best llube

[lydiao]

best lube

My poor Cat 30 has been sitting at the dock neglected for about 4 years. Trying to bring her back to life.We thought the engine was dead from overheating. Got her back up and running. Obviously having to do some major maintenance.Everything that moved on her is stiff or stuck. Need advice on best lube for traveler track, blocks, hydraulic boom vang,wenches,furling system, steering cables and such...Had to replace the diesel tank due to pin hole leaks. Anything else I should look for on her that commonly goes bad when left to rot due to a divorce?Thanks in advance for your help. She will sail again!!!!!!!

 

[Capt jgw]

McLube is good for anything sail related, and travelers and such. It's a non staining Teflon lube that's made for lubing sail slides and won't harm common surfaces. I like white lithium spray grease for mechanical stuff like hinges and things. WD40 and the like aren't good lubes, they evaporate leaving no lube behind. Sheathed control cables can be oiled with a cable luber from a motorcycle shop. Exposed steering cables shouldn't be oiled or greased, it attracts dirt and will gum them up. The pulleys can be lubed with the white lithium spray. If the steering is stiff, check the rudder stuffing box and bearings. Those can freeze up from disuse.

 

[kappykaplan]

+1 for McLube

 

[lydiao]

Thanks Guys!

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Exposed steering cables shouldn't be oiled or greased, it attracts dirt and will gum them up. The pulleys can be lubed with the white lithium spray. If the steering is stiff, check the rudder stuffing box and bearings. Those can freeze up from disuse.

This is false. Edson has recommended maintenance in their manual and it calls for annual oiling of the wire with motor oil.

The chain in the pedestal needs oil too. But the needle bearings should be greased with a synthetic grease like Super Lube. The bearings on the idlers should be oil with a very small amount of motor oil.

To the OP, the key is there is no one stop answer. Read each owner's manual and see what it says. For instance, my furling system, Schaefer, says to just flush with fresh water. McLube is good and seems like it works at first but that residue it leaves behind can attract dirt and debris. So when you use it in a traditional sail track it is good at first but worse over time. The real answer here is just soap and water and washing the track well. The manufacturer of the engine control panels on my boat says to spray in the ends with WD40. Not so much as a lubricant but as a corrosion inhibitor. There are lots of answers for lots of different parts. I have a rubber container filled with different bottles for different applications.

Good luck and fair winds,

Jesse

 

[Anonymous 121765]

I'm gonna be hated for this but,

I always thought the best lube was foreplay!

Seriously though, the guys have given you good advice.

CR

 

[chrisings]

Personally not a fan of White Lithium spray, IMHO, it dries out and overtime becomes more of a glue then a lube. If you can find Wurth HHS 2000 (or HHS K same thing) it is by far the best for hinges, cables, linkages etc. WD40 is good for what it was designed for, water displacement (good for secondary ignition cables, spark plug wires, on an Atomic 4 if you've got one).
+1 for McLube too.

 

[Jackdaw]

McLube is good for anything sail related, and travelers and such. It's a non staining Teflon lube that's made for lubing sail slides and won't harm common surfaces. I like white lithium spray grease for mechanical stuff like hinges and things. WD40 and the like aren't good lubes, they evaporate leaving no lube behind. Sheathed control cables can be oiled with a cable luber from a motorcycle shop. Exposed steering cables shouldn't be oiled or greased, it attracts dirt and will gum them up. The pulleys can be lubed with the white lithium spray. If the steering is stiff, check the rudder stuffing box and bearings. Those can freeze up from disuse.

McLube should NOT be used on anything that rolls. It is so slippery that it prevents the rolling. Its really for sliding parts. Use Harken One-shot for delrin bearings in travelers etc.