ISTR that the zinc oxide helps the grease repel water better.
Probably important in a trunnion bush (shrubbery?) which won't ever
get warm enough to dry out but will be getting soaked regularly.
Donald.
> Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2001 12:56:54 -0500
> From: Douglas Braun & Nadia Papakonstantinou <dougnad@bellatlantic.net>
>
>
> I had wondered about this in the past, and I did some Internet searching
> to try to figure out what a "zinc base" grease is. I discovered that zinc
>oxide
> is a common filler material for "white" grease, but I could not find
> anything that described what characteristics zinc oxide gave to a grease,
> except for making it white.
>
> My theory is this: Avoid moly-based greases, because the particles
> of moly might be abrasive to soft plastic. Same for graphite.
> So I used classic old-fashioned wheel bearing grease (the
> amber-colored kind) the last time I did a trunnion.
>
> Doug Braun
> '72 Spit
>
>
> At 09:16 AM 3/8/01 , Gary Hutton wrote:
>
> >I am replacing the front trunnions on my 76 and the instructions in both
> >my Bentley and BL Repair Operations manuals specify lubricating the two
> >nylon bearings with a "zinc base grease". I have several grades of
> >lithium based grease, but have not been able to find any zinc base
> >grease at any of my local supply shops - can I get away with using the
> >lithium grease or is it going to somehow cause deterioration of the
> >nylon - and if so - what kind of grease does everybody use on those
> >things?
> >
> >Hoping to put it all back together today and drive - I'm south of Howard
> >so it's warmer!
> >
> >Gary Hutton
> >Newburgh, IN
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