Shaft Oiler or Grease?

Danny King said:

1/16”

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Same,

FloridaScaleBoater said:

Same,

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Gonna give yer juice a try.
Is it "green"?
Been using Merc. Lower unit lube,, but always willing to try what the fast guys are using!

Danny King said:

1/16”

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Thanks Danny, I use .030 for a different oil and know that typically bar chain oil is pretty sticky and more viscous.

Danny King said:

1/16”

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The best oil is virgin oil but is very rare.

FloridaScaleBoater said:

Glad you asked,
After the 1st year of running oilers and pulling/checking shafts after each race and finding no wear.
I no longer pull shafts unless I'm pulling the engine for some reason.

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I don’t think I’d be able to do that, even if I didn’t see any signs of water.

On my nitro boats I pull the motor out after the final heat anyway.

I have been greasing and installing my flex shafts the night before a race, and taking them out and cleaning them off after the final run for 6 season on up to 6 boats at a time and never once replaced a shaft due to wear or breakage. [knock on wood]

Jarcaines said:

I don’t think I’d be able to do that, even if I didn’t see any signs of water.

On my nitro boats I pull the motor out after the final heat anyway.

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What works for you,,
I'm old & lazy. And set in my ways

Have been using oil for over 20 years.
Doc’s oiler initially. I use synthetic motor oil.

Everything that rotates creates a sine wave. Thus with grease if you look closely at your shaft when you take it out there will be areas WITHOUT grease and areas with grease. It will also turn the grease black.

Pull an oiled shaft it is entirely coated with mayonnaise ( water oil emulsion).

We put oil in our oil in the oil container every heat.
There is a lot less drag with oil.

BTW, Mark Bullard has the parts we use to make DOC’s Oilers. We used to sell them.
Call him and he may make one up and sell one.

dr gary turner said:

Have been using oil for over 20 years.
Doc’s oiler initially. I use synthetic motor oil.

Everything that rotates creates a sine wave. Thus with grease if you look closely at your shaft when you take it out there will be areas WITHOUT grease and areas with grease. It will also turn the grease black.

Pull an oiled shaft it is entirely coated with mayonnaise ( water oil emulsion).

We put oil in our oil in the oil container every heat.
There is a lot less drag with oil.

BTW, Mark Bullard has the parts we use to make DOC’s Oilers. We used to sell them.
Call him and he may make one up and sell one.

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Yessir, that's what we do, too, Doc.

I've been using Klotz Techniplate LIGHT in everything....no bearing, crank pin, or piston issues, nor p/shaft, strut bushing issues.

Seems there is a market out there for simple, effective shaft oilers.

Many options and techniques out there, but it boils down to individual preference, I guess. The truth is that synth oil IS less parasitic than grease, and it has a better 'cling' factor.

Terry Heddin said:

Is this the castor oil to use?

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yes it is a quality product.. anything klotz is good

Alan Elzer said:

That's some expensive castor oil. I use regure sig castor oil only about $35 a gallon, klotz castor is $60 depending on where you get it.
I'm a oiler guy

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yep i used the same stuff. by the gallon. shaft looked great. easy clean up. life was MUCH MUCH easier than grease. also i had a pvc tube we stored shafts in and dumped this in the tube for storage. pulled them out and off we go as needed.

https://sigmfg.com/collections/fuel/products/sig-fuel-with-castor-oil

I grease 'em because im old, narrow minded, and stuck in my ways...........now ask me how many cables ive torn up or worn out in 45 years.........I do use oil on my little outboards because the K&Bs come with oil holes!!

Bill Gibson said:

I grease 'em because im old, narrow minded, and stuck in my ways...........now ask me how many cables ive torn up or worn out in 45 years.........I do use oil on my little outboards because the K&Bs come with oil holes!!

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You have to hold it wide open to experience shaft issues .

Grease..

Grimracer said:

Grease..

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Oil!!

So, has anyone actually witnessed a gain using an oiler vs grease? I still use grease in everything (except outboards) not because I'm opposed to running an oiler but because my plan was to try running them in inboards when I was trying to find some more R's. Honestly, there's always something more important to chase and I just never got there.

Fast forward 25 years and I'm still running Merc 2-4C grease. Believe it or not, most of my cables are over a decade old. I recently replaced one of the oldest and most used cables in my 21 mono as a precaution because the outside strands were looking a little thin. It had a nice even wear though, and basically a polished finish. I only pull them out of the boat before a race day, occasionally they stay in for two. Otherwise, they live in the boat. I've never seen rust on a cable like some will tell you happens. Water does stay in that tube though, but the grease stays also and keeps it from rusting. Whatever's in that grease is good by me from experience alone. I've always wondered when I was going to get bit by my bad habits cleaning cables but it hasn't happened yet.

I see guys run oilers on gas boats and to me it looks like it can be a bit of a headache at times. Oil draining out everywhere or flooding the inside of the hull. They may not have it quite figured out yet either though.

Change my mind, is an oiler faster? I always thought it might make a difference on a 21, I kind of doubt it on a gas boat, but I could be wrong.


Thanks,
Brian

Wouldn't a shaft last longer with low power and a smaller prop?

Tom Foley said:

You have to hold it wide open to experience shaft issues .

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I knew that was coming HAR HAR!!!! I told you im a racer on a tight budget so i only go as fast as i need to LOL!

Bill, from the words of Hall of Faimer Ron Jr, as he looks over his sun glasses, "why show a dime when I Nickle will do"..

Grim