wsw@hlwpc.UUCP (Bill Weiss) (11/16/84)
Some years ago, a lubricants researcher at Bell Labs advised a buddy and me of the following: 1). Grease is nothing more than oil with a binder to keep it in shape. The binder in bike greases like Campy and Lubriplate is zinc, which does a good job of keeping shape but is abrasive. He recommended a teflon-based grease, because the binder (teflon) also is a lubricant. I obtained some and used it with unsatisfactory results (not waterproof enough). I now use a molybdenum disulfide-based grease for bearings. Moly disulfide has the property of lubricating better when its pushed harder. No problems at all, and I can now go 2-plus years on bearing overhauls. 2) For chains, he recommended against heavy-weight motor oil in favor of very lightweight mineral oil. I clean my chain with kerosene, dry it, and put it in a half-filled quart can of lightweight mineral oil sitting on top of a garage trouble-light to warm it up. After an hour of soaking, I remove the chain and dry off the excess oil. The useful oil leaches out between the links from the friction of riding. Works superbly. ---Bill Weiss hlwpc!wsw