CatBird Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Recently acquired 1908 Thomas Flyer from the Wolfgang Gawor collection. It is in fantastic condition. Frame-off restoration and very well done. It has not bee toured, nor even driven very much since restored if any. So we are sorting it out. The transmission/Transaxle gears are very well-coated with a sticky blue grease. Much thicker than 600w, but thinner than wheel bearing grease. Most transmissions I know have 6oow in it. There seems to be any pooling in the pan. I am mystified and do not know if I should add 600w or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Is it an inhibiting grease? The car was not intended to be driven perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 5 hours ago, Spinneyhill said: Is it an inhibiting grease? The car was not intended to be driven perhaps? Don't know either question. Will take an image and post it. I think it was made to be driven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Some greases intended for marine use are very sticky. Even if water contamination does occur the extreme clinginess prevents corrosion { within reasonable limits}. Greg in Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 I believe some of these really early cars used a lubricant much heavier than the "600W" (SAE250 or so) lubricants currently sold for Model A Fords. In the late 1970s, the HCCA Gazette published a recipe for mixing your own, as a substitute was not readily available. The ingredients included the heaviest available gear oil, old fashioned long-fiber wheel bearing grease (already hard to find in 1978), and PowerPunch or something similar. That is by no means a complete list. There were other ingredients in the glop. I have no idea what. Today we would call it semi-fluid grease. Perhaps others can elaborate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Remember to use a grease or oil that is compatible with brass. EP additives which contain phosphorus/sulfur compounds are corrosive to yellow metals such as the copper and/or brass used in bushings the GL-1 class of gear oils does not contain any EP additives and thus finds use in applications which contain parts made of yellow metals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
playswithbrass Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 It would be what is referred to as a similar fluid grease.Most early cars run this instead of the steam cylinder 600 oil.I use a ESSO product Marvelube grease EP 9F in the transaxles of my early cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 39 minutes ago, playswithbrass said: steam cylinder 600 oil This is actually compatible to be used with yellow metals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Maybe it leaked even heavy gear oil like a sieve and the last guy shot it full of grease. Valvoline and several others make a sticky blue grease that comes in tubes for grease guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted September 10, 2018 Author Share Posted September 10, 2018 (edited) 14 hours ago, Joe in Canada said: This is actually compatible to be used with yellow metals. I am picking up some steam oil tomorrow. I know about the wrong oil can attack bronze in a transmission or rear end. Here is a picture of our transmission. The Thomas Flyer seems to have one of the finest restorations I have ever seen. It would seem they made sure the transmission would not leak. However, I am about the first people to drive it, though the Auction House did drive it onto the block and on a trailer. I am wondering if I should clean this blue stuff out, or add in the steam oil, or is it ok as it is. The sump and drive chain oilers are properly filled with, as best I can tell, the proper oil. Wolfgang Gawor died before the restoration was finished. The Auction is refusing me to have contact information with Wolfgang's Estate, nor the restoration house that finished the restoration. I am in touch with Jeff Mahl, great-grandson of George Schuster, the original driver with the Thomas in the Great Race of 1908. I was able to open the transmission cover a little, and also showing a few pictures of the car. Edited September 10, 2018 by CatBird (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 25 minutes ago, CatBird said: I am wondering if I should clean this blue stuff out I would clean it out not knowing what it is if you are adding a different grease. As some greases are not compatible with others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBird Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 16 hours ago, Joe in Canada said: I would clean it out not knowing what it is if you are adding a different grease. As some greases are not compatible with others. Good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maok Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 That is a wonderful looking automobile, obviously the restoration house has done a superb job. Could you take a sample for someone to identify it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 (edited) Any chance it is a semi-fluid (NLGI 00) grease? Like corn head grease? Is steam cylinder oil made to operate with straight cut gears and the pressures and shear forces between the teeth? Edited September 11, 2018 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob McAnlis Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 I have been using OO grease in my brass cars transmissions and rear ends. Google OO grease. that is OhOh rather than ZeroZero. It is pourable grease. Very sticky. I have used maybe 20 gallons over the last half dozen years. I have used different brands. All are more greenish hue. Very good stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now