Author Topic: Oil it? Grease it? or leave it dry?  (Read 1301 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Brockett

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 8348
  • Bike: 2022 Moto Guzzi 850 V7 special in blue, 2022 850 V7 Stone in darkest black, 1998 XJ600n in red
  • Location: Tendring in the Far North East (of Essex)
Oil it? Grease it? or leave it dry?
« on: April 24, 2018, 21:31:08 »
The clutch pivot on the TDM, at under ten thousand miles,  was to say the least, sloppy. I removed the lever to find the alloy arm was fitted with looks like a phosphor bronze bush. The bush had worn oval and was nearly completely worn away at one point. Yesterday my son took it to work and asked a colleague if he could make and fit a new bush.  Today it came back all fixed. (hooray). The chap who fixed it said it should not be lubricated because:-  a tiny amount metal dust will shear off every time it is operated and any oil or grease will turn the dust into grinding paste and this will cause much more wear than if it is just left dry.
Anyone have any views on this???
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline StromGeeza

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 1728
  • Bike: just scoots now
  • Location: SW
Re: Oil it? Grease it? or leave it dry?
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2018, 22:15:15 »
Graphite as a dry lubricant instead?

Offline tallpaul

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 10386
  • Tastier than the Barrow-in-Furness bus depot...
  • Bike: 2016 Yamaha XT1200ZE
  • Location: Whitworth, Lancashire
Re: Oil it? Grease it? or leave it dry?
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2018, 22:33:52 »
I would use oil on phosphor bronze. Any type that does not contain sulphur as it reacts with the copper to cause pitting, so avoid anything with an EP additive. A drop of engine oil will be fine.
Old enough to know better, but still too young to care...

Offline wurzel

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 2534
  • Bike: DL1000 L4
  • Location: Maldon, Essex
Re: Oil it? Grease it? or leave it dry?
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2018, 05:14:11 »
As Paul says.

Offline jabmotorsport

  • Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Feb 2012
  • Posts: 1865
  • Four Time Quad Bike Champion
  • Location: Hinckley, Leicestershire
Re: Oil it? Grease it? or leave it dry?
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2018, 14:38:32 »
I also agree with Paul, drop of oil  :sunny:
tinker, tweek, fettle....bodge, bang, bugger!!!