| Author |
Message |
Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50374
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:06 am Post subject: Shifter lubricant for desert use? |
 |
|
| Our 83 1/2 lives in Arizona these day where dust is constant. In the process of installing a shifter rebuild kit because all the old plastic just blew apart and was wondering what people recommend as far as a lubricant. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Californio
Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2007
Posts: 1308
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:10 am Post subject: Re: Shifter lubricant for desert use. |
|
|
I've found the thinner the better and keep doing it. WD40 works for me. Anything thicker and "longer lasting" just attracts more crap.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westy/2.0L Tiico |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4816
Location: Bemidji, MN
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Shifter lubricant for desert use? |
|
|
i'm ready to take all the congealed high quality, waterproof, German grease i'd put on and go back to Jet-Lube Moly Mist. dries hard and provides a slippery surface. it does wear thru eventually but is easy to give it another coat from the rattle can.
https://www.gwlinc.com/eStore/ProductInfo/MJL16041.aspx
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gnarlodious 
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2324
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Shifter lubricant for desert use? |
|
|
Pretty sure over the decades of New Mexico dust storms I've tried everything but now I use plain old engine oil. Yes it attracts dust but it is sticky enough to go the distance. When I get underneath to lube I bring a brush or paper towel to wipe off the accumulation, it's the best way.
The same goes for sliding door lubrication. Those spray-can oils fade out after a few weeks and lead to rapid deterioration.
_________________
Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6658
Location: Westfalia, Earth
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Shifter lubricant for desert use? |
|
|
I’ve tried WD40, and Yes, it dries out within weeks.
I’ve also tried lithium grease and it’s far better, good for much longer.
I have a little “dog whine” squeak between 2nd and 3rd now. I think it’s in the linkage as it sure sounds like it’s straight below the gearshifter. I cleaned and Lithiumed all that in December, and am going to re-clean the linkage and bushings and try Moly grease this time.
Same deal here, in Arizona now and it’s sure been dry and dusty.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4816
Location: Bemidji, MN
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2024 7:46 am Post subject: Re: Shifter lubricant for desert use? |
|
|
| Gnarlodious wrote: |
| The same goes for sliding door lubrication. Those spray-can oils fade out after a few weeks and lead to rapid deterioration. |
so i 'rebuilt' my slider with all new bearings, cleaned the latch mechanism, new spring, filed the teeth, cleaned and lubed the pivot arm. while doing all this i mulled door lubrication. latch and pivot arm got Tri-Flow. i'd previously greased up the door track on both the V rail and bottom side of door entry. all that grease guck cleaned off, repainted.
i see no reason for any lube on the slider door roller areas... after all, it is (or was!) riding on sealed bearings. the ONLY sliding track area where lube actually does anything is in the last 6" of closure where the bottom bearing must slide diagonally as it rolls to the shut position. for that, the hard, dry, Moly Mist works great so give some slip-tion for the diagonal movement the outer race needs in the transition to close.
when Bill at Affordable German in Phoenix opened my slider to get my bearing set out, he said, "That's the easiest door I've opened in a long time." Wasn't anything special i'd done, just new bearings, a lubed pivot arm, and Moly Mist paint on the bottom track. it's a two-finger door.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
