Lubing a luff track

[fstued]

Anyone have any suggestions for lubbing a luff track. I know light oil probably is not the right stuff. Maybe soap or a graphite lube Anyone have a guess The sail is getting tough to pull up I have checked all the blocks and to my knowledge nothing has been done to the luff slide
Thanks
Stu

[belizesailor]

Silicon spray works well and is available almost anywhere.

[Jman]

Presuming that lubbing is the same as lubing, you may find you don't need to. Often they just fill up with salt and other crude and just need cleaning. Silicone spray or McLube is the answer if it does require lube, but lube without cleaning may not help at all.


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[a64pilot]

Teflon spray has worked well for me, one brand I think it Sailcoat?

[Jim Cate]

For useful answers, wee need to know what sort of track/slides are involved. Is it an internal groove in the mast with plastic slugs, or flat plastic slides or an external s/s t-track with metal slides? ... that sort of info will get you more meaningful responses to your question.

Jim

[zboss]

I've always been told not to use silicone spray.. it attracts dirt and eventually makes the problem worse.

McLube or Teflon as was mentioned.

However, before you do that be sure to clean the track well with dish soap and water... you may need to go up the mast unless you make one of those track cleaning slides.

Be sure to clean the slides themselves real well. It doesn't take much to make them work poorly.

[Sinbad51]

Originally Posted by Jman

Presuming that lubbing is the same as lubing, you may find you don't need to. Often they just fill up with salt and other crude and just need cleaning. Silicone spray or McLube is the answer if it does require lube, but lube without cleaning may not help at all.


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Is that presuming crude is the same as crud??
Getting pretty picky

[meirriba]

Old fashioned solution that works as well as any silicone spray is a candle.
Take a candle and rub it off on the track (clean and dry the track first).
It is dry, slick and does not collect dirt easily.

[hellosailor]

Sailkote aka McLube isn't silicone spray, it is quite different. It is Dupont Krytox, a damned pricey and expensive exotic lubricant that is a grandson of Teflon, diluted in a base of white wax. Mainly because Krytox is so damned expensive. And so damned good.


There are similar products sold for bicycle chains and other applications. The combination is water-resistant, long lasting, and non-staining on clothing and sails, so it is very good for sail tracks.


Run a clean rag or terry cloth in the track, your choice of light solvent or detergents to get the old dirt out. Let it dry out then use Sailkote, and you'll see a huge difference in how the sail goes up afterwards.


"It costs HOW MUCH?!" is the first reaction, but for the applications that can really make use of it, you won't regret it at all. This is very definitely NOT the same as a WD40 or silicone spray.

[hsi88]

Dupont Teflon spray (or drops). Its a dirt resistant dry film that costs about $8 on Amazon. Great stuff for sail tracks and other areas that need lube without collecting dirt like oils.


http://www.amazon.com/DuPont-Non-Sti...60_SR160%2C160_

[a64pilot]

I can tell no difference at all between this and Sailcoat, except for the price

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o04_s00

[Tikka]

zbos, is correct, never use any grease or lubricant on exposed moving parts. Attract and build up, end up with dirty mess. Clean it first, use metylated spirit , lubricate with bees wax or similar . Works magic.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by Tikka

zbos, is correct, never use any grease or lubricant on exposed moving parts. Attract and build up, end up with dirty mess. Clean it first, use metylated spirit , lubricate with bees wax or similar . Works magic.

I will second this! My proposal of candle is from the same source of ideas.
No need to pay megabucks for the exotic new sprays/liquids.

[Group9]

SailKote by McLube.

[GrahamHO]

Originally Posted by fstued

Anyone have any suggestions for lubbing a luff track. I know light oil probably is not the right stuff. Maybe soap or a graphite lube Anyone have a guess The sail is getting tough to pull up I have checked all the blocks and to my knowledge nothing has been done to the luff slide
Thanks
Stu

Silicone dry lube aerosol spray. Put plenty on the track above the furled sail slides just before you hoist it and the sail slides will take it up the sail track. Do it every week or so and the sail will go up and importantly, down easily.
Graphite or oil will make a mess on your sail and oil might perhaps attract dust.


Something I've never thought of trying until just now is the special oil for cycle chains that is fairly waterproof and designed not to attract dust. However, a small bottle might cost $10. That may or may not work.