WriteON
Member
Some of the twist's are pre-lubed with a substance that looks like vaseline. Can I use a touch of white lithium or is there a recommended lubricant. Thanks, Frank
I got a little tube of oil from a clock shop that has a tiny tube so you can put just the right amount of oil where you need it.
This has helped with some sticky twist transmissions.
Frank, it was my understanding that the kit lube you may be referring to is applied by the overseas manufacturers to withstand potential corrosion while being transported by ocean-going ships. It was my experience that if that lube was allowed to stay in the mechanism after final assembly, sometimes it would stiffen up in colder temp environments. Ironically, men users were not as subject to this issue as the ladies, because typically a man would carry his pen in his shirt pocket, hence that pen would receive a certain amount of body heat to soften the lube for smoother twisting. Bottom line: the best after-assembly lube I have used is a good grade gun oil like Hoppe. I would usually apply it with a needle-point bottle applicator. It has worked well for me.
Most of the "oldtimers" I talked to said the answer was "elbow grease". Spinning the transmission around and back and forth a few times was usually enough to melt whatever the mfg. had put on it from the factory. Never needed to add anything else.