Comprehensive Grease and Lube Thread

[srvctec]

Related question: I did get a little bit on bare surface that forms the electrical contact to the tailcap. As a dielectric grease, it is non-conductive. I tested it before opening it up to clean that bit off, and the light still worked - whatever wasn't squeezed out by tightening the tailcap wasn't thick enough to noticeably affect the connection.

That prompts me to ask: is cleaning grease off of contact surfaces recommended, or are electrical contact surfaces recommended to be lightly lubricated, or does it matter either way? Thanks.

I always make sure all my contact surfaces are clean, usually using De-oxit red for cleaning and then De-oxit gold for protection of those surfaces.

 

[LeanBurn]

From Thrunite,

"[FONT=&quot]Hello,[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thank you for contacting us.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]O-ring is made of silicone.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We recommend silicone grease."[/FONT]

Looks like I will be looking for silicone lubricant.

 

[ank]

What do you guys think about Ballistol?
It has a wide range of uses and it's a bit cheaper

https://ballistol.com/faqs/

 

[KuroNekko]

+1 for Super Lube. I originally bought it for my polyurethane sway bar bushings on my car after other lubes did not hold up. After seeing that it came up highly recommended for lubing O-rings on flashlights, I've used Super Lube for that purpose too. Unlike petroleum jelly, it goes on thin and you can rub it down to almost liquid instead of a thick jelly. I like that this one tube can service both my flashlights and my car. It's also rather easy to find. They usually sell the tubes at Harbor Freight Tools.

 

[louie]

A careful search of Nyogel 760G TDS and MSDS PDF documents reveals this:

Copper Deactivator, UV Tracer

A silica thickened, medium viscosity, synthetic hydrocarbon grease forlubrication and protection of electrical contacts.

Base oil: Polyalphaolefin
Thickener: Silica

Components
1-DECENE, HOMOPOLYMER, HYDROGENATED --- Percent 20 - < 30

SILANE, DICHLORODIMETHYL-, REACTION PRODUCTS WITH SILICA --- Percent 10 - < 20

Other components below reportable levels --- Percent 60 - < 70

I don't really know what these ingredients mean. Does synthetic hydrocarbon mean its NOT silicone?

Nye's own PDFs also indicate Ford rebrands 760G as Ford/Motorcraft XG-12 electrical grease, and Amazon sells a 3oz tube for $20. I got a tube, and it sure seems the same.

A search indicates this option is mentioned upthread, but I didn't find much detail.

I dug out an old Maglite 2D over the weekend that was in dire need of lubricating (surprisingly loud squeal from the threads).

I don't have any Nyogel on hand, but I did have a packet of "bulb grease" from the local auto parts store I've previously used on headlight bulbs. Everything I can find suggests it falls under the category of "pure silicone grease" as suggested in the first post, so after cleaning the threads, I gave it a try.

It did the trick. Noise and harshness was gone and the tailcap spun on very smoothly. This stuff is cheap, and more importantly, easily available, so it seems like a good option.

The MSDS for the specific bulb grease (Permatex / Versachem) I used indicates the composition is as follows. I looked up the three substances and noted what their function appears to be. Exact percentages are withheld as "trade secret," although the listed numbers indicate the first ingredient is actually 88-96%.

60-100% POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE (the most common silicone oil)
3-7% MODIFIED SILICON DIOXIDE (I'm guessing this acts as a thickener)
1-5% OXIRANE, METHYL-, POLYMER (surfactant - might either help ensure the silicone oil and silicon dioxide don't separate, or might help the grease seal out water)

I tried to look up Nyogel 760g for comparison, but their MSDS keeps all the ingredients secret.

 

[iamlucky13]

A careful search of Nyogel 760G TDS and MSDS PDF documents reveals this:

Copper Deactivator, UV Tracer

A silica thickened, medium viscosity, synthetic hydrocarbon grease forlubrication and protection of electrical contacts.

Base oil: Polyalphaolefin
Thickener: Silica

Components
1-DECENE, HOMOPOLYMER, HYDROGENATED --- Percent 20 - < 30

SILANE, DICHLORODIMETHYL-, REACTION PRODUCTS WITH SILICA --- Percent 10 - < 20

Other components below reportable levels --- Percent 60 - < 70

I don't really know what these ingredients mean. Does synthetic hydrocarbon mean its NOT silicone?

Nye's own PDFs also indicate Ford rebrands 760G as Ford/Motorcraft XG-12 electrical grease, and Amazon sells a 3oz tube for $20. I got a tube, and it sure seems the same.

It would seem that is correct. I was mistaken in thinking 760G was a silicone grease, but it seems it does contain *some* silicone oil (silane) even though it is predominantly a hydrocarbon grease.

 

[PierceFan]

Hmm, I see a lot of blow-back against using petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on these forums, but I have to say that I've been using the stuff for 30 years on my Maglites with no issues whatsoever. In fact, it's the only lubricant Maglite has ever officially recommended for their flashlights, which says a lot given they have a lifetime warranty on them. Clearly they would not recommend a product that could damage the o-rings or aluminum threads, that would be counterproductive.

My 3D incandescent, which was purchased new in 1992, has only ever been cleaned and lubed once. I applied the Vaseline way back when I first got it, and it's still in top form today with absolutely no deterioration of the o-rings. 25 years of being coated with petroleum jelly and the flashlight operates as well as it did when it was new.

So, with all deference to the wide array of opinions from both the novices and flashaholics alike who frequent these forums...I'll stick to what Maglite officially recommends, coupled with 30 years of personal experience!

 

[STREAMHAWAII]

Sorry late to the party. What Grease do I buy for the threads?

 

[MAD777]

I'm using this stuff and I'm happy with it.

 

[iamlucky13]

Sorry late to the party. What Grease do I buy for the threads?

The first post in this discussion provides several recommendations.

 

[Trenchant]

I've been happy with Nyogel 779ZC.

 

[GRAY LITNIN]

I'm using this stuff and I'm happy with it.

Same here. I like that its not thin as alot of others and stays where you put it.

Sometimes i'll use Slip 2000 EWG in a pinch.

 

[tom-]

Your local hardware store may well have 'plumbers grease' mostly silicone if not all silicone-used on faucet/cartridge o rings among other things.

 

[Cekid]

some things are still confusing me...today i have ordered xtar lubricant...but, later i found some thread where people contacted manufacturer and asked for clarification and they were said it is petroleum based...ok, petroleum could be bad for some o-rings, especially rubber ones, but since all of them modern flashlights have silicone o-rings, why petroleum based products, or vaseline itself, still has bad rep here? and on top of that silicone grease is bad for silicone o- rings? is there ANYTHING good for silicone o-rings?

and i wonder why such a company like xtar would made and sell some product which could damage its own flashlights, be it metal or o-rings?

i have ordered the same, but not here though....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/XTAR-Flash...light-Torch-Light-MF-/182365879353?rmvSB=true

 

[andydviking]

I just sent them an e-mail asking them if petroleum or silicon based for you. I'll post back when/if they reply. From reseller sites it suggests to me it is a silicone product so hopefully xtar will clarify.

some things are still confusing me...today i have ordered xtar lubricant...but, later i found some thread where people contacted manufacturer and asked for clarification and they were said it is petroleum based...ok, petroleum could be bad for some o-rings, especially rubber ones, but since all of them modern flashlights have silicone o-rings, why petroleum based products, or vaseline itself, still has bad rep here? and on top of that silicone grease is bad for silicone o- rings? is there ANYTHING good for silicone o-rings?

and i wonder why such a company like xtar would made and sell some product which could damage its own flashlights, be it metal or o-rings?

i have ordered the same, but not here though....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/XTAR-Flash...light-Torch-Light-MF-/182365879353?rmvSB=true

 

[Cekid]

@andyviking

thanks man...

 

[nightshade]

For anyone who is interested, this is the most recent version of the Nye damping grease sample kit. MUCH better product than what was originally used in so many (but not all) Jetbeam rotary ring lights.

 

[louie]

I requested that damping grease sample kit from Nye's website a few years ago, and they called me back, asked me some questions, and denied me. I wasn't a potential large-scale buyer, apparently, and I honestly told them it was for a University repair shop, and that I'd used Nye 767G on a turntable cueing lifter. They told me to buy the kit and referred me to a company, which wanted quite a bit of money for their Nye products.

 

[andydviking]

Whats the difference between the damping grease and 760g for threads? Just a smoother feel?

For anyone who is interested, this is the most recent version of the Nye damping grease sample kit. MUCH better product than what was originally used in so many (but not all) Jetbeam rotary ring lights.

 

[andydviking]

@Cekid according to Xtar it is indeed silicon grease. PM me if you wanna see the email. If you want other confirmation just google "xtar flashlight lube" and look at the re-sellers. Many have in the description that it is silicone. I think you're good.

The only reason others might have thought it was petroleum based is because 1. old formula/product or maybe because something was lost in translation. It's a Chinese company so maybe language barrier made for some confusion. I had to ask in a couple different ways myself. Just my guess.

some things are still confusing me...today i have ordered xtar lubricant...but, later i found some thread where people contacted manufacturer and asked for clarification and they were said it is petroleum based...ok, petroleum could be bad for some o-rings, especially rubber ones, but since all of them modern flashlights have silicone o-rings, why petroleum based products, or vaseline itself, still has bad rep here? and on top of that silicone grease is bad for silicone o- rings? is there ANYTHING good for silicone o-rings?

and i wonder why such a company like xtar would made and sell some product which could damage its own flashlights, be it metal or o-rings?

i have ordered the same, but not here though....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/XTAR-Flash...light-Torch-Light-MF-/182365879353?rmvSB=true