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One needs to ensure that the bearings are fully packed with fresh
grease for longest life expectancy while doing the building, repairing or
re-building the RC car or truck. Any used bearing will have increased e
drag compared to a new bearing. A bearing in a clutch support block
turning at 10,000 rpm, will expel more grease than a main shaft
bearing turning at 1700 rpm. A bearing with no grease will have very
low resistance....for a while; same for an oiled bearing. A greased
bearing that has grease that stays in it, at an adequate amount, will
out perform an improperly lubed bearing, both in longevity and
smoothness.
Most new bearings seem to have a minimum of grease and very light
duty grease as well. It should be noted that the bearing manufacturers
have no idea where that bearing will end up, consequently low
viscosity grease is used. These "stock" greases are "gone" in some
instances or in a matter of minutes of running. In other areas they are
diluted easily with fuel residues and also cleaning fluids.
Greases come with different kind of bases. Some use Lithium base
while others are Aluminum oxide based grease, Teflon grease or
Silicon Grease. But the ones using Aluminum oxide, Teflon, or Silicon
give out easily on high speed, high heat and high centrifugal force
bearings. One of the reasons behind the same is low viscosity factor
existing with commercial grease.
Oiling the bearings that have been greased is not really a very good
idea as this would tend to wash out and also lower the viscosity of the
grease in the bearing, allowing it to be expelled from the bearing much
more quickly. Oiling the bearings would inevitably invite dirt also in the
machine. Low viscosity grease, which is what seems to be in new
bearings, will tend to break down to an even lower viscosity when
subjected to all of this. This can also lead to dirty residue "seeping"
into the bearing.
When bearings need to be totally cleaned, use of mineral spirits is
recommended. But while using solvent it should be done where
appropriate ventilation is available and using glasses is also
recommended to avoid solvent getting into the eyes. It should be
cautioned never to use compressed air to blow the bearings into high
speeds. This can cause the bearings to expel the balls as high speed
projectiles. New bearings should be cleaned with a lint free cloth on
both sides before greasing. The expelled grease should be discarded so
as not to contaminate grease with your bearings.
In the end it is recommended to use the type of grease for an RC car
depending upon its end use. A car on off road running would tend to
use high viscosity grease where as one running on clean environment
would do good even with low viscosity grease.
1/10th Nitro
