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Greasing Worm Screw Question

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I know this was covered before and which grease to use. I've been using Tri Flow Synthetic grease on the worm screw. Great stuff. How I've been applying it is under the rubber boot. I first clean as much of the old grease off with WD40, and reapply. My main concern is how often are we suppose to grease the worm screw during cold temperatures?
 
As I recall, lubrication of the worm gear is an annual maintenance item. But, if you're flying in particularly dusty conditions, with many transitions, you could do so more often. I don't know why cold would change this.
Ah I see. I wasn't sure if the cold temperatures would play a big roll in the lubrication principles to grease. During the summer I notice the tri flow synthetic grease becomes a bit runny because of the hot temperatures. Which I have no issue with, as long as I didn't apply a lot to the worm screw.

Oh 1 more thing. It's sort of on topic. During the cold, the transformation servo sounds different when cold. I was told this is normal? Sort of sounds like a whining sound. When I bring the Inspire home and transform it in warm temperature, the servo sounds normal.
 
If the grease has a higher viscosity due to cold temperature that would add resistance to the worm screw's rotation.
 
No. All forms of grease will thicken in the cold to some degree. This explains why you hear the motor more in the cold. That is a strong little motor on the worm screw. Don't worry.
Good to know I don't need to worry :) I thought something was wrong with the transformation motor or the grease in the cold was stressing out the motor. I seem to forget the cold does play a role in motors in general. I would figure the motor would sound the same as it would inside a house where it's warm. Clearly not :p
 
I use white lithium based grease and have never had a problem with my Inspires. While what Aero says is theoretically true, there shouldn't be enough grease or resistance based upon being cold to produce noise. My suspicion is there is another explanation like, the relative change in size of the metal parts while cold.
 
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I've been cleaning the worm screw and worm screw bearings with WD40 for 2 years now... No issues. Recently I've been cleaning under the rubber boot with WD40 and greasing it with triflow synthetic grease. I heard today WD40 is not good for bearings. What else can I use to clean the worm screw and bearings? Someone suggested this: https://www.amazon.com/Tri-Flow-TFC...232187&sr=8-6&keywords=triflow+lubricant&th=1. Can I use this to clean the worm screw and bearings?
 
I cant see how WD40 is bad for Cleaning a bearing. It would not be good for Lubricating, but cleaning should be fine.
Your practice of cleaning and Then lubing is sound.
 
I cant see how WD40 is bad for Cleaning a bearing. It would not be good for Lubricating, but cleaning should be fine.
Your practice of cleaning and Then lubing is sound.

WD40 will remove grease from bearings and shorten their life. Its a water dis-percent at the end of the day and not grease.

I would suggest a good liquid grease that dries solid or lithium as a cheaper option which works really well too. Sometimes if access is good it would help to use a scalpel blade to open a bearings case and spray directly into it thus pushing out the old grease and any dirt.

I use lithium on my linear guides on our 3d printer and the roller bearings with great success. I also used it on our last inspire service on the screw.
 
WD40 will remove grease from bearings and shorten their life. Its a water dis-percent at the end of the day and not grease.

I would suggest a good liquid grease that dries solid or lithium as a cheaper option which works really well too. Sometimes if access is good it would help to use a scalpel blade to open a bearings case and spray directly into it thus pushing out the old grease and any dirt.

I use lithium on my linear guides on our 3d printer and the roller bearings with great success. I also used it on our last inspire service on the screw.
He said Clean it.
 
Yeah to clean, not lubricate. Someone on Facebook told me WD40 is bad for the bearings on the lead screw. How I was doing it for awhile now was lifting up the rubber boot, clean the old grease with WD40 and a Q-tip. Then I apply Tri-Flow Synthetic grease on the threads to the lead screw. Slip back the rubber boot on to the plastic pinion. Then I put the Inspire into travel mode so I can clean the bearings. I spray the WD40 on to a cloth, and wipe the bearings. After that I apply the same grease I mentioned above on to the bearings and that's it. So supposedly WD40 is bad for bearings, or what holds the bearings in place. I even tried WD40 specialist dry lube knowing that it's PTFE. I would figure that is safe. Maybe that falls into the unsafe category with WD40 original?
 
WD40 is a brand now so if its their lithium grease for example its lithium grease not wd40 so it will be the same as all the other brands of that type of grease.

I would never put WD anywhere you can not fully wash it out as a general rule but it does help clean things. That said so does petrol but its also de-greases like hell.

I would use compressed air and something to clean or a qtip etc like you said then grease of your choosing to re lube :)

Just dont let WD get it bearings that you cant open to clean and you will be fine :)

I have never used that stuff you ordered but anything that protects will do as its not like the bearings are high speed or load bearing on the inspire. Just dont put so much of something on it becomes a dirt magnet :)
 
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WD40 is a brand now so if its their lithium grease for example its lithium grease not wd40 so it will be the same as all the other brands of that type of grease.

I would never put WD anywhere you can not fully wash it out as a general rule but it does help clean things. That said so does petrol but its also de-greases like hell.

I would use compressed air and something to clean or a qtip etc like you said then grease of your choosing to re lube :)

Just dont let WD get it bearings that you cant open to clean and you will be fine :)

I have never used that stuff you ordered but anything that protects will do as its not like the bearings are high speed or load bearing on the inspire. Just dont put so much of something on it becomes a dirt magnet :)
I just ordered the Tri-Flow Superior Pin Point Lubricator :) It'll replace it with the WD40 original I was using. I tried using the WD40 dry lube thinking it'll help knowing it's not WD40 original. To be honest, I'll be safe and just stop using WD40 in general :p This Tri-Flow product seems good :)
 
I just ordered the Tri-Flow Superior Pin Point Lubricator :) It'll replace it with the WD40 original I was using. I tried using the WD40 dry lube thinking it'll help knowing it's not WD40 original. To be honest, I'll be safe and just stop using WD40 in general :p This Tri-Flow product seems good :)

Its still ok to use in small doses, its brilliant for certain applications.

You just cant spray alot when there is bearings etc about as it will literally soak into the bearing and break down the grease so it runs out the casing. It will get past most bearing seals.

Thats why its so good at getting to corroded threads haha :)

Cheers
Mick
 
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Its still ok to use in small doses, its brilliant for certain applications.

You just cant spray alot when there is bearings etc about as it will literally soak into the bearing and break down the grease so it runs out the casing. It will get past most bearing seals.

Thats why its so good at getting to corroded threads haha :)

Cheers
Mick
Yeah I never soaked the bearings :p I just sprayed the WD40 on a cloth and cleaned the bearings. I'm sure some of the WD40 made it's way into the bearings as I was wiping clean. Then I tried to clean off any residue on the surface of the bearings the best I could. After that I just applied the Tri-Flow Synthetic grease on top of the bearings and cycled the landing gear up and down a few times. So far I haven't seen issues. However... I don't want to wait until something does happen so that's why I'm gonna try Tri-Flow Superior Pin Point Lubricator :p Anything is better than WD40 :p
 
Yeah I never soaked the bearings :p I just sprayed the WD40 on a cloth and cleaned the bearings. I'm sure some of the WD40 made it's way into the bearings as I was wiping clean. Then I tried to clean off any residue on the surface of the bearings the best I could. After that I just applied the Tri-Flow Synthetic grease on top of the bearings and cycled the landing gear up and down a few times. So far I haven't seen issues. However... I don't want to wait until something does happen so that's why I'm gonna try Tri-Flow Superior Pin Point Lubricator :p Anything is better than WD40 :p

Dont worry if a tiny bit got in. It would only thin the grease a tiny bit at best. If you did it a few times though or really soaked it i bet you would see noisy bearing on movement like my old skateboard bearings used to haha
 
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