What odd grease?

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Just been repairing two Framco motor / gearbox combinations off an electric wheelchair. Repair job was straightforward, but I now need to top up the gearboxes as I managed to loose quite a lot of the lubricant.

Now each gearbox was full to the brim with an odd semi liquid grease. or maybe a very thick oil which was almost grease!!! It is a brownish / grey colour and I have never seen anything quite like it The right angled gear boxes have steel and bronze gears. The boxes were full to the lid of this stuff.

So what is it and where can I get it?. The motors are Framco, but not sure about the gearboxes. I believe the Hastings factory is no more, so stuck for information.

Thanks,

Andrew.

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Dependant on age but the colour may be caused by the casing material. I would think an EP90 oil would be acceptable.

[SandgrounderParticipant @sandgrounder]

Hi Andrew,

I'm not being picky but the motor / gearbox is almost certainly a Fracmo not Framco, might make searching a little easier, there seems to be quite a lot of info on the web regarding them.

John

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I stand to be corrected on the name! It is indeed Fracmo, my apologies. As for the grease / oil, it certainly isn't EP90 there is no mistaking that smell!

Andrew.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Best bet ring Shell and ask them.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I have tried the internet using Fracmo and the only information is that they use a high grade grease. Not very helpful.

Andrew.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Some folk use a mix of EP90 oil and LM2 grease for the front axle swivels of older Land Rovers. It's also referred to as one shot. Others swear by just EP90. Surprised the gearbox is full to the brim though…

[J HancockParticipant @jhancock95746]

Reads like Spheerol.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Semi Fluid EP Greases are semi fluid, extreme pressure, lithium thickened greases developed for lubrication via automatic lubrication systems and applications such as gearboxes where a grease is preferred because of leakage problems with conventional gear oils.

Does this answer the question?

Description:
Castrol Spheerol EPL 2 Lithium Grease NLGI2

A multi-purpose semi-fluid Lithium, EP grease suitable for use in Centralised Lubrication systems and enclosed gearboxes.

Castrol Spheerol™ EPL is a range of greases which comprises lithium based products, containing highly refined mineral oils, fortified with extreme pressure (EP) additives as well as corrosion and oxidation inhibitors.These greases have been formulated with additives that provide good film strength under medium to high loads.

The Spheerol EPL range comprises general purpose greases designed for plant wide lubrication. These greases provide good protection against rust and corrosion as well as resistance to water wash-out; which makes them particularly suitable for equipment where moist or wet conditions are common.

As used in Boxford VM30 mill gearbox

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles used a semi liquid grease in the original 4 speed gearboxes, available here

This is a Grade 00 grease that is akin to thickened gear oil in consistancy – it will drain out of the motorcycle gearboxes (eventually – I left mine overnight when I had one ) through a 1/2" or so drain plug.

Nigel B.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Andrew, it is probably a compound gear oil which have a few additives, which often prevent corrosion, shock loading and high wear resistance. In my old maintenance job I used to refurb many of these types of gearboxes and they mostly had this sort of lubricant in them. The lubricant is usually very slippery in nature and a bit sticky like fluid that was not like an oil and not like a grease. Some of them I did, it looked as if there was grit in it, but I think that type had PTFE particles in it. I can't remember the names of any of those lubricants now as it is getting on for nearly 20 years since I did any and they have probably been superseded by now. You could try searching online for compound gear oil and see if any suites what you think the gearbox needs.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 29/04/2021 15:56:01

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Hi Andrew,

I echo what KWIL says regarding gearbox greases being used because of leakage issues. If all else fails, try FUCHS lubricants (UK) plc (what used to be Century Oils ltd). The problem you may encounter is buying a small enough quantity for your use.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Go to any good Landrover speciallist NOT a main agent and ask for a pouch of front ball housing lube, that will do the job. It's what they use now instead of EP90. Noel

[Paul BarterParticipant @paulbarter66156]

Hi Andrew T

his sounds like the lubricant specified for the gear drive on a Skil worm drive saw. It is expensive and apparently it is used to handle the loads imposed by the helical drive, but EP90 seems to be an adequate substitute so far!

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Thanks all,

I have some Spheerol on order, it sounds as if this is the stuff in the gearboxes. The sooner I get the wheelchair back to the owner, the better.

Thanks again,

Andrew.

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

Could Kwil clarify if the number 2 Castrol is suitable, as I'd planned on the replacing the grease on my boxford vm30 gearbox in the near future, I found this that gives the impression the double zero grade is the semi fluid?

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Ask a mobility scooter shop, our local shop is pretty useful with info.

Martin P

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

The brownish grey colour you mention makes me think of the semi fluid grease we use on rotary gearboxes at work : Rocol aerospec 100 semi-fluid **LINK** Probably not the same material as it's quite expensive, but maybe a similar composition.

Edited By ChrisB on 29/04/2021 20:58:54

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Posted by Pete. on 29/04/2021 20:34:58:

Could Kwil clarify if the number 2 Castrol is suitable, as I'd planned on the replacing the grease on my boxford vm30 gearbox in the near future, I found this that gives the impression the double zero grade is the semi fluid?

The double zero is one grade thinner than zero. The number 2 Castrol is one grade thigher than number 1 etc.

The numbers are from the NLGI Consistency number

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

Posted by Mark Rand on 29/04/2021 22:02:46:

Posted by Pete. on 29/04/2021 20:34:58:

Could Kwil clarify if the number 2 Castrol is suitable, as I'd planned on the replacing the grease on my boxford vm30 gearbox in the near future, I found this that gives the impression the double zero grade is the semi fluid?

The double zero is one grade thinner than zero. The number 2 Castrol is one grade thigher than number 1 etc.

The numbers are from the NLGI Consistency number

I meant is the number 2 semi liquid, it says 'general purpose bearing grease' in the information I found, which makes me think not, or is number 2 semi fluid, and the double zero near oil consistency?

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Type 0 semi liquid grease as used in commercial vehicle and agricultural chassis lubrication systems. I repair a bit of farm equipment and scrounge the odd litre for my vintage bike gearbox.

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

The information in the Miller version of the NLGI 00 seems to confirm it's the 00 grade that is suitable for enclosed gearboxes, but happy to be corrected if anyone knows better.

[Paul KempParticipant @paulkemp46892]

Try Neox DT. Used to be used in stern tube lubrication in the marine world or Neox 9000 which is a bit thinner and more fluid. DT used to be available in about 2 litre tins, warm it up to fill it flows better. Stinks, gets everywhere but it's a really good lubricant for slow speed bronze and steel gears in unfriendly environments!

Paul.

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

Andrew, I had a reply from opie oils earlier, they confirmed it's the #00 grade which is the semi fluid grease, if you ordered the #2, it's probably just general purpose grease for bearings.

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