[Worms]

Hi,
I use Morris's Golden Film AG250 Classic gear oil. It's an SAE 250w and is safe for phosphor bronze boxes. It's thick and sticky (think Tate + Lyle) and tends to stay in the gearbox whilst providing very smooth changes in my '27 M9 box...and my '27 Scott FS and '38 BSA B26 come to that!

I use a sheep dosing syringe from the local farm supplies to inject it into the box once I have undone the oil feed pipe. I use about 140cc based on the manual's claim that upon draining one should have about 3/4-1 cup of old oil come out.

[Thomas]

Yes Brian, I had similar problems finding out the details about Castrol grease. My alternative is Renolit SO-GPO 35 which does the same job. But it's a German brand perhaps not available in the UK. Cheers, Thomas

[brian philpotts]

Hi Thomas, many thanks  for the reply once more.  I see your Spheerol is CLX2 but what I purchased is EPL OL/EPO and I am now unsure if this is the correct choice. I have uploaded the  following description from the ebay purchase screen ;  "Castrol Spheerol EPL 0 L/EPO is a lithium semi-fluid self-levelling grease for veteran and vintage cars and motorcycles, with grease packed axles and gearboxes. "  Sounds OK but I  will now try to find out what the difference is when compared to CLX2.  What set me off on the quest is that I can hold the tub upside down without it trying to escape. I have used semi fluid grease in Land Rover axle swivel housings and was expecting it to be a bit more gloopy.

[Thomas]

Well, my Castrol CLX2 looks like regular grease when being cold. But as soon as it is warm it's really thin. I've seen that after being too generous with my grease gun. It dropped out of the shafts onto my exhaust leaving a mess. But Castrol is not the only possible choice, indeed.
Cheers, Thomas

[beaumy]

Hi Brian,

For what it's worth, Millers Oils in Brighouse W. Yorkshire have a very knowledgeable technical department.
They do various viscocities of semi fluid lithium complex grease, which I believe to be an extreme pressure grease.
I have used it many times in angle grinder bevel, reduction drives that are prone to channeling with great success. That was one of the applications that they recommended it for.
I have also used it in the cup and cone wheel bearings of my 1920 3½hp which has covered a few thousand miles since being put back on the road in 2019.

Give them a call to see wha they recommend.

Peter

[brian philpotts]

Many thanks for the reply but I think there is a slight misunderstanding of my Question.  I am concerned that the Spheerol I have just purchased is more like thin grade grease than semi fluid and will simply end up doing what you described as happening to normal grease. I am aware that the Spheerol will thin slightly as the box warms up but it still looks far too thick for my liking.  Morris oils have a range of much more advanced semi fluid grease which their technical advisors have assured me are suitable for older gearboxes which contain yellow metals. Their product K400EP which is a semi fluid grease is rated with a lower viscosity than Spheerol and could possibly provide much better lubrication in certain areas.  I am a little reluctant to use it as I do not trust their technical advice  100%. Too late when it's in the box hence my request for guidance.

[Thomas]

Hi all, just finished the re-build of my Burman SP box out of my 1937 model 8 Sunbeam.  About to fill it with 1/2 pt  of Castrol Spheerol but was wondering if there is anything better available .    I know it's less likely to leak but it looks a little thick and I'm not sure how well it will find its way to the inner surfaces of the gears where they rotate on the shafts and sidecase bushes.  Your views and any recommendations would be much appreciated.

Hi Brian! Normal grease is too viscous for a gearbox and leaves cavities ("tunnels") around the gears, which are then not lubricated. When used in a gearbox, the centrifugal force of the internal components throws the grease away, causing it to stick to the housing and preventing it from lubricating the components. The semi-fluid grease like Castrol Speerol can flow away and collect in the housing, enabling continuous lubrication. I use this very grease for year and I never had any lubrication issue.

Cheers, Thomas