Radice shaft seal

[alancollins]

Radice shaft seals are supposed to be lubricated by "special silicon grease". Does anyone know what is special about it apart from the price?

 

[rotrax]

I use 'Stuffy Grease' which was supplied with our Orbitrade seal.

When I run out of that I have half a large tin of 'Red Rubber Grease' left over from the days when we overhauled master and slave cylinders.

 

[Tranona]

It needs so little a tube will last you years. You can also use the Volvo equivalent.

 

[Pete7]

It needs so little a tube will last you years. You can also use the Volvo equivalent.

Indeed we do. Did try some white Castrol stuff but the seal then started to leak when using the engine. Advised to clean it ought meaning that the shaft out etc and then use Volvo grease. This worked, no more drips. As you say, you need so little its not worth trying to find something cheaper.

Pete

 

[alancollins]

Thanks, but I was just curious whether the Radice stuff was any different from the normal silicone grease.

 

[Malish]

I find that when the supplied grease has run out it is certainly time to think about a new seal

 

[alancollins]

That's interesting. How many engine hours do you think you have run?

 

[Tranona]

Suspect that is slightly tongue in cheek indicating that the tube of grease lasts a long time rather than being an indicator of the life of the seal. That is highly variable and not necessarily related to hours run. For example water quality has an impact - lots of running in shallow muddy water not good. Volvo used to say 5 years but not based on any real facts. The first one I had was still fine after 10 years when I replaced it with a Radice because the engine was being replaced. Suspect that Radic will last longer because they won't suffer from running dry and the easier greasing will mean it is likely to be done more often.