GREASE

Paul Agaliotis · Post by **Paul Agaliotis** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:35

I just had some scAirbus business in the Tire shop and looked over the grease they are using. The product is Mobile SHC 100. The shop seem satisfied with it and no operational problems have been seen.
It may be overkill for our airplanes. This grease needs to work with ramp weights over 400 tons and after being frozen to -59 need to handle a 175 tons landing weight in Dubai at 120 degrees OAT and max autobrake.
Paul

flyingfool · Post by **flyingfool** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 16:33

MikeB wrote:Auto stores should have it. It's white in color. There are probably others that are just as good. I've always used it.....old habit die hard (especially for old guys .

Mike

I love "white grease". I wonder if the stuff I've been using is Lubriplate but I just never looked.

Besides. I want a new habit that dies hard! And one that won't do me any harm such as smoking!

So I guess put me down on the side of MMO and Lubriplate!

Are there any other substances that you guys can legally get me hooked on???????

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 17:20

I may be wrong but I always thought white grease was white lithium grease and was marketed under the name Lubriplate. Anyway, I have been using it for years. When I was in school, I worked for Mack trucks. We used Lubriplate on pistons/rings and new rod/main bearings. It was neat seeing a fresh engine start and watch the white smoke bellow out of the exhaust pipes.

I use Lubriplate on my wheel bearings because I have been doing it for years. In other words, it works so why change. I think the frequency of packing the bearings depends on the wheel, use and environment. I have a friend who packs his wheel bearings every 6 months because he parks his plane outside and its kept in an area where sand blows. As for me, every other year appears to be too often. The Lubriplate is still soft and plentiful.

Dennis

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 17:52

I've never used lubriplate on piston rings but I've used it on rod and main bearings in the 'old days'. Speaking of the old days (sort of on your post) I remember once where a mechanic (not me) left a paper shop rag of some sort in the engine side of a turbocharger and fired it up after a overhaul. It appeared to be snowing in July in the shop for some time

.

Mike Berg

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 18:01

MikeB,

The problem with getting old is having lots of stories to tell. I got them too.

Best told over a few beers.

Young people probably think we are fibbing a little. My dad told me stories of pouring Bon Ami into a carb to get rings to seat.

Dennis

Post by **joea** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 18:12

Dennis wrote:MikeB,

The problem with getting old is having lots of stories to tell. I got them too. Best told over a few beers.

Young people probably think we are fibbing a little. My dad told me stories of pouring Bon Ami into a carb to get rings to seat.

Dennis

Have seen this done several times. Not sure if it really worked as the cars were usually up for sale so no idea how well it lasted.

Joe

Roger Anderson · Post by **Roger Anderson** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 21:00

Dennis wrote: I think the frequency of packing the bearings depends on the wheel, use and environment. I have a friend who packs his wheel bearings every 6 months because he parks his plane outside and its kept in an area where sand blows. As for me, every other year appears to be too often. The Lubriplate is still soft and plentiful.

Dennis

Yea...I think use is the correct answer. I just did mine today on the Chief, getting ready for an annual Saturday. The Chief flew about 80 hrs this past year mostly on pavement, and is hangered. The hubs and bearings looked like I had just done them last week. I just use a name brand general purpose wheel bearing grease. Being trapped in the hanger in a rainstorm, I went ahead and did them again, but felt foolish doing so. I'm going to the every other year plan after this.

flyingfool · Post by **flyingfool** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 13:38

is repacking the bearings required for the annual? Or just inspect the bearings.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 14:02

I'm not sure if it's a required item. I know it's not with my IA. Because I pretty much maintain the plane myself, he usually asks when the bearings were last packed. Because I fly off grass most of the time, it's normally every year unless I don't put a lot of time on that particular year. Other than jacking the plane up and checking wheel end shake and spin for noise, there isn't much else you can do to 'inspect' the bearing short of removing, wash and clean inspect and repack. I have Good Year brakes with the lovely ($$$$) clips so I don't want to unneccessarily remove them just to say they were off.

Mike Berg

Nathan K. Hammond · Post by **Nathan K. Hammond** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 21:10

It is for us. The only way I know how to inspect a bearing is to have it clean with no grease; then listen to it while rotating under pressure.

nkh

Captgrumps · Post by **Captgrumps** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 21:41

Packed wheel bearing is the oldest, most used log book write up entry for an annual inspection.--especially when the airplane is hangared, flew only 10 hours off a paved runway. How often do you pack the wheel bearing on your car or truck? Never did I hear you say?

I just did an annual on an airplane the owner just bought and since it was the first time pulled the wheels for tire replacement to larger tires. The airplane had new annual/tires but the owner wanted larger. First thing I found was who ever put the talc in the tire and on tube must have used the entire container. It was caked on the tube and tire to the point the tire was out of balance (had to scrape it out). The wheel bearings were supposed to be packed last annual/tire change.

Evidently the mechanic spent all his money on talc and not grease. Just another adventure in annuals and airplane owenrship. How many times do you pull the wheels and remove the tires on a prebuy? When I see the first entry on an annual inspection log book entry--repacked wheel bearings--it is a signal to dig further. Having been doing this for 50 years the A&P/IA signature in the log says says alot in inspection planning considering the class and type airplane.

Doug

jc pacquin · Post by **jc pacquin** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 21:02

AI asked me, "did the fellow you bought it from drive it or fly it from florida to Buffalo. I replied, "He flew it, of course." AI said, "Well its got 45 hours on it since last annual so we will skip the wheel bearings." (AI is 81 years old, VERY sharp and very observant, flew PBY's in the Big War.) This was on the 7BCM I had which was a VERY nice Champ, well kept.JC