Grinding when Turning

woodlandfarms · Apr 15, 2010

Oh, and the final chapter for today. Everytime I turn the PT it is metal on metal grinding. I was really worried.

I lubed, and tightened the jesus nut and still grinding...

Finally got a can of wd-40 and hit the hydraulic joints. Wow.. guess there is some rust in there.

Carl

MossRoad · Apr 16, 2010

You have helicopter background? :laughing:

woodlandfarms · Apr 16, 2010

Trying to produce a movie on slick pilots (actually dustoff pilots) from Nam. Couldn't think of a better word than the Jesus nut. So between that, my love for flying and the fact I do do a lot of helicopter work (car commercials mainly), I guess I have some experience with them that most people don't.

cqaigy2 · Apr 17, 2010

MossRoad said:
You have helicopter background? :laughing:

Carl has mentioned that he raises his mower up in the air pretty high.

MossRoad · Apr 19, 2010

woodlandfarms said:
Trying to produce a movie on slick pilots (actually dustoff pilots) from Nam. Couldn't think of a better word than the Jesus nut. So between that, my love for flying and the fact I do do a lot of helicopter work (car commercials mainly), I guess I have some experience with them that most people don't.

I worked 6 years at the F.B.O. at two local airports. One of the mechanics came out of the shop with a (I kid you not) 6' aluminum crescent wrench! :shocked:I asked him what that was for and he said "tightening the Jesus nut." So, of course, I had to ask what that was. :laughing:

cqaigy2 said:
Carl has mentioned that he raises his mower up in the air pretty high.

Hee. Hee. That would be like the Osprey, wouldn't it?

smartguyz · Apr 20, 2010

woodlandfarms said:
Oh, and the final chapter for today. Everytime I turn the PT it is metal on metal grinding. I was really worried.

I lubed, and tightened the jesus nut and still grinding...

Finally got a can of wd-40 and hit the hydraulic joints. Wow.. guess there is some rust in there.

Carl

Um... at the risk of sounding like a noob, what's a hydraulic joint?

-Rob

woodlandfarms · Apr 20, 2010

Rob, you are such not a newb. You are dealing with one, that is for sure. I was referring to the ball joints on the hydraulic rams.

My engrish not so good...

Carl

ponytug · Apr 21, 2010

Carl,

You may want to put something else in there that has better lubrication under pressure now that you have the joint moving. Magic liquid that it is, WD40 is after all a "Water Displacement" oil (recipe #40). How about some teflon chain lube? Or Terry's favorite SuperLube? Or Triflow? Or Tufoil? I struggle with what the best lube is for those ball joints, since they are down in the water, dirt, and mud, and yet have quite a bit of force on them.

I've been using the dry teflon chain lube on lots of the minor joints on the PT; engine cover hinges, etc. It seems to work well, and doesn't attract dust.

All the best,

Peter

woodlandfarms said:
Rob, you are such not a newb. You are dealing with one, that is for sure. I was referring to the ball joints on the hydraulic rams.

My engrish not so good...

Carl

SpringHollow · Apr 21, 2010

^ what he said.

smartguyz · Apr 21, 2010

ponytug said:
Carl,

You may want to put something else in there that has better lubrication under pressure now that you have the joint moving. Magic liquid that it is, WD40 is after all a "Water Displacement" oil (recipe #40). How about some teflon chain lube? Or Terry's favorite SuperLube? Or Triflow? Or Tufoil? I struggle with what the best lube is for those ball joints, since they are down in the water, dirt, and mud, and yet have quite a bit of force on them.

I've been using the dry teflon chain lube on lots of the minor joints on the PT; engine cover hinges, etc. It seems to work well, and doesn't attract dust.

All the best,

Peter

Thanks guys.

I do use SuperLube. It is actually a thin "spray-able" grease that contains Teflon. It has a small amount of solvent as a carrier, which allows it to be in an aerosol spray form. I find that it will penetrate the ball joint, and tends to drive out dirt and moisture, cleaning the joint with the solvent. After the solvent evaporates (which usually takes several hours), you are left with a thin coating of grease and Teflon. I believe this is probably the best kind of lubricant to use.

It's not perfect - I do think that it tends to attract dirt, which is unfortunate, but since I am constantly wiping the joints, or rinsing them (with a garden hose) and then drying and lubricating them again, I am hopeful it doesn't cause a problem.

In any event, my PT is still running like new after 7 years. Granted, I only have 168 hours on it.

-Rob