim Good]

Mike you make a good point about loading of work gears!!! I hadn’t thought of that.... note the description of the grease I’m getting:

“The SUPERHAFTFETT is an exceptional adhering EP-lithium Grease Lubricant for high loaded slow moving rolling-element and sliding-contact bearings“

 

[mikegunn]

Thank you “Northcave”, I understand. That’s ingenious.
I think you have made the right choice in type of lubricant too. I suspect that the interface loading is not excessively high. If it were there would be a significant wear step on the gear teeth and that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Mike

 

[Tim Good]

Thank you “Northcave”, I understand. That’s ingenious.
I think you have made the right choice in type of lubricant too. I suspect that the interface loading is not excessively high. If it were there would be a significant wear step on the gear teeth and that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Mike

I think you're right. The teeth on the worm and in the bevelhead for the steering all seem in top condition. That said when we're off shore we use the hydrovane so the AP wont see the hard work generally.

 

[TernVI]

Is it possible that the autopilot clutch is supposed to work with grease all over it?
Rather like a wet clutch on a motorbike runs in gear oil.
Is there meant to be a disc of friction material in there perhaps?
Or maybe the little wheel is supposed to generate a lot of pressure between the 'clutch' surfaces, and that's the bit that's not working properly?

 

[neil_s]

The tiniest smear of grease - apply with a very small artist's paint brush.

 

[rotrax]

Is it possible that the autopilot clutch is supposed to work with grease all over it?
Rather like a wet clutch on a motorbike runs in gear oil.
Is there meant to be a disc of friction material in there perhaps?
Or maybe the little wheel is supposed to generate a lot of pressure between the 'clutch' surfaces, and that's the bit that's not working properly?

A contemporary motorcycle clutch - excluding those noisy Ducati dry ones - works in the engine oil. No separate gear oil on most these days.

Thirty years ago the more common use of very low friction synthetic oils in such motorcycles caused clutch slip in some instances.

Easily fixed by stronger clutch springs.

On classic Triumphs I invariably use TQF in the primary chaincase. It looks after the chain really well and was meant formulti plate type clutches.

Also, it is red and an oil leak can be be quickly identified..............................

 

[ltcom]

It appears you have it sorted, but maybe posters could comment on this grease? I believe it is a molybdenum grease with graphite in it too. I was told never to use it for bearings but only cogs. It tends to dry leaving graphite lubricant so perhaps ideal in your situation?
Some links here.....http://www.molybdenum42.com/molybdenum-disulfide-grease-vs-graphite-grease/
Dry lubricant - Wikipedia
Solid Film Lubricants: A Practical Guide

 

[CJU]

copper grease ???

what was originally specd

copper grease is not really much of a lubricant in my experience. I had the speedo gearbox on my old AJS strip it’s teeth after the original owner used it instead of the normal stuff. It is an anti seize grease after all.

 

[penberth3]

copper grease is not really much of a lubricant in my experience. I had the speedo gearbox on my old AJS strip it’s teeth after the original owner used it instead of the normal stuff. It is an anti seize grease after all.

The motor trade seems to use copper grease on everything nowadays! I've never understood why.

 

[RichardS]

The motor trade seems to use copper grease on everything nowadays! I've never understood why.

I've never known anyone in the motor trade to use copper grease as a lubricant.

If anyone does, they should not be in the trade.

Richard