[ATM] Lubricating a worm-with what?

[artbianconi@blast.net]

Lubricating moving parts inside a sealed case is one thing. 
Lubricating moving parts that are exposed is a whole different 
game.

A worm gear is subjected to high unit load shearing forces. The 
lubricating industry had to develop a whole new lubricant family 
before cars were able to use hypoid gears because the lubricant 
was literally squeezed out allowing metal to metal contact. In 
your case, one gear is relatively hard, the other quite soft. No 
need to tell you that the soft one gets the brunt of the abuse. 

The good news is that a one rev per 24 hours, there is no heat 
built up but the shearing forces are still there.

If the gears are enclosed in a weatherproof case, then you might 
consider a light weight hypoid gear oil like that which is used 
in auto differentials. 

If the gears are exposed, then something less sticky is needed. 
Exposed lubes tend to attract grit. Grit is abrasive and with a 
soft metal gear of aluminum, it will likely get imbedded in the 
tooth face.

I don't have enough information to get beyond this. In my GEM, I 
have one 12 inch diameter ring gear driven by a worm gear that is 
about one inch in diameter by two inches long. Both appear to be 
made of bronze which will run forever at these speeds with no 
lube at all. 

Vaseline will attack rubber parts and make them swell. There are 
any number of water based gels that can be substituted for 
Vaseline.

Art

> Lubricating a worm-with what? 


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