Alternative gearbox grease to castrol spheerol epl 00

[botanybay]

This is the grease currently in the gearbox of my Simpson Lawerance (nilsson) V2000 windlass.

This is a three stage elliptic gear box with hardened steel gears, a bronze body with teeth cut into the body and a nylon shim.

Unfortunately Castrol spheerol epl 00 is not sold in the USA for some reason. I have been trying to source alternatives available locally. It is a lithium thickened mineral oil based grease with "extreme pressure" additives.

I can find some cheap chain saw/snow blower grease but little or no spec sheet.

A wikipedia search notes that 00 is a viscosity rating which is roughly the consistency of apple sauce. It is also known as a "self leveling" grease or a non-newtonian fluid with fun properties.

Superlube makes a 00 grease which they recommend as an alternative. One of the specs is significantly different, penetration after 60 strokes is less than the castrol product.

I have a phone call with the SuperLube technical support department tomorrow.

Any thoughts for an appropriate high quality self leveling grease available in the USA is most appreciated. Apparently I am not the only person with this question, that grease is common in antique car gear boxes and there is much discussion of alternatives when the car is not driven much...

[botanybay]

This lubricant from lubriplate may be very close to the Castrol product I am looking for.

[mitchisword]

Originally Posted by botanybay

This lubricant from lubriplate may be very close to the Castrol product I am looking for.

Have you had any luck with this? I'm in the same situation with my Nilsson V1000. Nilsson recommend (they're still in business, in case you didn't know. It took me forever to find them) is Mobilgear 600 xp.

[Bycrick]

I ended up with Champion NLGI #00, when I serviced it last year. Ordered it from Amazon.

[mitchisword]

Originally Posted by Bycrick

I ended up with Champion NLGI #00, when I serviced it last year. Ordered it from Amazon.

Thanks!

[botanybay]

The lubriplate MAG-00 worked well, good to know there are alternatives:-)

The Nillson guys in New Zealand are great! Parts are available at very reasonable prices. Postage from NZ to the USA is a bit pricy for heavy items though.

[svdate]

Originally Posted by Bycrick

I ended up with Champion NLGI #00, when I serviced it last year. Ordered it from Amazon.

Hello -- did the Champion grease work well? I am in the process of taking apart my V3000.

[Shrew]

I use Mercury 2-4-c on just about anything. It's high heat, high pressure and non-soluble. It works in wheel bearing and outdrive splines. It'll more than handle a slow speed, high-pressure windlass.

[Bycrick]

So far, it’s worked fine for me. I suspect, without proof, that it will work until long after I’m dead. Perhaps I could build a model or spreadsheet and study it, but it’s easier just to think that pretty much any 00 spec lubricant will work, but maybe I’m delusional.

[botanybay]

Originally Posted by botanybay

The lubriplate MAG-00 worked well, good to know there are alternatives:-)

The Nillson guys in New Zealand are great! Parts are available at very reasonable prices. Postage from NZ to the USA is a bit pricy for heavy items though.

The lubriplate MAG-00 appears to be working well pulling a 125lb mantus M1 and 100 feet of 10mm chain (g7 not that it changes the weight) without issue for two seasons.

Note: dont overfill gearbox. Would slow down even unloaded after about 4 minutes of run time. Wait a few minutes and it would be fine. Wiped excess grease out of gearbox and has been fine.