Discussion:
grease for nylon gears
(too old to reply)
Chris Green
2021-10-13 21:16:23 UTC
Permalink
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?

I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it. I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!

I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
--
Chris Green
·
Fredxx
2021-10-13 21:51:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it. I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!
I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
Some say you don't have to lubricate nylon. Some say grease will attract
dirt.

If you still want to lubricate your gears then silicone grease would be
ok. There is a thought mineral based greases and oils attack plastics.
Sysadmin
2021-10-14 02:57:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fredxx
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it. I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!
I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
Some say you don't have to lubricate nylon. Some say grease will attract
dirt.
If you still want to lubricate your gears then silicone grease would be
ok. There is a thought mineral based greases and oils attack plastics.
Nylon swells in contact with mineral oil.
Chris Green
2021-10-14 06:51:12 UTC
Permalink
Post by Fredxx
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it. I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!
I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
Some say you don't have to lubricate nylon. Some say grease will attract
dirt.
Yes, I've seen that said too. However the maintenance kits for the
door opener do include grease so, presumably, they think it's a good
idea.
Post by Fredxx
If you still want to lubricate your gears then silicone grease would be
ok. There is a thought mineral based greases and oils attack plastics.
--
Chris Green
·
Chris Green
2021-10-14 07:05:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Green
Post by Fredxx
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it. I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!
I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
Some say you don't have to lubricate nylon. Some say grease will attract
dirt.
Yes, I've seen that said too. However the maintenance kits for the
door opener do include grease so, presumably, they think it's a good
idea.
However I can't find any actual data showing what types of grease may
affect nylon. The most specific I can find so far is:-

Nylon is generally found in pistons, tappet plates, nozzles, some
contact housings, and lower end gear bushings. The plastic has good
thermal and chemical resistance along with a low coefficient of
friction. Fiber reinforcement can also be added to improve the
strength of the plastic, but may make it unsuitable as a bearing
material (BPF, 2019).

Generally, most all greases will work with Nylon parts in gearboxes.
However, it has been reported that molybdenum disulfide, an
extreme-pressure additive, can penetrate nylon plastic and weaken its
structure (Gianattasio, 2000).
--
Chris Green
·
Chris Green
2021-10-14 07:25:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Green
Post by Chris Green
Post by Fredxx
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it. I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!
I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
Some say you don't have to lubricate nylon. Some say grease will attract
dirt.
Yes, I've seen that said too. However the maintenance kits for the
door opener do include grease so, presumably, they think it's a good
idea.
However I can't find any actual data showing what types of grease may
affect nylon. The most specific I can find so far is:-
Nylon is generally found in pistons, tappet plates, nozzles, some
contact housings, and lower end gear bushings. The plastic has good
thermal and chemical resistance along with a low coefficient of
friction. Fiber reinforcement can also be added to improve the
strength of the plastic, but may make it unsuitable as a bearing
material (BPF, 2019).
Generally, most all greases will work with Nylon parts in gearboxes.
However, it has been reported that molybdenum disulfide, an
extreme-pressure additive, can penetrate nylon plastic and weaken its
structure (Gianattasio, 2000).
... and:-
https://www.researchgate.net/file.PostFileLoader.html?id=55fb27e461432530208b456d&assetKey=AS%3A274775985618944%401442523108313

The one reference that I could find that says grease can swell nylon
is if the grease is 'acid' and that makes little sense because you
can't have 'acid' without water (or at least a medium with free
Hydrogen ions if my ancient chemistry education serves me right).
--
Chris Green
·
Brian Gaff (Sofa)
2021-10-14 07:09:57 UTC
Permalink
#are all the gears plastic? Often the small one on the motor is metal. One
problem with plastic is the different way it behaves with temperature
changes. If the gears are pretty enclosed then the sort of ordinary oil a
bit like the 3 in 1 type seems pretty good.
Make sure however that whatever the device is, ie garage door or whatever,
does not have any tight spots that might put undue pressure on the plastic
gears though, and that any sensors for start and end are aligned correctly
too, you don't want the gears to strip due to a gummed up limit switch!

Brian
--
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
***@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
Post by Fredxx
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it. I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!
I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
Some say you don't have to lubricate nylon. Some say grease will attract
dirt.
If you still want to lubricate your gears then silicone grease would be
ok. There is a thought mineral based greases and oils attack plastics.
Chris Green
2021-10-14 07:37:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Brian Gaff (Sofa)
#are all the gears plastic? Often the small one on the motor is metal. One
problem with plastic is the different way it behaves with temperature
changes. If the gears are pretty enclosed then the sort of ordinary oil a
bit like the 3 in 1 type seems pretty good.
Make sure however that whatever the device is, ie garage door or whatever,
does not have any tight spots that might put undue pressure on the plastic
gears though, and that any sensors for start and end are aligned correctly
too, you don't want the gears to strip due to a gummed up limit switch!
Apart from the stripped nylon pinion (which had spread 'snow' all
around the place!) it was all in pretty good condition. There are two
pairs of nylon gears, no nylon/metal ones, and some standard metal
bearings.

I've cleaned it all up, removed the snow and it's all back working
now. I bought 4 of the nylon pinions for about £12 so it has been a
cheap fix! :-) We have three garage door openers with the same
mechanism so I thought 4 replacement gears would be a good idea.
--
Chris Green
·
Pancho
2021-10-14 08:12:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Green
I've cleaned it all up, removed the snow and it's all back working
now. I bought 4 of the nylon pinions for about £12 so it has been a
cheap fix! :-) We have three garage door openers with the same
mechanism so I thought 4 replacement gears would be a good idea.
If it is cheap and easy to fix why lubricate them at all?
Tim+
2021-10-14 08:15:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Pancho
Post by Chris Green
I've cleaned it all up, removed the snow and it's all back working
now. I bought 4 of the nylon pinions for about £12 so it has been a
cheap fix! :-) We have three garage door openers with the same
mechanism so I thought 4 replacement gears would be a good idea.
If it is cheap and easy to fix why lubricate them at all?
Why not? I’ve never dismantled a nylon gearbox that wasn’t packed with
grease. I’m guessing manufacturers don’t do it for fun.

Tim
--
Please don't feed the trolls
Pancho
2021-10-14 08:21:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tim+
Post by Pancho
Post by Chris Green
I've cleaned it all up, removed the snow and it's all back working
now. I bought 4 of the nylon pinions for about £12 so it has been a
cheap fix! :-) We have three garage door openers with the same
mechanism so I thought 4 replacement gears would be a good idea.
If it is cheap and easy to fix why lubricate them at all?
Why not? I’ve never dismantled a nylon gearbox that wasn’t packed with
grease. I’m guessing manufacturers don’t do it for fun.
They have the expertise, time and effort to devote to it. For a non
expert it may be easier to change the nylon parts more regularly.
Fredxx
2021-10-14 11:57:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tim+
Post by Pancho
Post by Chris Green
I've cleaned it all up, removed the snow and it's all back working
now. I bought 4 of the nylon pinions for about £12 so it has been a
cheap fix! :-) We have three garage door openers with the same
mechanism so I thought 4 replacement gears would be a good idea.
If it is cheap and easy to fix why lubricate them at all?
Why not? I’ve never dismantled a nylon gearbox that wasn’t packed with
grease. I’m guessing manufacturers don’t do it for fun.
Most gearboxes tend to also have metal to metal bearing surfaces. The
grease would be for this, and perhaps not the nylon content?
me
2021-10-14 21:28:59 UTC
Permalink
White grease (from an aerosol can) on the nylon gears.
When I used to repair video recorders , tape decks and so on many years ago, we used white silicone grease either from a sq. Sort of looks like, and has the consistency of, toothpaste. But isn't!
Andy Burns
2021-10-14 07:39:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
dry PTFE, or graphite powder?
Fredxx
2021-10-14 12:01:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
dry PTFE, or graphite powder?
I saw they were the preferred lubricant, but I didn't see how they would
"stick" to nylon gears without some carrier grease.

The only times I have seen PTFE and graphite mentioned is where the
nylon gears come impregnated with these.
newshound
2021-10-14 10:33:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Green
What sort of grease is one supposed to use on nylon gearing?
I have just replaced a nylon gear in my garage door opener and would
like to put some suitable grease on it.  I'm not complaining about the
durability of the one I had to replace, it was probably getting on for
20 years old!
I've squirted some silicone lubricant on the new nylon pinion but it
feels as if something a bit 'stickier' would be a good idea.
Car mirror adjusting motors use nylon gears, a worm gear on the motor
shaft.  They're slathered in silicone grease.
Nylon is pretty compatible with mineral oils, I think it is not
particularly critical. But, I'd agree with Clive and would probably go
with silicone grease, if I had some to hand.
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