[R-390] grease

[Dan Merz]

Bob,  I'll have to think it works well - I remember well the Xerox repairmen
back when Xerox had a lock on  copy machines.  And the company I worked for
had the original patent rights to the technology and the Xerox success put
plenty of $$ in the coffer.  What was the consistency of the silicone
grease?  Like Vaseline or like hand lotion?  I was surprised when I got some
Mobil 1 gear lubricant a few years ago for the 390a and it was more like
hand lotion,  maybe a little thinner,  and not like most gear greases I'd
seen on gears.  But I used it anyway and so far it's been ok.   Your vacuum
cleaner sounds pretty handy.  I wished I had something to suck up the Marvel
Mystery Oil I've been using to de-gunk the gears on the 390 - guess I'll
take it outside and wash it out with some carb cleaner when I'm happy with
the breakdown of all the solidified stuff.  I've been picking at the gears
with a thin pointed bamboo skewer for periods over a few days and then
soaking the gears with more MMO and letting the excess drain onto some paper
towels below.  The black residue is going away and the chunks are gone,
regards,  Dan. 


  _____  

From: rbethman at comcast.net [mailto:rbethman at comcast.net] 
Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 8:00 AM
To: Dan Merz
Cc: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [R-390] grease


Dan, and the group,
 
I obtained two or three VERY large tubes of Silicone Grease from a Xerox
copier repairman.  These are about a pint or so in size.  I couldn't tell
you whom makes it, I think there is a "xerox" part # on the tubes.
 
As to removing it - I also obtained a bottle or two of degreaser from the
same tech.  This item has since been consumed.  I got these items about ten
years ago.
 
He even managed to mess up one visit.  He left behind a vacumn cleaner that
fits in a tool kit.  I hung on to it at the office for over 7 months, but I
never saw him again.
 
So I became the owner of it when our Org moved.  It is VERY convenient,
about 12" X 4" X 8" for the entire system, bag, hoses, motor, and
accessories.  Now I only have to find bags for it, or "make" some.  VERY
nice for cleaning out a chassis!
 
Bob - N0DGN
 

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Hi, what brand/type of silicone grease do you use? I hardly ever am 
> tempted to use silicone grease because I recall that it is near impossible

> to clean from a surface once applied but my attitude is biased by my work 
> experience where we used it routinely on O rings for vacuum seals because
of 
> its very low vapor pressure. But it had to be kept away from any surfaces 
> that we wanted to be clean because it could not routinely be removed by 
> vapor degreasing in some pretty potent degreasers. I'm aware it has 
> outstanding dielectric properties and is available in many varieties 
> including some that are sold as lubricants. So far I've been using 
> synthetic Mobil 1 gear lubricant on the gears with the hope that it
wouldn't 
> gunk up as quickly as other types or evaporate and leave a residue. Maybe 
> silicone-based lubricants are a choice I should reconsider. I'm cleaning
up 
> an R-390 and will be re-examining my choice on what to put on the gears 
> soon. I've been happy with the Mobil 1 so far, about 4 years since I put 
> it on, thanks for the info and any other info, Dan. 
>