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Switched from grease to oil on guide rails last year and never looked back
For like 8 years I was just slapping bearing grease on the guide rails every time I did a PM. Figured that's what the old guys did so it must be fine lol. Then I took a class through the union hall in Chicago last spring and the instructor basically said grease attracts way more dust and gunk over time. Switched to a lithium-based oil on all my newer installs and the cars run way smoother even between 6-month checkups. That drag difference is night and day when you're adjusting the governor tension too. Anyone else make the swap and notice less callbacks for door issues?
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alicehernandez17d ago
Started using a dry film lube on my rails about three years back (stuff from a place in Milwaukee) and it's insane how much less junk builds up. Saw way fewer door lock issues after switching and the cars don't sound like they're dragging through gravel anymore. The governor adjustments got easier too since there's no sticky residue fighting against the tension. Had to clean all the old grease off the track first with some mineral spirits, took a full day on one of my older units. Worth every minute though, especially when you're not getting those "elevator feels sluggish" complaints a month later.
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