Winterizing freehub lube

[Area54]

Doing some prep on the winter race bike, got me thinking about lubes for winterizing my Hope freehub, and other bearings.

I'll be using it on the Iditarod.

My thoughts were leaning towards Tenacious oil, or possibly chris king ringdrive lube.

[Shilman]

Morningstar Soup has been used in the ITI and at cold temps with great results.. Lubriplate low temp grease is another option as well.

[bmike-vt]

the tenacious seems really thick for this application, no?

[BrianR]

Morningstar Soup has been used in the ITI and at cold temps with great results.. Lubriplate low temp grease is another option as well.

Just had issues with my Mukluk rear hub at -23F.  My LBS said Morningstar Soup is no longer available.  They used a lightweight oil as opposed to a grease that is doing great in the -10 to -20F range.

[Area54]

We don't have a Phil supplier here in AU and I've not physically played with tenacious oil before, so no idea on it's viscosity - I assumed it was around 10W? Limited options for cold lubes here.


I decided on ringdrive lube. I was happy with its viscosity at -25C after 5 days (coldest I could crank my freezer to). The Hope pawl leaf spring pressure should overcome cold soak stiction anyways.

[jamescyco]

Lubriplate Mag 1. Minus 30F windchill here in Bismarck, ND today. No problems. Been using it for years. Check auto parts store _ you can get a big grease gun-size tube for about $7. Works good for all-around grease too.

[Area54]

I might go and pick up a tube of mag 1 from Chain Reaction when I get there. Thanks for the heads up!

[Area54]

I visited my local SKF bearing supplier, pawed through their tech manuals and found a superb grease rated down to -50C / -60F and up to 230C. Recommended for small, high speed bearings, low friction. Stripped down every bearing, repacked and tested down to -25C (coldest our freezer will go to) and the hot ones felt the same as the cold ones.

[Stickboy]

Area54.  After last years ride, what's the verdict? What lube should I be looking for..  I'm about to assemble the rig for this years ride.  Thanks and see you in back in AK.

[MikeC]

depends on which hub you have.

[Stickboy]

Hey Mike,
I9 hubs. Small world, I think you laced thiese wheels up last year.
Team CoreCo, blue 100mm carbons with Pink I9hubs.
Lubriplate Mag 1. Trying to find this, but online most sites want you to order 10 tubes.
In the past I have run gortex cables, used standard cables with no lube.both options worked.
I want to insure I build my rig the best way possible so I can make it to Nome. Any suggestion on bike prep I'll take.

Thanks for reading /Stick

[MikeC]

Did I9 have a recommendation?

On all of my Nome rides I've degreased the drive parts in my (DT) hub, then used a light synthetic oil to lube them.  Not much -- basically just a drop of lube between thumb and forefinger, then smear that on the faces of the drive mechanism.  The idea being to keep things from freezing together in the event of water intrusion or even condensation from wild temperature swings.  But not so much or so viscous that it slows things down at all.

I also degreased my bearings and refilled them with Morningstar Soup.  Amazing to feel the difference from stock grease to this stuff at -40 or so.  Amazing to think of the extra energy needed to turn wheels and BB with stock grease at those temps.  Soup is no longer available, but I'm sure the Mag 1 is probably good enough.  If in doubt call Speedway in Anchorage and believe what they tell you.

Nome rides seem to have gotten a lot warmer over the last ~decade, but you still want to be prepared for -50 or so.

[Stickboy]

Thanks Mike for taking the time to respond.  I'm following your detailed instructions.  Time for some pizza, few barley pops and rebuild the Fatty.    All I have to do now is find some MAG 1 . Hopefully a snowmachine dealership can assist or Marine store.

[spruceboy]

I have always used Lubriplate Mag 1, it seems to work fine.  

If you haven't already found a source, I can send you a small amount if you can't locate a supply of it.

Like MikeC suggested, I would repack the bearings as well as the freehub.  I would also do the headset and bottom bracket.

[quixoticgeek]

Please excuse the thread necromancy.

I had a word with hope recently about the grease they use on their parts, and they claim it's rated to -50°C. I think this means they are effectively winter ready.

J

[spruceboy]

Please excuse the thread necromancy.

I had a word with hope recently about the grease they use on their parts, and they claim it's rated to -50°C. I think this means they are effectively winter ready.

J

That is pretty interesting - and probably great news for folks who buy those hubs and ride in the cold.  For folks using them in warmer weather, though it might might be a mixed bag.  The winter grease (at least the mag 1 I have used) is really thin, I would expect it not going to provide the same bearing life a "normal" lube would .   

[MikeC]

Like MikeC suggested, I would repack the bearings as well as the freehub.  I would also do the headset and bottom bracket.

Agreed on the BB, but not the headset -- I want that sucker to turn as slowly and stiffly as possible, to dampen out unwanted vibrations that effectively steer your front tire off the packed track and into deep snow.

I'm experimenting with a Cane Creek Viscoset right now, and liking everything about it.