What grease do you use..?

[af1-windy]

Looking to buy a new tube, tub, tin of grease. whatever it comes in. Looking for an all round general, water resistant grease.

What do you all use? 

  windy

[bazzer]

That's like saying you want to buy a spanner and what size is best to buy :-D

I used lithium spray grease on axles.
Copper grease on things I don't want to seize like bolts going into diss similar metals (stops galvanic corrosion)
Red rubber grease on seals etc.
and a high temp, high pressure lithium grease for packing bearings etc.

I also have some stuff for anti seize on carbon parts but you probably don't need that :-)

[af1-windy]

Originally Posted by bazzer

That's like saying you want to buy a spanner and what size is best to buy :-D

I used lithium spray grease on axles.
Copper grease on things I don't want to seize like bolts going into diss similar metals (stops galvanic corrosion)
Red rubber grease on seals etc.
and a high temp, high pressure lithium grease for packing bearings etc.

I also have some stuff for anti seize on carbon parts but you probably don't need that :-)

I miss the days we just had a tub of do it all grease in the garage.. 

 

[bazzer]

A good quality high temp lithium grease and some copper slip will probably do you right :-)

You can copper slip the axles etc, as all its for is anti seize.

[Antares]

That Maxima Waterproof grease I brought over when doing the wheels seems like good stuff, definitely if you're looking for waterproofing, couldn't wash the bloody thing of my hands.....

As mentioned, red rubber grease for any metal to rubber contacts, I got a tin of castrol stuff, like 5 quid a tin and seems to be good stuff.

Copper slips I'd pass on altogether, instead, get aluminium anti seize grease, no appreciable difference in price but aluminium slip is far more universally useable for the same purpose as copper slip on a motorbike due to chemical compatibility. You really don't want copper slip on steel bolts going into aluminium, especially on a bike like the XR which is like 90% aluminium.

That'll do you for 99.9% of jobs.

[af1-windy]

Cheers all, I'll hit my amazon account now, get me sen all stocked up.. 

  windy

[bazzer]

@antares

Why do you think copper slip will be a problem with aluminium and steel? Genuinely interested not saying I know better.

The reason copper slip is use in general is due to its higher temperature resistance than aluminium or nickel slip. So it makes it a good all round candidate.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by bazzer

@antares

Why do you think copper slip will be a problem with aluminium and steel? Genuinely interested not saying I know better.

The reason copper slip is use in general is due to its higher temperature resistance than aluminium or nickel slip. So it makes it a good all round candidate.

Mixing dissimilar metals, especially where moisture, especially salty road grime and water might be involved is asking for trouble, copper accelerates galvanic corrosion in aluminium. Not saying you'll rot your forks apart, but it's good practice to avoid mixing copper with aluminium especially. Copper slip there is no problems with steel, it's more the aluminium it's going into weakening threads etc. Most good quality copper slip should be ok, but aluminium slip is just safer + it usually contains graphite, whereas copper slips prefer using lead for lubrication.

Copper slip does indeed usually have higher temp ratings, but not appreciably compared to aluminium slip, both provide lubricating properties up to about 200-250°C copper slip max temp is around 1000-1100, aluminium slip around 800-900 so not a difference that'd make it unsuitable for usage on brake components etc.

Only place you'd specifically want copper slip on this bike is the exhaust studs, since the nuts are copper themselves, but even there you'd probably be okay with alu slip as that area is fairly well protected and high temps should prevent moisture, everywhere else aluminium anti seize does just as good a job whilst minimising corrosion.