Drive Spline Grease

[Sodbuster]

I've been looking at the archives for info on rear wheel drive spline grease/paste and there seems to be a consensus to stay away from the Honda Moly 60. I've used that stuff before on my '83 Wing and I would have to agree that stuff doesn't seem to hold up. I've noticed quite a few people commented on the use of Bel Ray Waterproof Grease and Guard Dog 525 with good results after 10k miles of service. My question is has anyone tried the Shaeffer product Moly Syngard 2000 (#248) ??

http://www.schaefferoil.com/syngard_2000.html

Thanks for your input ....

[fudgie]

I use Valvoline moly grease. Looks good when the wheel comes off. Dont over do it. It'll sling grease on the rim.

[Ratdog]

I do a thin coat of Amsoil's moly fortified grease with a little Honda moly 60 mixed with it.  Been working for me for 140,000 miles.

[Sodbuster]

Reason I'm asking is because I can get the stuff at the local NAPA dealer.  Nobody's tried the Shaeffer grease ??

Ratdog - what's the recipe for the stuff you're using ??

[MikeT]

Shaeffer makes an excellent product.  The rubber curing company that I used to work for used Shaeffer 221 Moly Ultra to grease the wheel bearings on curing racks that went into an autoclave (pressure cooker) that was pressurized with 110 psi live steam.  The stuff worked great.  Did not wash out and reduced down time.

[MikeT]

Forgot to mention that I use it on my Valk I/S.  85,000 miles and going strong.

[John Schmidt]

In fact, I believe I copied him some time ago after a post of his on that issue. The Honda paste has a tendency to dry up over time, so I mix a slight amount of moly based grease in with it. It seems to keep its consistency as a result. Just don't over-apply it or it will sling out eventually and make a bit of a mess on the wheel. My last final drive service was 12k miles since the previous one and the splines looked new.

[Sodbuster]

Shaeffer makes an excellent product.  The rubber curing company that I used to work for used Shaeffer 221 Moly Ultra to grease the wheel bearings on curing racks that went into an autoclave (pressure cooker) that was pressurized with 110 psi live steam.  The stuff worked great.  Did not wash out and reduced down time.

Thanks for ALL the reply's.  After visiting the shaeffer website again I noticed that #238 Ultra Supreme is an upgrade version of the #221 Moly Ultra and has a extra tackifier.  I'm guessing that would prevent any fling off.  Maybe I'll give that a try.

[Ratdog]

Reason I'm asking is because I can get the stuff at the local NAPA dealer.  Nobody's tried the Shaeffer grease ??

Ratdog - what's the recipe for the stuff you're using ??

The most important?  I rubber glove up to keep the moly off my fingers.  I "schmooie" a little of the moly paste around the spline's inner edge (all the way around) and then "schmooie" the rest with the moly fortified grease. Not much higher than the splines' teeth.  Then... wipe my gloved hands of the rest before handling the rest.  Pretty scientific, huh?

[Sodbuster]

That Bel-Ray WP grease sounds like the ticket. I did a little more research on google and got good feedback on it's use.  It does say not to mix with clay based grease. Does anyone know if Honda Moly 60 is clay based ??? Pretty sure that's what's in there now.  How fussy would one have to be in removing the Honda 60 when switching over to say something like the Bel-Ray WP grease ??  It's sounds like the key ingredient to any good grease is the aluminum complex.

Thanks again for any feedback ....

[fudgie]

Just wipe all the old stuff off and you'll be good to go. I never worriy about a good scrubbing before adding more.

[Warlock]

That Bel-Ray WP grease sounds like the ticket. I did a little more research on google and got good feedback on it's use.  It does say not to mix with clay based grease. Does anyone know if Honda Moly 60 is clay based ??? Pretty sure that's what's in there now.  How fussy would one have to be in removing the Honda 60 when switching over to say something like the Bel-Ray WP grease ??  It's sounds like the key ingredient to any good grease is the aluminum complex.

Thanks again for any feedback ....

I use brake cleaner to clean everything. i all of it good and clean before applying new fresh grease. I do things on the extreme side. But that's just me.
David

[98valk]

They won't put Molly on even if you ask for it, they plain don't carry it anymore. They told me it dries out.

moly doesn't dry out, its a mineral, http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photomoly.html
 only the grease can dry out. the moly is always there being burnished into the metal providing protection. The moly is the lubricate and the paste/grease is mainly the carrier of the moly.

I use http://www.tsmoly.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_7&products_id=93
which is a 70% moly paste

http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Shaft.html    at the beginning about the gear oil that was dark gray it is moly gear oil from the factory fill, there was nothing wrong with it as they state.
scroll down to read about splines.

[Steve K (IA)]

That Bel-Ray WP grease sounds like the ticket. I did a little more research on google and got good feedback on it's use.  It does say not to mix with clay based grease. Does anyone know if Honda Moly 60 is clay based ??? Pretty sure that's what's in there now.  How fussy would one have to be in removing the Honda 60 when switching over to say something like the Bel-Ray WP grease ??  It's sounds like the key ingredient to any good grease is the aluminum complex.

Thanks again for any feedback ....

I use brake cleaner to clean everything. i all of it good and clean before applying new fresh grease. I do things on the extreme side. But that's just me.
David

Same here...brake cleaner.   If the rear end isn't off the swing arm, make sure you put down plenty of rags of cardboard to catch the mess.

[N0tac0p]

what about royal purple grease?

[roboto65]

I like my Royal Purple   my whole bike is RP Rearend, Engine and grease all RP!!

[Sodbuster]

Went to the local MC repair shop today looking for some Bel-Ray WP grease. They did have some but the guy behind the counter asked what I was looking for. When I told him grease for splines (I should have known better) he said "You don't want that (Bel-Ray), you want spline grease". So I played along and asked to see what they used for spline grease. He came out with a tube of "Sierra Spline Grease" used for Mercruiser prop splines. The guy behind the other counter said "It's got moly in it". But when I asked how much moly he said he didn't know. They did allow me to inspect the tube they're using. It is some pretty sticky stuff and blue in color.  It did get get my interest.  Anyone try that stuff ??

On a side note, for those using the Bel-Ray WP grease, does that stuff separate at all and any trouble with fling off ?? Didn't get a chance to look in the tub. Is that stuff sticky ??

[John U.]

Another option to creating your own spline concoction is to add
molybdenum disulfide powder to the grease of your choice.
Rosemill is a source, though a bit expensive : http://rosemill.com/product.asp?productid=258465
Ebay has a listing for 1/4lb 1-10 micron for a lot less: http://cgi.ebay.com/Molybdenum-Disulfide-1-10-Micron-Powder-98-8-1-4-lb_W0QQitemZ370353821482QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item563aced72a

[hubcapsc]

Went to the local MC repair shop today looking for some Bel-Ray WP grease. They did have some but the guy behind the counter asked what I was looking for. When I told him grease for splines (I should have known better) he said "You don't want that (Bel-Ray), you want spline grease". So I played along and asked to see what they used for spline grease. He came out with a tube of "Sierra Spline Grease" used for Mercruiser prop splines. The guy behind the other counter said "It's got moly in it". But when I asked how much moly he said he didn't know. They did allow me to inspect the tube they're using. It is some pretty sticky stuff and blue in color.  It did get get my interest.  Anyone try that stuff ??

On a side note, for those using the Bel-Ray WP grease, does that stuff separate at all and any trouble with fling off ?? Didn't get a chance to look in the tub. Is that stuff sticky ??

I don't think it's got moly in it...

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/pdfs/MSDS/Sierra/SIE_9200_MSDS.pdf

-Mike

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I've been using the royal purple grease on mine for about six years now. I bought  it from a dealer who was one of the orginal guys that started the company out of a garage in Humble, Texas. He told me to use it for 10 to15 thousand miles and if anything needed to be replaced he'ld buy the parts. That was about 90K miles ago and he hasn't had to buy anything yet. A grease size tube will last you a very long time.

[N0tac0p]

is there a specific name of the grease you are using

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I'll have to get back to you on that cause I'm at work and the grease is at home.

[roboto65]

I have this except but they repackaged it mine looks different but this is the grease I use !!!

http://www.royalpurple.com/ultra-performance-grease-o.html

I am a Royal Purple freak    I have there assembly lube there Oil,Maxfilm and I use the Purple Ice coolant additive I have run RP in all my bikes and run it in my Air compressor. 

I guess it helps that I get the Oil for free cause our company uses it in our Tugboats and I have a 5 gal jug I refill 

[Larry]

With over 100k now, I've always used Honda and have been meticulous about servicing every year.  One year I was in there twice cause I had change tires due to a large puncture. My splines look good as new. I think most issues with the splines are due to poor maintenance and or incorrect spline alignment when re assembling and NOT due to the moly paste used. Just my 2C's.

Just to further clarify a bit. I suppose price has something to do with preference too.

[Sodbuster]

Went to the local Honda stealer today to pick up a part I ordered. After I got the part thought I'd go out to the service dept and ask a few questions about spline grease. I talked to the service mngr and asked what to use for the splines. He said "Honda recommends Honda 60 paste". I asked if that's what they use in the shop and he said "Well, no we use the Bel-Ray Assy Lube". That was kinda interesting. They also sell Beemers. Spent some time going back and forth about this and that and then went back out to the floor to find the Bel-Ray Assy Lube on the shelf. Took the cover off and WOW is that stuff thick. It has Moly solids in it. I was amazed how heavy that little jar weighed.

[Sodbuster]

Came across this when surfing the web. Good read ....

Differences In Grease
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=1239.0;wap2

[John U.]

Sodbuster, I've used Bel-ray Assembly Lube. It does have a lot of Moly in it but it has the same failing as Honda 60 Paste, it dries out.
I mix it with synthetic waterproof grease and it still looks great every time I remove a rear wheel.

[Sodbuster]

Personally I'm leaning towards the Guard Dog 525 .... purportedly outperforms the GD-570 and have read many good long term results.

http://www.guarddogmolylubricants.com/gd525.shtml

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

The royal purple grease I use is NLGI #2 but I don't see it anymore on their website. The ultra grease is probably the same same just new packaging.

[judd]

 Another option is Loctite Moly Grease (65% Moly content) I've been using it for the last 3 tire changes without any noticable wear to date. 
Here's a good read............ http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Shaft.html

[hubcapsc]

Went to the local Honda stealer today to pick up a part I ordered. After I got the part thought I'd go out to the service dept and ask a few questions about spline grease. I talked to the service mngr and asked what to use for the splines. He said "Honda recommends Honda 60 paste". I asked if that's what they use in the shop and he said "Well, no we use the Bel-Ray Assy Lube". That was kinda interesting. They also sell Beemers. Spent some time going back and forth about this and that and then went back out to the floor to find the Bel-Ray Assy Lube on the shelf. Took the cover off and WOW is that stuff thick. It has Moly solids in it. I was amazed how heavy that little jar weighed.

Whatever's in there... it's a secret  ???

advantage-on-line.com/PDF/6770al.pdf

-Mike

[vanagon40]

. . . I think most issues with the splines are due to poor maintenance and or incorrect spline alignment when re assembling and NOT due to the moly paste used. . . .

I agree.  For the record, I used the Bel-Ray Assembly Lube at 9,300 miles and everything looked great 2 years and 11,000 miles later.  Used the Belray again at that time.

[bill v e]

with all due respect re: the many different ideas for greasing splines - old timers w lots of experience on all different gear sizes, loads, and heat ranges have one simple solution = quality waterproof grease - will do just as well as anything else, plus, relatively inexpensive, easy to clean & reapply, and not so costly.  just my opinion, of course.

[98valk]

Personally I'm leaning towards the Guard Dog 525 .... purportedly outperforms the GD-570 and have read many good long term results.

http://www.guarddogmolylubricants.com/gd525.shtml

only 30% moly

[Sodbuster]

Personally I'm leaning towards the Guard Dog 525 .... purportedly outperforms the GD-570 and have read many good long term results.

http://www.guarddogmolylubricants.com/gd525.shtml

only 30% moly

yup .... 570 is 70% moly paste   525 moly grease used to be 25% moly and was upgraded to 30% after feedback from riders.  Surprised they didn't change it to number 530