25 Aug
2004
25 Aug
'04
6:11 p.m.
rger writes:
Very rough rule : The fast the sliding between 2 parts, the thinner the
lubricant you use (and note that gears therefore tend to require a
thicker lubricant than you'd expect).
One exception is that most mechanical clocks and watches should have _no_
lubricant on the pinions and wheels (gears) at all. The pivots
(bearings) need oil, of course.
-tony
REAL mechanics may or may not know anything about
any of the
other characteristics of lubricants, but they do, at least,
know that there that there are many different viscousities
of lubricants, and that you need to use one of appropriate
"thickness".
Is there a good rule of thumb (for those cases where one
doesn't have an appropriate manual) for what to use? For
example, could one say that for meshing gears one wants
a heavier grease, but for metal parts that rub (e.g. bushing)
one wants a thinner oil?