LClark

I am building a Midwest 47 Lifeboat Kit and am surprised that the shaft tubes do not have a proviion to oil the shafts such as a tube coming out of the shaft tube (does that make sense?). I was going to drill a hole and solder a short section of brass tubing to the shaft tube. Should I do this or not?

patmat

Some use grease, some like oil. Oil tube is handy for oiling, grease requires taking things apart.

One bad thing with oil- it'll leave a slick every time you launch... not great if you go to a pool.


PM

dauntlessfan

I've found that oil can sometimes cause a slow drip from the tubes when the boat is on display. So I use boat trailer bearing grease, it's waterproof and really cheap. I think there are many posts about this topic on here. Just do a search and you'll find all sorts of info.

green-boat

I add oiler tubes to my stuffing tubes but use regular wheel bearing grease. A 1cc syringe makes a perfect fit into the oiler tube for adding grease.

LtDoc

LClark,
As you can see from the posts so far, it sort of depends on what you use for lubrication/sealing. If you're going to use an oil, then I'd certainly think about adding those 'oiling' tubes. If you plan to use a grease (thicker than oil) then while those 'tubes' can certainly be handy, they aren't exactly a necessity. If you don't mind doing the required work, or if you just want to, then why not? Whatever works, works.
- 'Doc

(I've only used oil as a drive shaft lube/seal once. First good hard start and there was a cloud of oil in the water. That says a lot about my building abilities, almost nothing about the benefits of using oil, so isn't exactly some great reason for using grease.)

LClark

Thank you all for the advice. i do not want an oil slick but I do not want to take the shafts out to lube them. I think I will try the grease in the syringe trick, sounds like maybe the best of both worlds. I looking at zerk (zurk?) fittings for grease guns but it would be difficult to adapt them to the tubes.

Thanks again for the help!

patrolboat

i use the finnigans oil which you buy for undersealing my car seems to work well or use a
mixture fo oil +grease this seems to work well hope this is of some help javascript:void(AddText('',''))
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bigford

this seems to work great and its hobby related so you know its safe

Ghost in the shell

none of my models have shaft oilers, instead relying on a good stripdown and regrease

escipion

Hello!!!
Non of my ships have oil tubes, but I use some Yamaha's marine grease and never have problems

Hace a nice day
Escipion