[CAUT] lubing ponder

[David Ilvedson]

I always thought it had teflon in it...interesting

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
To: caut at ptg.org
Received: 8/18/2009 8:47:04 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] lubing ponder



>On Aug 18, 2009, at 8:53 AM, Jeff Tanner wrote:

>> I should add, that I've tried Pro-Tec and don't see what the hooplah  
>> is all about.  When humidity swells the bushings, how is adding a  
>> liquid lubricant going to solve the problem?  Solve the humidity  
>> problem.  Neither does it help with the plated pin problem described  
>> earlier.  It doesn't help with verdigris, and it doesn't help with  
>> whatever those Wurlitzer bushings had in them.  My first bottle  
>> evaporated in my car, and the second bottle lost about 1/3 to  
>> evaporation before I even took it out of the plastic (granted, I was  
>> in no hurry), so I don't know if it will be effective at all.   
>> What's in that stuff anyway?


>	When humidity is the problem (ie, bushings swollen with moisture,  
>pressing against the pin), the likelihood is that the best solution  
>will be to shrink the bushings, using an alcohol/water solution  
>(controlling the ambient humidity may or may not be possible, and may  
>or may not solve the problem). If friction is the problem. Protek CLP  
>works quite well. When it is an issue of plating, the pin needs to be  
>replaced, and the felt reamed to remove residue - a lubricant alone  
>won't solve the problem permanently. The same is often true of "Asian  
>flu" centers, where there seems to be a residue in the felt,  
>particularly on its surface. But lubrication after reaming is  
>definitely a good thing and makes the fix more permanent in my  
>experience.
>	When it is an issue of verdigris, Protek CLP can often be a  
>reasonable solution short of parts replacement, if done as follows:  
>apply to the center, and then work the flange laterally. That is, so  
>that the felt of the bushing is moved back and forth in the direction  
>of the length of the pin. This procedure has helped keep a number of  
>instruments under my care functional for many years, better than  
>anything else short of parts replacement (though I will add that for  
>those centers that don't respond, pin replacement and a bit of reaming  
>is needed). Not ideal, but functional.
>	You do need a container for Protek that avoids evaporation - not that  
>big a deal. Those little hypo bottles from Schaff with the red caps  
>work pretty well. It's not a good idea to keep volatile liquids in the  
>car, where they will be exposed to high temperature. If you must, keep  
>them in an ice chest type container. What's in it? Fluoro-polymers, an  
>excellent lubricant similar chemically to teflon.
>Regards,
>Fred Sturm
>University of New Mexico
>fssturm at unm.edu