Grease for CIM-Sim

[Thad House]

This year we are using CIM-Sims, and when we tested them today the grease we have spun right of the gears because of the speed. What would other teams suggest for lubrication for these gearboxes.

Thanks

[Cecil]

I'm pretty sure the grease that we use on all of our gearboxes is McMaster Number 1392K31. It seems to work just fine for us, but then again, we have never used the CIM-Sims.

[EricH]

One of my favorite gear greasing tricks is to open up one of the older FP gearboxes and get some grease out (back in the day, they put quite a lot in). I don't know what type it is, though, but it's not exactly thin.

[ratdude747]

I'd use white lithium or plain lithium. cheap and effective.

but I have used tho following in the past for gearboxes (all donated):

-"food grade" white butter colored grease
-Ford/mercury black grease (wear junky shirts when using! it stains!).

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

-Ford/mercury black grease (wear junky shirts when using! it stains!).

Probably molybdenum disulfide grease.

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

Probably molybdenum disulfide grease.

I was guessing that it was "moly grease". However, it has been 6 months since I have been to their shop and I forgot exactly what it was. All I know is they were given a couple large grease gun tubes of it and that for AM gearboxes, it works well.

[fox46]

Don't worry about the grease "flying off". All you need is a light film to protect the gears. If you put too much in it will begin to churn around the gears like a pump. Although it may look like there is no grease on the gears there is in fact a light coating. Too much will zap huge amounts of power and generate a great deal of heat, eventually causing the grease to melt and leak out onto something that doesn't like it nearly as much as the gearbox... likely a C-Rio or some electronic doo-dad according to murphy's law.

The grease inside the fisherprice gearboxes is garbage- I would bet it's made from congeiled McDonalds fryer waste. The FP boxes are not made to last and as such they put the cheapest lube in them they can find. It will not tolerate high heat, is not meant for metal gears and is prone to drying up into the consistency of something resembling ear wax. Your best bet for greasing gearboxes like those would be a good synthetic spray lube like HHS2000 made by Wurth. It sprays on from an aerosol, dries to an excellent consistency for small gears, withstands high heat very well and is easy as pie to spray through a little hole if you wish to reapply. It's actually quite a phenomenal product- it has a unique "stickyness" almost like an adhesive where it sticks to anything and everything making it great for high speed applications but terrible to get off your hands - especially because it's water repellant.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by EricH

One of my favorite gear greasing tricks is to open up one of the older FP gearboxes and get some grease out (back in the day, they put quite a lot in). I don't know what type it is, though, but it's not exactly thin.

They are still packed with a boat load of grease. In fact, that is exactly what I was going to recommend.
We made a single stage gear box this year using a gear from the FP trans. So, we just left it good and greasy! I think tomorrow I will swab a little of that same grease on the CIM-Sim as well. The only thing to consider is how to keep it from flying off.

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by billbo911

The only thing to consider is how to keep it from flying off.

Manually spin the gears by hand (or attach a cordless drill to the gearbox output) at low RPM after they are greased and before you give them full power. This will help the grease initially spread out throughout the gears without flying out due to the high RPM.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Manually spin the gears by hand (or attach a cordless drill to the gearbox output) at low RPM after they are greased and before you give them full power. This will help the grease initially spread out throughout the gears without flying out due to the high RPM.

I agree with Art, its very easy if you spin the shaft slower and let it settle/spread.

We had issues with that as well, we have started using a dry grease which we really like.

DuPont (Dry-Grease) - McMaster (#8710T35)
-Sourced: http://wcproducts.net/how-to-gears/

We've really liked the above grease, you spray it on, let it dry. Do a coat or two and its good to go. It doesn't fly off and it doesn't get your frame/robot dirty.

-RC