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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 3:48 pm Post subject: Best grease for distributor shaft? |
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I replaced my points about 400 miles ago (using Bosch) and am going on a trip, so I thought I'd check things out.
The dwell was 47 degrees after installing the points a while back. When I went to check them today, however, the points had obviously closed to show a dwell of 54 degrees.
I assume the rubbing block wore down, as the points screw was nice and tight.
What grease do you guys use on your distributor shaft and points rubbing block?
I was using black moly. But I'm thinking this was not a good choice now.
So what's the best grease for this application?
Tim |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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Bosch distributor grease is what I use. |
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gp98 Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2010 Posts: 225 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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I use the grease that comes with points in small capsule.
I have used brake grease before also and had no bad side effects. _________________ 1972 Super Beetle
1961 Dune Buggy,2010 Larz Anderson Class Winner
1971 BSA Lighting
1969 tin top westy |
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Joey Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005 Posts: 5366 Location: Nova Scotia - Canada
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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I use Bosch distributor grease as well. It's thicker than wheel bearing grease so it stays put. Also, make sure the distributor shaft is nice and smooth. _________________ Joey
‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76939 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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Bosch distributor grease is made for the can. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, the distributor shaft is smooth.
I just read about Bosch Grease, but I have to order it on-line, since no auto places carry it here. Wolfgang's here in town mentioned dielectric grease. I have some, but it's made by Permatex, and I don't care much for their stuff.
I'll just order the Bosch on line and regrease with that when I get back from the trip.
Thanks,
Tim |
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APPLEGREENVW Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2003 Posts: 2388 Location: Seekonk,Massachusetts USA
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Relyt Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2012 Posts: 1008 Location: WA
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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APPLEGREENVW wrote: |
Which on-line vendors sell Bosch grease? |
I would also like to know. I can find Mallory's, which I'm sure is on par with Bosch, but I just want to give Bosch all my money for some reason.
I've also had auto parts stores tell me dielectric grease, I just looked at them and left. I knew better then to ask them about such things. _________________ 69 Beetle - Daily driver
1600 SP (unknown history)
30 PICT 1 w/power circuit (Volkzbitz)
205T (Bill) |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76939 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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Dielectric grease is not suitable. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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tasb The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 6371 Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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lol! It's not actually funny. Most auto parts counter folks don't even know what a distributor is and the above answer proves it.. _________________ Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc
1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse |
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mouser98 Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2012 Posts: 300 Location: Lugoff, SC
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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what's wrong with plain old white lithium grease? |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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gp98 wrote: |
I use the grease that comes with points in small capsule. |
Me too. I buy my points at NAPA -- I get the Echlin brand points (they have a longer warranty than Bosch points) and they come with the little grease capsule.
Tim, in my experience it's not unusual for the rubbing block to wear like that in the first few hundred miles, but very little after that. _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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Zylinderkopf Samba Member
Joined: September 09, 2012 Posts: 679 Location: SE Oklahoma
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't been able to buy the Bosch grease - don't think they make that stuff anymore - the usual suppliers are all out of stock. The question is: what is a good substitute? Wheel bearing grease ? _________________ 1963 Beetle
1966 Beetle 1300
1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1971 Super Beetle
1974 Thing
"A lot of people never use their initiative because no one told them to." |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76939 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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mouser98 wrote: |
what's wrong with plain old white lithium grease? |
Not sticky enough. The RPMs will throw it off the cam.
_________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12728 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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CarQuest stores can order it IF you can convince the employee you will not stand for lithium substitute. The PN is on their website. Sorry I'm on my phone and can't check right now. PartsKlassic sells little tubs of it for a good price. Buy two and you'll be set forever, even when you lose one. _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I tried the Cip1 site that showed up when I Googled Bosch Distributor Grease. They had a small tube for under 12 bucks, but they are our of stock. I have a feeling, they will remain so.
I found a few other places with larger tubes for around $28.00. Geeze, I don't need a Glenn-size tube. He might go through a tube every few months, but I would take decades.
I had a bad experience with some non-Bosch points, where the spring actually broke in half--so I buy Bosch only, and the Bosch points I buy from Wolfgang's here in town don't have that little bit of distributor grease, anymore.
Donnie, I read an old thread on The Samba where someone else said that the points block would wear the first few hundred miles; then you adjust the points again, time the engine again--and you're good to go ... with the wear slowing down considerably. I wonder why that is? I mean, isn't the block the same material, throughout? Very strange.
I also found some Porsche 1/4 oz. pots for sale on-line for under $4.00; but are they really going to accept a credit card for so small an amount? And do I want to give my credit card number to some outfit I've never heard of?
For now, I'll see if the "primary-rider-block-wear-theory" is true, or not. When I get back from Bugorama, that will put about four hundred miles on the engine. I'll re-check and see it the wear stops. In the meantime, I'm going with the same Sta-Lub Black Moly (it's kind of thick), and see what happens.
Tim |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12728 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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With the black moly they will wear, so your test won't hold water. Buy a few extra tubs and give them as gifts to friends or something. I lop a little bit into a Petrie dish when I show people how to adjust their valves and points. They're probably good for years too. _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76939 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Tim Donahoe wrote: |
Geeze, I don't need a Glenn-size tube. He might go through a tube every few months, but I would take decades.
Tim |
_________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 3:29 am Post subject: |
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My theory is that the rubbing block gets work-hardened (like, for instance, a camshaft or lifters) after a few hundred miles.
I understand the adherence to Bosch points, but lately I've had a set of Bosch points fail on me at 1000 miles due to a broken rubbing block. That's when I decided to try the Echlin points, with which I have been well pleased. _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16758 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 4:21 am Post subject: |
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Distributor-Grease-Bosch-G...mp;vxp=mtr
http://www.lufteknic.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Sc...gory_Code=
If you are in a bind, I can squirt some into a baggy and send it to you. Even with 6 VWs, my tube will outlast me. By the way - you wouldn't use this to grease speedo gears, would you? Almost looks like the same stuff...... _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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