Use Fluid Film to lube attachment-dolly caster bearings? Other suggestions?

[rbtjr]

I have most of my attachments on dollies inside a shed with a concrete floor. I want to put some more attachments on dollies but I am running out of space inside the shed. The shed has a roof-only extension that also has a concrete floor. I could put some attachments on dollies on this concrete floor, under roof but not totally enclosed and therefore more exposed to moisture than the attachments inside the shed. I have been using 5" casters with ball bearings on the dollies. I have read some on TBN about Fluid Film, which sounds like good stuff. I am wondering if spraying the caster bearings with Fluid Film every now and then would keep the bearings and races in good shape and prevent them from rusting. Any thoughts about that? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy,
I can tell you have never used Fluid Film.
Yes, Fluid Film will work great, and I doubt you will be re-applying very often. You will then start using Fluid Film all over on other things.

 

[rbtjr]

Thanks. No, I have never used Fluid Film. Had never heard of it until I came across it in a TBN thread. I will try it for sure.

Another application I was thinking about is for the PTO shaft. For years I have used waterproof marine grease on the PTO shaft, but I have to reapply it frequently. Have you tried Fluid Film to lube the PTO shaft?

 

[kennyd]

FF is fantastic stuff, expensive but worth it.

 

[RalphVa]

I'd think that silicon spray would be better.

Use it on 3ph and garage door bearing wheels and tracks.

Doesn't attract dust like other lubes.

Ralph

 

[k0ua]

Thanks. No, I have never used Fluid Film. Had never heard of it until I came across it in a TBN thread. I will try it for sure.

Another application I was thinking about is for the PTO shaft. For years I have used waterproof marine grease on the PTO shaft, but I have to reapply it frequently. Have you tried Fluid Film to lube the PTO shaft?

It is what I use. I have just applied it once.

 

[Baby Grand]

FF on your PTO spline?
Why, YES!
Works great for that.

 

[davrow]

I thought (from reading on here) that FF was a protectant more than a lube. It will really work on bearings and bearing races? I wouldn't think it would withstand the pressure and heat.

 

[k0ua]

I thought (from reading on here) that FF was a protectant more than a lube. It will really work on bearings and bearing races? I wouldn't think it would withstand the pressure and heat.

I thought we were talking about bearings in a set of castors that roll on a concrete floor once in a while? And so yes, perfect for that application. I would highly recommend it. As for greasing your mower spindle? Uh no... not so much. For lubing and protecting you PTO shaft?, you bet. As for the smell? well I sort of like it.. but liking a smell is sort of subjective..Some people put vinegar on things.. It makes me want to vomit. I loathe the smell of vinegar. My point, is one man's "pleasant smell" is another man's "putrid, rank smell"

 

[3930dave]

I like FF, but haven't used it enough yet to decide about it's dirt attraction properties.

For a heavy duty lube that doesn't attract dirt, my goto is Dupont's Chain Saver:

DuPont 311g Teflon Chain Saver | Lowe's Canada

It's all I will use on my street motorcycle chain.

They also have a slightly lighter version (Multi-Use) that may be easier to find (blue can, if I don't find a link).

DuPont 311g Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant | Lowe's Canada

It's been a while, so I'd have to check again to be sure, but I think the Chain-Saver also has better O ring compatibility than the Multi-Use version (shouldn't be an issue for OP, just touching on that for anybody who has O ringed chains to maintain....)

Rgds, D.

 

[FatTire]

I recently applied FF to my pallet forks to make it easier to adjust width. So far so good. The smell is noticeable, but I have a good association with it -- snow not sticking to plows and chutes -- so now I like that smell.

 

[rbtjr]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I'm going to try FF for my applications, and I'll keep the references to the lubricants for more heavy-duty applications.

 

[newbury]

Fluid Film is my go to protectant for many things. Basically sheep lanolin. So I don't worry about it harming plastics. I bought a case in 2013 and have gone through about half of it. I keep a can in every shop.

What's the best price now, with shipping, for the 11.75 oz aerosol cans?

 

[japody]

Sounds like good stuff. I see it online but is it available retail?

 

[kennyd]

Sounds like good stuff. I see it online but is it available retail?

Sure, most Deere dealers sell it, and I think TSC has started carrying it as well.

 

[k0ua]

Lowes too.

Shop Fluid Film 11.75-oz Fluid Film Rust & Corrosion Preventive Penetrant & Lubricant at Lowes.com

 

[murphy1244]

Lowes too.

Shop Fluid Film 11.75-oz Fluid Film Rust & Corrosion Preventive Penetrant & Lubricant at Lowes.com

Not here, i looked for it yesterday and they never heard tell of it.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Not here, i looked for it yesterday and they never heard tell of it.

I asked for it at the local Lowes a few months ago and the associate in the hardware section had a confused look. I told him the good claims about it after we found it on the shelf.
He'd never heard of it either. I've sprayed it on my bike, the stabilizer jacks and coupler on my camper, leaf springs and various other dingy metals underneath my truck.
Travis

 

[3930dave]

Sure, most Deere dealers sell it, and I think TSC has started carrying it as well.

FF is carried by TSC up here.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Not here, i looked for it yesterday and they never heard tell of it.

A senior employee or at least the asst. manager should be able to order it for you.

Up here, Lowes seems to be very well run. The Dupont products I posted about earlier are not that widely distributed, even in the USA. At the time of the year I found out about Dupont's Chain Saver product, I wasn't planning a USA shopping trip anytime soon. So I went into a local Canadian store, to ask if I could special order Chain Saver.

I ended up in contact by email with someone at the Canadian HQ. I explained why I thought it was a great product (wrote a mini business case). Next thing I know, I'm being asked for my home address. When i said "We haven't even discussed price", the response was "don't worry about it, we are sending you some product as thanks for highlighting this to us". They did.

Not too often today am I impressed, esp. with big companies. I started off just hoping that I could get one special order through their system. I ended up with some free product (nice touch that I appreciate, but the business value of what I was talking about is worth a lot more to them), and at that point thought they might stock it in one store as a trial. Right out of the gate, they stocked Chain Saver across Canada. I've never seen a big company move that fast.

If Lowes is a convenient store for you, try asking for the Assistant Manager.

Rgds, D.