0.150" vs. 0.187" flex

[Flying Scotsman]

How does this lube compare with the usual Prather, Grim, BluGoo cable greases a lot of us use?

I think you have your answer as stated by Fluid and it is a lubricant.

Douggie

[Insaniac]

Here are some detailed tests of various gear oils including the Pennzoil Synthetic 75W90...

[Fluid]

Thanks for the test paper ranking various lubes for use on hypoid automatic gears. Sadly, none of the tests have much at all to do with what we want out of a cable lube and the 'top rated' lube is probably not the best for our use. We have no need for viscosity indexes, 20-hour shear tests, oxidation tests, weld points, foaming....the bulk of the testing. The most useful test was probably the industry standard Falex pin/block test, but even it had far more loading than what we will ever see in a model boat.

What is not given - but would probably be the most important measurement - is the lubricity provided when emulsified with water, which happens with all cable lubes used in model boats.

I tested two of the lubes in the study and there was little difference between them as far as Falex testing and results on a 3' length of loaded 3/16" flex cable. Several lubes not in the study did not do so well, but none were failures. I know from on-the-water SAW testing that the gear oils give slightly higher speeds than some 'special blends' that racers like to use, and slightly better than the cable greases tested (only two were tested though).

What do you take from all this? I think all it highlights is the fact that any lube is better than no lube. The conclusion from all my personal testing?

I think that we spend too much time trying to find a magic cable lube and not enough time on boat setup.



,

[helpeconomic]

Many years ago, I replaced my UL-1's Teflon liner with plain brass. Testing shows that there is less friction between the brass stuffing tube and the Teflon liner when a decent lubrication is applied. To put it another way, the Teflon deforms and has a larger contact area with the cable than the solid brass does. As the Teflon ages, it becomes frayed and brittle, allowing the cable to snap. Brass IME has never had an issue like this before.




quordle

[jamesevans336]

Yes

I believe you already know the answer because Fluid has already told you that it is a lubricant.

duotrigordle