Hey folks,
Just reading up on some things needed for my Leopard and I've read that the amount of ceramic grease needed for the gear box is inadequate. So, searching for more tubes of the stuff and apparently Tamiya has discontinued it. So, I'm wondering if Finish Line Ceramic Grease is the same. It says that there's ceramicparticlesin there, so I'm unsure if Tamiya's uses the same formulation.
<a href="http://www.harborcountrybike.com/FINISH_LINE_CERAMIC_GREASE_2_OZ_TUBE_p/lube1019.htm">http://www.harborcountrybike.com/FIN...p/lube1019.htm
</a>
Anyone use the stuff?<br type="_moz" />

Hey Tony,

I have been using standard 0-50w syn engine oil for my gear boxes(tamiya and reductions too). What I did was run the gears in with tooth paste for 1 hour. And wash all the tooth paste with 5-50w syn oil. All the tanks I have been using is just pure 5-50w Mobile one syn. I mean any motor oil will do the job. So far its my 4 years..these tanks never let me down....

Tony, I use fishing reel grease... has teflon and is safe for plastic parts and you can find it just about anywhere. It's thick like the Tamiya ~ not like an oil.

Well, that's different, John! lol Never heard that recommendation before and I don't doubt that it works. But, after spending the amount that I have for the Leopard.....I don't know if I want to try something that I'munfamiliarwith. Especially with the Leo which won't allow me to observe the gears after time without a totaldissembleof the gearbox. I have a ton of silicone grease and I know that works and use it on my HL's and Pershing, but I figured I'd stick with Tamiya's recommendation this time once I begin my build.

I've read the Finish Lineingredientsand it states that it uses boron nitride just as Tamiya does....but Finish Line also states that their grease is for bearings....but I'm unsure if it's safe for plastic which is my primary concern although it's aTeflonsyntheticgrease.<br type="_moz" />

Hey Ern Thanks!<div>
</div><div>How well does it work in comparison to ball diff grease?</div>

no worries Tony, its the method by IMPACT gear boxes, I dnt use there gear box but just there recommedations. Thinner teh oil, less gear stress and more power....anyway, gear boxes are pretty cheap these days...90$ a pair....all good.

Ah ha! See, your using that in metal gear boxes whether it be impact, asiatam or HL. But, the Tamiya leopard has plastic or nylon gears with metal shafts, bearings, etc.....the plastic is what I'm most concerned about and really don't want it to degrade even over time by any contributing factors other than normal wear.

Hi Tony, Well , you finally went for it - good for you. Once you finally get around to building it, you'll realize it's worth every penny. On the ceramic grease, the kit comes with 2 tubes. I believe that is more than enough. I built two of this already and for each tank I never used up more than one tube. By the way, this is one Tamiya tank you need to get right the first time. Going back to the hull and gearbox internals after final assembly is going to be an ordeal.

Gerry

The LEO gear boxes are not the same as any other gear box. they are a very complicated unit and they use nylon gears. Or a material like nylon. Any plastic safe lube should be fine Tony. As far as the oil and toothpaste trick goes, I would not try that on this unit. There are no steel replacement gears available for the LEO that i know of. The small tube of ceramic grease that was supplied wi5th the kit should be more than enough to properly grease the gear box. Remember it is a sealed unit once the cover is installed so you dont have the problem of the grease flying out all over the place. It will stay in the gear box.

Thanks Greg and Gerry!<div>
</div><div>Yeah I was reading through Eric's (Heavyaslead's) very in depth review of the Leo, so that's why I thought that there wasn't enough lube in the kit to do the job properly.</div><div>
</div><div size="2">"3) There was not enough ceramic grease provided in the kit (only two 2oz. tubes are supplied). In my case, four 2oz. tubes were necessary for the main gearbox assembly alone. Additional tubes would be needed for the roadwheel bushings, turret bearings and other gearboxes."</div><div size="2">http://www.sead.us/kitreviews.html</div><div size="2">
</div><div size="2">But if it's not necessary to add extra lube, then I guess it's not. </div><div size="2">Thanks for the tip fellas!</div>

Tony, does the LEO come with those little blue tubes of grease? Those are the grease tubes used for the wheel bearings and other ares it says too grease. The ceramic grease is usually only used on the gearboxes in all the other kits. I would think at least that should be the same with the LEO kit.

Well, I actually don't know yet. The kit arrives on Wednesday....was supposed to betomorrow, but UPS delayed it one day for some reason.Just trying to get all my eggs in one basket and gather some of the necessaries and maybe some of theunnecessarilywhile I'm at it. Not sure if bearing upgrades are necessary, but I got teflon bearings for it just encase. Looking into the metal idler,swing arms and metal basket on AFV-model....not sure if that metal basket would be necessary.

But my WSN 1/35 Leo and Abrams will tide me over till then, those come in today! whoot!<br type="_moz" />

I am going to have special grease for tanks and RC use made and will have it up on my site in the future if all goes well this grease is the best stuff for any gears!

Shen what's you site link, I didn't know you had one.

Hello Tony

I used white lithium grease from ACE hardware about 5 bucks for 10oz. more than enough.

Unlike oil, it is 'sticky' like Tamiya ceramic so it won't leak out the seams.

I use it for all the wheels, gears and sleeves.

Totally harmless to plastics of all types used in the Leo kit.

Thanks a lot Eric, and I love the review of the leo!
I'm certain you've seen this before, do you think this is absolutelyunnecessaryin the leo?

I have not seen that before, it is an interesting solution though.

The bracing seems excessive to me, but I do agree with the statement "This adds strength to the front of the ABS tub."

There is a bit of flex where the idlers meet the lower hull due to the track ~running~ tension through tall grass or sand.

It may be useful for that purpose. I simply reinforced that particular area with some additional styrene thick stock.

I have never had a track come off, although some track stretching can be expected over time.

Thanks again Eric,
I suppose I'll play it by ear and see what improvement needs/can be done along the way after use.

Teflon SEALED bearings dont need grease. That is what I use in my Panther. the teflon is what the seal is made from, so the kit should have all the lube you would need. Except for future inspection and care of the gear box assembly. Then you may want to have some ceramic grease on hand. Karen usually has it instock in the spare parts column for your kit. I dont know what the bag will be called for the LEO but when you get it it will tell you what is what.

Hey Tony,

I got the metal idler adjusters and swing arms from Mitosal Sales. I could not be happier with the service or the products. They answered all my e-mails promptly, no matter what time it was on their side of the world. I don't think they ever sleep. They also shipped on a Saturday just because I inquired about when the package would be shipped. Add to this Fedex shipping for $25 from Singapore, and I was sold. That sure beats the slow boat.

I also considered the hull re-inforcing uint from AFV, as well as lots of other bits (mmmmmm, bling), but the $40 plus dollars for shipping that I read can take months turned me off very quickly.

Well, back to turret painting. I am beginning to hate camoflauge. I need to get better with the airbrush so I can freehand it.

Steve

Hi Tony here is [link=http://www.pprslots.com]MY SITE[/link] it's slot car stuff and a few rc things that i do... The grease i will have is going to be awesome it won't fly off anything and will stay put!
About that lithium grease i have some from like 10 years in the bucket i never use it will get yellow and dry after a while.

tony i greased my sherman 11 years ago with the kits ceramic tubes, i opened them on the modelshow because a guy could not believe that the tamiya don't wear with grease in it, it was just brandnew , the metal tooth were not weared anyway, so its eleven years ago i greased them, still enough in it to do the job, what you say now?
Also the plastic turret turretmovement toothwheels are having no sighn of any wear, still the first set of tracks from tamiya, i've rolled for three hours on the concreet with my sherman, yes they are a bit weared but not much at all</p>

Tamiya sells topstuff i have to admit, my HL panther is far from that i'll see and wait</p>