White Lithium vs. "Strawberry Jam" grease

[KohKohPuffs]

Our team is modifying the Andymark Toughboxes to have different gear ratios. As such, we have purchased some gears from VexPro, but unfortunately we don't have more of the "strawberry jam" grease that came with the toughboxes in the kitbot chassis.

I intend on running to the local hardware store tomorrow to acquire white lithium grease, but we're wondering if we need to clean out the toughboxes of the "strawberry jam". Like, if there's some of it left, will it react with the white lithium and cause an explosion or something of the sort (exaggerated, but you get the idea )?

Also, what's the official name for that grease? We all call it "strawberry jam" because it looks like it... except that it's not.

[Oblarg]

I am fairly sure that a) the "strawberry jam" is red lithium grease and b) you can mix them without any ill effects.

[EricH]

Sometimes, you gotta go to the source...

http://www.andymark.com/red-tacky-gr...-p/am-2768.htm

It's described as raspberry jam in appearance by AM.

(I suggest buying a LOT of packets, or something else that's heavier and would pack well with packets--don't want shipping to be more than your order!)

[cbale2000]

Originally Posted by EricH

Sometimes, you gotta go to the source...

http://www.andymark.com/red-tacky-gr...-p/am-2768.htm

It's described as raspberry jam in appearance by AM.

(I suggest buying a LOT of packets, or something else that's heavier and would pack well with packets--don't want shipping to be more than your order!)

Why buy packets when you can buy in bulk?

http://lucasoil.com/products/grease/red-n-tacky-grease


Amazon
Home Depot
Auto Zone

IMO, the red tacky grease holds up a lot better than white lithium grease. I've gone entire seasons without re-greasing after assembling gearboxes with generous amounts of the red grease.

[ShIfTiNgBoT]

Do not mix them (probably). There are two kinds of white lithium greases, a spray-on form, and a paste form. The spray on kind will not function as intended, as it evaporates and leaves a film behind which is the lubricant. You may have better luck with the paste form of white lithium (comes in tubes, not cans), although my guess for that is only speculation.

Either way, it's almost always good form to remove previous lubrication when switching to a different kind.

[Kevin Sevcik]

You can go to any auto parts store and ask them for Red 'n Tacky grease if you'd rather stay with the same stuff.

[Sean Raia]

[Boston accent] Ah jus' throw some butta on it and quitcha whinin' [/Boston accent]

[MrForbes]

a small tub of red grease from an auto parts store (or Walmart) is not very expensive, and will last a long time! And you can pack the wheel bearings in your trailer with it, too.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by EricH

Sometimes, you gotta go to the source...

http://www.andymark.com/red-tacky-gr...-p/am-2768.htm

It's described as raspberry jam in appearance by AM.

(I suggest buying a LOT of packets, or something else that's heavier and would pack well with packets--don't want shipping to be more than your order!)

Only ONE MAN would DARE give me the RASPBERRIES...ANDY BAKER...

[Southpaw]

There should be no problem mixing them, assuming the AM grease is indeed Lithium. This chart shows lithium grease types are compatible with each other, and should not have any problem being mixed.

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...mixing-greases

This being said, if you are still uncertain, used grease is used grease and cheap and you could replace it.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

used grease is used grease and cheap and you could replace it.

The cost of the used grease is not the issue. It's the time and effort required to thoroughly remove the used grease if it is chemically incompatible with the replacement grease.

[Southpaw]

[quote=Ether;1634784]The cost of the used grease is not the issue. It's the time and effort required to thoroughly remove the used grease if it is chemically incompatible with the replacement grease.


Building drive trains has left me cleaning grease off of my hands multiple times. Cleaning grease out of a gearbox will not take any significant time. I had stated that it depends on your certainty level. You could go with the idea that "Red n Tacky is extremely similar therefore AM grease is most likely lithium based and compatible", or you could go on the safe end and clear out the gearbox and apply the new grease.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Sean Raia

[Boston accent] Ah jus' throw some butta on it and quitcha whinin' [/Boston accent]

Hm, on this end it came out as a heavy Bronx accent.

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Building drive trains has left me cleaning grease off of my hands multiple times.

Best you learn about Nitrile Gloves. Chemicals on Skin is easily avoided, and should be.

Clean the old grease off with isopropyl alcohol (with good ventilation): The 91% stuff is an excellent degreaser. That and a toothbrush will make short work of it.

I can also speculate that mixing is harmless, but what if I'm wrong?

[Ether]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Best you learn about Nitrile Gloves. Chemicals on Skin is easily avoided, and should be.

Some 40-plus years ago when I was just a pup working in the gas turbine engine fuel control lab, my mentor constantly had his hands immersed in Trike.

I found out many years later it did not end well.

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Best you learn about Nitrile Gloves. Chemicals on Skin is easily avoided, and should be.

Clean the old grease off with isopropyl alcohol (with good ventilation): The 91% stuff is an excellent degreaser. That and a toothbrush will make short work of it.

WD40 also works as a very good degreaser. I'll second wearing gloves instead, but if that's not an option, most workshops have WD40 lying around.

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

I can also speculate that mixing is harmless, but what if I'm wrong?

423 has a tube of white lithium grease that we used to grease all our gearboxes. Some of those gearboxes were AndyMark gearboxes with Strawberry Jam grease still in them (some also had a green grease I can't identify). As far as I know, we never saw any reactions or interactions between the two (or three) greases.