RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

What if I put.......

Silicon dielectric tune up grease on the diff and black moly on the thrust? Haven't run it yet but smooth as butter on the bench. Anybody else do this? It's not billed as "diff lube" or " thrust bearing lube" but isn't all that mumbo jumbo?

Mark

Outlandish!!

























































































I have no idea what any of that means, but if it keeps the swelling down then I say go for it...

On a serious note, when I raced 10th scale pan cars it was a point of pride around the track to try and have the smoothest diff. I tried everything from Vaseline to hand lotion. I think I even tried bacon grease one time... (Of course it liquifies under heat so the only advantage was the Turn Marshall going to your car first after a crash in hopes of finding bacon)

THEYTOOKMYTHUMB wrote:On a serious note...

really? Is that even possible?

THEYTOOKMYTHUMB wrote:I tried everything from Vaseline to hand lotion.....

Uhh huh.....

THEYTOOKMYTHUMB wrote:I think I even tried bacon grease one time...

Mind...blown

Thanks for the laugh Ken we did similar things with shock oil, I've heard stories of condiments being used by teams in the early days. Now it's just easier to buy the right stuff

gomachv wrote:

THEYTOOKMYTHUMB wrote:I tried everything from Vaseline to hand lotion.....

Uhh huh.....

I get a discount by buying in bulk...

Just about any designated lubricant is going to work fine and never reach it's working capacity in an RC, the problem is drag, especially if you're a racer. Auto/industrial lubricants are thick and heavy, that viscosity will rob your RC of speed and power. RC lubricants are designed to be lightweight, just enough lube to do the job, without robbing efficiency. As Gomachv said, it's easier to use the right stuff. It's not all that expensive for the amount you'll be using.

http://www.dowcorning.com/content/discover/discoverchem/si-lubricants.aspx?e=How+Silicones+Work.
This should explain all you want to know about silicone grease,

To put it into context, the idea behind using lube in a ball diff is to keep the balls from melting the plastic gear not lube the contact between the plate and balls as they rely on friction to work properly. Conversely you want the thrust bearings to hold the lube and slip which is why a heavier bearing grease is used.

The urban myth of a friction agent in a lube is oxymoronic and untrue, the low surface tension of silicone grease is what makes it Ideal as a ball diff lube as it gets pushed out from the contact patch of the balls and plates while still lubing the ball race.