Spring lubricant

CaceyB

CaceyB

Member
If I understand correctly, the springs were assembled originally with some sort of graphite paste between the leaves; and the Les Andews book says to use a paint-on dry graphite lubricant. I have heard a few other ideas, and as I will be reassembling my springs soon I want to hear some peoples suggestions and experience with some of these spring lubricants so I can decide what I should use.

Cacey
 
The John Deere Slip-Plate (basically oil paint full of graphite) worked well for me. I bead-blasted all my leaves, and painted the top sides with regular black paint, and the bottoms with Slip-Plate. No messy grease needed!

Doug
 
After the spring has been to the spring shop for te-tempering and re-setting, I media blast all the leaves. All sides. Apply no paint. Add a small, and I stress small bead of graphite grease from the pointed tip of a grease gun to one side of each leaf only. The media blasting gives a key for the grease to adhere to. Assemble with a new centre bolt. If grease comes out between the leaves you have applied too much. I then paint the assembled spring with black paint. I have done this for 46 years with good results.
 
The spring lube in the 36 service bulletin was a mix of 77 1/2% ice machine oil,20% talc,2 1/2% pulverized asbestos
 
Doug in NJ said:
The John Deere Slip-Plate (basically oil paint full of graphite) worked well for me. I bead-blasted all my leaves, and painted the top sides with regular black paint, and the bottoms with Slip-Plate. No messy grease needed!

Doug
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Glad to hear the slip plate worked well for you. I just finished restoring a rear spring using it. I haven't installed it yet but will in the next week or two. I tried both the spray and the quart and liked the way it rolled on better.
 
Slip Plate was hard to locate when we did an article in the Model A Times there is a similar product available at farm supply store called EZ Slide. It is a graphite based coating according to the can.
 
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