Lubricant for prop shaft support (in-board)

[Rowglide]

I need help.
My boat had a 1.5” shaft which has a long length inboard, about 72” from stuffing box to coupler.
Approximately midway along this length is a “support bearing” it is a 2piece block with a grease nipple on top.
I need to know what grease is best suited to this purpose.
Thanks
Rowglide

[parkstone bay]

In the end, ANY grease is better than none. Other things being equal (you've not got a manual or user guide??), a high melt point waterproof wheel bearing grease certainly wont do any harm. Suggest : add a screw-down greaser into a convenient location, with suitable connecting tube - either copper or plastic - to a connector which replaces the grease nipple. Fill the greaser, and bleed the system. Then every so often, (suggest every 2 hours of running to start with), give the greaser a half-turn or so; much easier than having to lift a floor board in the cockpit, or grovel under an aft quarterberth. And do the same for the stuffing box while you're about it.

[Cheechako]

Timken Ball Bearing grease. Or any good "Pillow Block" grease.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Rowglide

I need to know what grease is best suited to this purpose.

Lubriplate 130-AA

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by parkstone bay

In the end, ANY grease is better than none. Other things being equal (you've not got a manual or user guide??), a high melt point waterproof wheel bearing grease certainly wont do any harm. Suggest : add a screw-down greaser into a convenient location, with suitable connecting tube - either copper or plastic - to a connector which replaces the grease nipple. Fill the greaser, and bleed the system. Then every so often, (suggest every 2 hours of running to start with), give the greaser a half-turn or so; much easier than having to lift a floor board in the cockpit, or grovel under an aft quarterberth. And do the same for the stuffing box while you're about it.

Truly brilliant concept. Move the grease reservoir / dispenser to a convenient readily accessible location wherein the grease can be dispensed without your hands getting slimy everytime you need to give a bit of lubrication to the bearing. Always hate using a grease gun and connecting to zerk fittings. One just needs to remember to routinely dispense the lubricant. Perhaps place the twist down greaser next to the ninety nine bottles of beer on the wall and with instructions given to crew to give the greaser a half turn every time someone takes a bottle down.

[DougR]

Many years ago I owned a couple of Tartan 30s which also had long prop shafts with a steady bearing midway along the shaft, and they were fitted with split pillow block bearings with grease cups. The bearings were babbit material and the grease recommended by Tartan was " Lubriplate water pump grease" , a white low viscosity grease. As the pillow blocks had some wear, they required a turn or two on the grease cup every few hours to keep them quiet.

I replaced the babbit pillow blocks with ball bearings blocks which were essentially drop in replacements, and moved the grease cups over to the new bearings, but now used waterproof wheel bearing grease. This was a major improvement, requiring only a turn or two of the grease cup every few days. The film of grease on the bearing and pillowblock kept rust at bay without any problems.

This arrangement was mounted high beneath the floorboards in the saloon, so it wasn't an access problem, but a remote greaser with a hose to the bearing would be even better, especially if the bearing is buried deep in the bilge.

DougR

[Rowglide]

Now I need to find a remote greaser. They seem popular in the UK but I can’t find them here. Made of brass and screw in pump.

[parkstone bay]

That's exactly the right thing. Try a commercial outlet (small fishing boats etc) if your local chandler can't source them. In UK about £30 each.

[Rowglide]

I'm searching Canada / US first, but can't seem to find anything like it.

[DougR]

Volvo Penta used to sell them.....
The greaser was part # 827184 and a 1 meter hose to screw on to the greaser was # 833842.

Don't know if they are still available..

DougR

[Rowglide]

Originally Posted by DougR

Volvo Penta used to sell them.....
The greaser was part # 827184 and a 1 meter hose to screw on to the greaser was # 833842.

Don't know if they are still available..

DougR

One guy is selling these on ebay... from Latvia at $300+

[David M]

Relative bearing grease.

Hah...just kidding.

[DougR]

Originally Posted by Rowglide

One guy is selling these on ebay... from Latvia at $300+

Marine Parts Express has them for about $200 in Maine...