Winch Grease Question

[savageseadog]

I've got some grease to hand and I've got some sheet winches to grease, it's Molykote 1292 It's descibed as Fluoro silicon grease. Good idea to use or not? Other choices I have are :
Lithium Grease (general purpose motoring)
CV Joint Grease
White grease in an aerosol tin
As well as Lewmar winch grease which costs a fortune.

 

[Aja]

3-in-1 oil works just as well.

Donald

 

[Vara]

3 in One is orrible in winches, on the pawls it leaves a nasty sticky residue and hasn't got enough body for the roller bits .

The pukka winch grease is the answer with sewing machine oil on the pawls. Both applied sparingly.

Lewmar winch grease may be expensive but a tube should last your average yottie a life time.

 

[savageseadog]

[ QUOTE ]
The pukka winch grease is the answer with sewing machine oil on the pawls. Both applied sparingly.

Lewmar winch grease may be expensive but a tube should last your average yottie a life time.

[/ QUOTE ]Err.... I have to confess to buying a tube and getting through most of it in one go and I'm supposed to be an engineer!
It's interesting how many opinions there are.

 

[Skyva_2]

Some racers use oil, but they strip winches frequently. My tub of Lewmar grease has lasted 5 years +; I admit to using 3 in 1 on pawls and it does not seem to be a problem.

 

[sarabande]

Castrol do a lot of very specialist marine oils and greases. Lots of pages of specifications here :

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/multipleproductsection.do?categoryId=82915532&contentId=6030607

 

[michael_w]

If you look after your winches regularly, common or garden diesel is all you need. Cleans and lubricates in one fell swoop.

After a couple of services, and you've got rid of the greasy kuck, a winch service will only take a minute or two.

 

[PeterGibbs]

The trick, it seems to me, is not to coat the innards with a glutinous mass that attracts and retains sand which, not suprisingly, does a great job of hastening the time for replacement parts!

I keep the innards clean, and very lightly oiled, and do it every spring. Providing rust is kept at bay why smother everything in goop?

PWG

 

[FullCircle]

We use a normal lithium grease, just because we have a tub on board.
Since SWMBO evinced an interest in winch servicing, I showed her how, and she now does them all, every time. Result.

 

[Aja]

Sorry. Don't agree.

remove all of your old grease and apply 3-in-one each year and your winches will be just as smooth and lubricated as they would be using expensive 'branded' grease which attracts grease and salt in copious amounts.

Donald

 

[savageseadog]

Well that settles that then, there is obviously no concensus

 

[Vara]

Even the experts get it wrong! This guy recommends 3in1 but apart from that he's spot on.
http://www.harken.com/winches/Harken_servicingwinchesmikelee.php

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
If you look after your winches regularly, common or garden diesel is all you need. Cleans and lubricates in one fell swoop.

After a couple of services, and you've got rid of the greasy kuck, a winch service will only take a minute or two.

[/ QUOTE ]

Being in the Oil biz ... I am not too enamoured of using diesel as a lub in a winch ! Cleaner yes ...

Why ? Diesel is a "Dry fuel" and it has a drying action on surfaces ... not as bad as gasoline - but still there.

Winches should be absolutely minimum greased - otherwise you will attract and hold grit / crud in them from salt-water etc. I am in favour of duck-oil or 3 in 1 actually - but's that me now speaking personally.

 

[michael_w]

sbc,

If diesel is a "dry" fuel, why does it sit sulking on garage forecourts, the side of my Landrover, the sidedecks, etc, etc.

Try doing your winches with it, you'll be surprised how good it is as a cleaner and a non-kucking lubricant.

Michael

 

[Guest]

I know what you mean by the residues on forecourts / side of MY old landrover etc. etc.

But in fact it is .... I don't doubt you have had success with it as it does clean .. not as well as gasoline - but yes it does. But the residue you are now talking about on forecourts etc. is GUM, wax's and residual components - not diesel.

The benefit you experience on your winches is probably because you wipe of the surfaces after to near dry .. meaning that very little wax or gum is left behind ... and what is may provide that tiny lub bit you need.

I'm still of opinion that a Dry fuel as Diesel is not a lubricant. Especially if you talk about ULSD (Road diesel). Red diesel has more residual compounds so puts itself out of running anyway.

I see the effects of Wear rates on recip wear test rigs - when we test Diesel fuels .......... it is not something I would want in my winches. Sorry. You asked ! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ammyj]

USe a good quality grease and lightly coat all metal on metal parts EXCEPT the pawls, these should only be oiled. Diesel is great for removing the old grease but dont use petrol as it degrades the plastic parts. THere is some nasty blue stuff about dont use this its very sticky and hard to remove!!

 

[Guest]

Why direct at me ? I was replying to another who uses diesel as a cleaner / lub ...

Me ? I use Duck oil or 3 in 1 ...