[R-390] ATF for lube
Dan Merz
djmerz at 3-cities.com
Mon Mar 21 17:55:04 EST 2005
Bob, a quick look at Dexron ATF (Valvoline) indicates it is a
synthetic/conventional oil blend and even lower viscosity than the Mobil 1
gear lubricant I've been using which is the 70/90W variety. There's a
higher viscosity Mobil 1 I saw on the shelf today, 80/140W but it costs
about $17/qt here compared to half that price for the stuff I'm using. If I
were starting over, I might go for the thicker Mobil stuff for the gears
but I've still got 0.98 quarts left so plan to use that up first - laughter
appropriate. Mobil 1 gear lubricant is the only synthetic of that type
carried in the store I frequent so that was a factor in brand choice - other
brands probably are comparable. I think I made my choice based on two ideas
- what others used and in the long run what might be left around if it
evaporates eventually. Somewhere I heard that the straight synthetic types
don't leave a residue, maybe to do with the molecular uniformity, but that
may be wishful thinking. I know that whatever was put on my two 390 type
radios left a pretty solid residue and I would guess it was a grease topped
off with other expedient lube jobs. After picking that grudge out, I opted
for Mobil 1 gear lube which others had recommended and which to my simple
way of thinking might not selectively evaporate and leave sludge behind.
Maybe the solids left are dirt, which will be there no matter what you use.
I think using the thinnest oil that will not run away by gravity is
desireable since it can be more easily maintained by subsequent oil flushing
and more application of the same at a later time. For this reason, greases
don't appeal to me. They seem to accumulate where they do nothing, are more
trouble to apply and are hard to flush away for renewal. I might change my
mind if I start finding oil where I don't want it but so far after 4 years
that hasn't happened. Mobil 1 is a little stinky during application but the
smell subsides - I don't know if all synthetics have this characteristic or
whether that's a deliberate brand add-in. Dan.
-----Original Message-----
From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Bob
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 10:57 AM
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [R-390] ATF for lube
Hi,
I've used Dexron ATF for lubing the gears and bushings. Seems to work fine,
stays put, and makes things turn very smoothly. BTW I'm told that ATF is
synthetic. But as far as synthetic goes, it just means that the molecules
are more uniform. That uniformity isn't needed for our low rpm geartrains.
Regards,
Bob
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Re: grease (John KA1XC)
> 2. Re: grease (sdaitch at ibb.gov)
> 3. RE: grease (Dan Merz)
> 4. Silicone Grease (Dennis Deaton)
> 5. Special Collins '390 Shorting Straps on the 'Bay (Tom Norris)
>
>
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 19:13:04 -0500
> From: "John KA1XC" <tetrode at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [R-390] grease
> To: "R-390 reflector" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <001d01c52daa$c0d51f10$7c629318 at compy2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> *Dan,
> it sounds like you might have got Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lubricant
> (not
> grease) which is SAE 75W-90.
> There is also Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease which *is* thick grease and is
> used in wheel bearings and such.
>
> John
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan Merz" <djmerz at 3-cities.com>
>
> > 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.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:25:33 +0900
> From: sdaitch at ibb.gov
> Subject: Re: [R-390] grease
> Cc: R-390 reflector <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <31b5530184.3018431b55 at IBB.GOV>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Another source of synthetic grease is AmsOil.
>
> See:
>
> http://www.amsoil.com/products/grease/index.aspx
>
> Specifically, the GLC which is available in a
> squuze tube.
>
> https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/glc.aspx
>
> Disclaimer, I have been an AmsOil user and dealer since the early
> 1980s, but if you don't use my dealer number I personally get nothing
> out of it.
>
> 73
> Sheldon
> WA4MZZ
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 21:59:56 -0800
> From: "Dan Merz" <djmerz at 3-cities.com>
> Subject: RE: [R-390] grease
> To: "'John KA1XC'" <tetrode at comcast.net>, "'R-390
> reflector'"
> <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID:
> <20050321060008.76920451DF3 at mail-mc.amerion.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> John, thanks for insight into the Mobil lubricant.
> It is exactly what you
> said, Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lubricant - I don't recall seeing the
> grease when I went looking at the local auto store. And I seem to
> recall that Rippel recommended the gear lubricant, though I think
> there was another type/brand recommended by one of the other
> knowledgeable guys as well. Now I'll have to have another look. I
> think the stuff I used is ok even though it's not a grease but maybe
> it tends to flow away a bit more than grease.
> But it's easy to apply in that regard And when I look in, it still
> looks "wet" and it's been 4 years since I first put it on.
> I think I may have
> added a bit a year or so back, but the radio didn't seem to need it.
> I used the lighter weight Mobil oil on the sliding contacts on the rf
> chassis. Dan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of John KA1XC
> Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 4:13 PM
> To: R-390 reflector
> Subject: Re: [R-390] grease
>
> *Dan,
> it sounds like you might have got Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lubricant
> (not
> grease) which is SAE 75W-90.
> There is also Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease which *is* thick grease and is
> used in wheel bearings and such.
>
> John
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan Merz" <djmerz at 3-cities.com>
>
> > 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.
>
>
>
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:32:14 -0800
> From: "Dennis Deaton" <d.a.deaton at adelphia.net>
> Subject: [R-390] Silicone Grease
> To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <001801c52ddf$b8dd6080$6401a8c0 at Dennis>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hello to everyone on the list,
>
> There's been a recent thread on the list concerning a
> silicone-grease-type lubricant for the R-390 gear trains. I got a
> tube of some Dow Corning High Vacuum Grease from the local Dow
> distributor. Can't remember the cost. It's used primarily to seal
> rubber o-rings in food machinery. I believe its the stuff that used
> to be marketed as DC-4. I remember using DC-4 just about every where
> when I worked on AN/SPG-55B Radars at Sperry Gyroscope. It came in
> handy
=== message truncated ===
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