I have a question about, Hobby Lobby's, Planetary Gearbox 3.33: 1 for Speed 400. HLIMJ8050.

According to the enclosed instructions I have to lubricate the gears every 1 to 2 hours of running of the electric motor. It is a very unusually short period between lubrication. Could any one clarify this requirement?

The instructions recommend PTFE type grease for the gear teeth and Kluber Isoflex Topas NB 52 grease for the gear pins. Where can I get the recommended greases in small quantities?

Is there a single type of grease that can fulfil both requirements?

Your assistance would be highly appreciated. I cannot use this gearbox till I get the recommended greases in my hand.

It should be pretty obvious by just looking at that gearbox why it needs frequent lubrication. There are lots of moving parts in there, far more than a conventional or outrunner gearbox. Conventional and outrunner gearboxes have one gear mesh point and two sealed ball bearings. This planetary unit has six gear mesh points and three gear shafts that have no bearings in addition to the two main sealed bearings. Of course, the sealed ball bearings don't need lube, but the rest of the points do.

Frankly, I don't see why they would recommend two different types of grease. You might be able to find small quantities of PTFE grease at your local Wal-Mart. Look in the hunting/fishing section, as well as the automotive section. I think they sell little grease tubes for maintaining gun and fishing reel mechanisms, or outboard motors.

mKirsch,

Thanks for your response.

They spec 2 different greases due to the difference in loads/heat at the contact points.
Gear to gear has a large contact area to disperse the load and heat generated. The pins that the gears spin on have very little mass, and tend to heat up more. The pins need a high temp / high speed grease, these small planet gears spin very fast.
The frequent interval for greasing is because you can only get a very small amount of actual grease on each point, so it doesn't last very long.

Climb fast, soar long!

FIX-IT

Thanks for your resonse. But you have not told me where to find these greases.

Beggars can't be choosers, ya know...

Anyway, I sincerely doubt you'll find "Kluber Isoflex" anywhere in the USA. The gearbox was made in a European country such as Germany, and as such the instructions are going to recommend local brands.

You're simply going to have to be more creative than sitting there waiting for someone to reply with the information your looking for. Pick your brain, think of other common things that have small gears (e.g. fishing reels and power tools). Look in the yellow pages under lubricants, ask at local hardware stores and automotive stores. Ask in marine/boat supply stores, and look in the fishing sections of sporting goods stores.

Don't ask for "Kluber Isoflex." You'll just get blank stares. Tell them you're looking for a grease for high-temperature applications.

They might be recommending two different types of grease because that "Kluber Isoflex" could be very sticky. Sticky grease doesn't work well in tight-fitting gears. It gums up the works.

Here is the website for Kluber - http://www.kluberna.com, that should help you find a local supplier, and PTFE is a generic acronym for a teflon based grease . Check a sporting goods store for that one.

I went o the site and you can order direct in small amounts, or call toll free Toll-Free from US & Canada (800) 447-2238. Hope this helps

Try this, http://www.super-lube.com/index.html
We use the PTFE grease at work and it performs great.
It has good temp resistance.