Libelle spoilers

On Sat, 10 Sep 2016 07:46:16 -0700, Tango Eight wrote:

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 8:50:47 AM UTC-4, Martin Gregorie
wrote:
On Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:35:08 -0700, JS wrote:

Thanks, JJ. So lubrication is the secret! Something like LPS1
perhaps?
http://www.lpslabs.com/product-details/560 Unsure if it's available
in Britain.
Jim

Yep, LPS1 is available here via Amazon, though at about four times the
price of a similar sized can of WD-40. Is it really 4 times better?


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org |

You are --way-- better off with an old school pump oiler with a flexible
spout and a needle oiler. Between the two you can lubricate anything on
the glider that needs it... and nothing that doesn't.

I've got both, as it happens. I also have my doubts about getting useful
amounts of either LPS1 or WD40 into the (rotary) airbrake bearing in the
Libelle's root rib. As you say, a hypodermic oiler will do a better job.

As far as the spray lubes go, I'm more curious to know, given the
relative costs, why I should pay 5.8 times the price per litre for LPS1.

Amazon wants GBP 20.50 for a 312ml (11 fl.oz) can of LPS1 but only GBP
4.50 for a 400ml can of WD-40.

Is LPS1 really six times better than WD-40 or merely six times the price?
Enquiring minds want to know.

As it happens, my disposable Modelcraft hypodermic oiler will be going to
the field next time I fly - and tomorrow looks likely.



--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

The devil is in the details......

WD-40 can be great to dry out some electrical bits, as well as loosen dried lube (grease and/or oil) or loosen rusted iron bits.
It has, basically, NO lubrication in it, so......it can get things moving, but likely NOT keeping them moving.

I use about 12 different lubes, depends on the application, currently I like "fluid film" as it sticks, works well and is limited in negative effects due to temp.
Silicone spray when I'm dealing with rubber or similar.
LockEze for cables, locks or small parts since it's basically graphite.

Yes, WD-40 can free it up, but it WILL fail again due to lack of a real lube.

Taken from a "mechanical guy" of over 40 years, doing facilities maintenance and auto/aircraft during that time.

On Sat, 10 Sep 2016 12:20:06 -0700, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)
wrote:

The devil is in the details......

WD-40 can be great to dry out some electrical bits, as well as loosen
dried lube (grease and/or oil) or loosen rusted iron bits.
It has, basically, NO lubrication in it, so......it can get things
moving, but likely NOT keeping them moving.

I use about 12 different lubes, depends on the application, currently I
like "fluid film" as it sticks, works well and is limited in negative
effects due to temp.
Silicone spray when I'm dealing with rubber or similar.
LockEze for cables, locks or small parts since it's basically graphite.

Yes, WD-40 can free it up, but it WILL fail again due to lack of a real
lube.

Taken from a "mechanical guy" of over 40 years, doing facilities
maintenance and auto/aircraft during that time.

Thanks for the explanation.

My past use of WD-40 has almost entirely been limited to blasting dirt
out of clockwork timers and/or engines after a free flight model has
dethermalised onto a mega-dusty place. Its invaluable for that - but, and
I'd forgotten this, at the end of the day its essential to strip and
thoroughly clean any timer that has been washed out with WD-40 because
the stuff will dry out and make the timer unreliable, the only cures
being another blast of WD-40 at the start of each future flying session
or the aforementioned strip/clean/re-lube to get rid of any remaining
WD-40 that was in it.

Engines are OK: the WD-40 blows the assorted crap out of the engine so
its clean enough to run, and the next run and flood-off gets rid the
residual WD-40.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 1:21:41 PM UTC-7, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Sat, 10 Sep 2016 12:20:06 -0700, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)
wrote:

The devil is in the details......

WD-40 can be great to dry out some electrical bits, as well as loosen
dried lube (grease and/or oil) or loosen rusted iron bits.
It has, basically, NO lubrication in it, so......it can get things
moving, but likely NOT keeping them moving.

I use about 12 different lubes, depends on the application, currently I
like "fluid film" as it sticks, works well and is limited in negative
effects due to temp.
Silicone spray when I'm dealing with rubber or similar.
LockEze for cables, locks or small parts since it's basically graphite.

Yes, WD-40 can free it up, but it WILL fail again due to lack of a real
lube.

Taken from a "mechanical guy" of over 40 years, doing facilities
maintenance and auto/aircraft during that time.

Thanks for the explanation.

My past use of WD-40 has almost entirely been limited to blasting dirt
out of clockwork timers and/or engines after a free flight model has
dethermalised onto a mega-dusty place. Its invaluable for that - but, and
I'd forgotten this, at the end of the day its essential to strip and
thoroughly clean any timer that has been washed out with WD-40 because
the stuff will dry out and make the timer unreliable, the only cures
being another blast of WD-40 at the start of each future flying session
or the aforementioned strip/clean/re-lube to get rid of any remaining
WD-40 that was in it.

Engines are OK: the WD-40 blows the assorted crap out of the engine so
its clean enough to run, and the next run and flood-off gets rid the
residual WD-40.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

Interesting, The WD-40 manufacturer labels the non-lubricant assertion a myth. http://wd40.com/cool-stuff/myths-legends-fun-facts

Regardless, my personal experience with WD-40 as a lubricant is that it's inferior to something like LPS-2 for long-term lubrication. Stuff I've used WD-40 on tends to seem gunky / rosin like after an extended period of time.

ymmv
7Q

On Sat, 10 Sep 2016 14:33:46 -0700, Craig Funston wrote:

Regardless, my personal experience with WD-40 as a lubricant is that
it's inferior to something like LPS-2 for long-term lubrication. Stuff
I've used WD-40 on tends to seem gunky / rosin like after an extended
period of time.

Yep - that's pretty much our experience. Something that's a bit sticky is
left on the timer frame and cog wheels after the solvent has evaporated
and this is what tends to make them unreliable. This is something that's
been known for at least 25 years amongst free flighters.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |