M1 Grease...

[ziadel]

so, sent the gf out to the store today with a list.

that list included wheel bearing grease for my garand...

she got me some.

Valvoline Multi Purpose grease:
non-disk brake wheel bearings (drums) - chassis - suspension
Excellent Water Resistance

the only thing that is making me hesitate to use this grease is that it is black...

not the white/beige that I have read here to use...


anyone wanna chime in and say yay or nay to this grease?

 

[swingset]

It's grease, it will work fine.

 

[ocabj]

Grease is grease. The only reason I prefer white/beige grease is because I can see it on the metal parts easier than black grease. I still have wheel bearing grease in the garage from a can that probably dates back to the 80s and that's why I've been using.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i would use it...

my grease is red, if that makes you feel any better...

 

[kbsrn]

New M1 Owner

I just got my first M1 and I can't any information on where the wear points are that need to be greased. I looked at the CMP site and various others. Can someone point me to a reference site for this.
Thanks,

 

[Fatelvis]

What is the `ol standby for Garands? "Plastilube" or something like that?

 

[AZ Jeff]

The military was constantly searching for a "better grease" for the M1. They tried MANY greases, and the old standby was "cup grease", better known as "wheel bearing grease" was employed until they settled on "Lubriplate".

Given that "cup grease" was widely used for so long, why the extensive search, you ask?

It was not because the greases they chose were doing a poor job of providing the lube needed under normal conditions. Any number of greases they tested worked JUST FINE in normal conditions.

It was the "non-normal" conditions that caused the continual grease search. It's because in DRIVING RAIN, the grease would wash away, and then the mechanism would have problems with galling and binding of the op rod and it's interface to the bolt lug. I remember seeing pictures of a Springfield Armory test technician, all suited up in a raincoat, standing with an M1 under a driving rain test sprinkler system, soaking wet, doing function testing of various greases.

So.....unless you are planning on shooting extensively in driving rain with your M1, any modern wheel bearing grease will be AT LEAST as good as the "cup grease" available during WW2.

Side note---it was this whole issue with grease washing away that drove Springfield Armory to incorporate a roller into the bolt on the M14. It was perceived that a roller running in the cam track on the op rod of the M14 would lessen the need for grease to keep the camming action running smoothly. (I don't know if they ever proved that to be true.)

 

[Dienekes]

Lubriplate 130A is the official stuff, later supplemented by Plastilube. I currently use Militec grease. All are, well, "greasy" and sufficiently slippery in my experience in M1, M14, and M1A. The lighter colored stuff is a better indicator of how much crud has been picked up since you last lubed it.

Under most circumstances you could probably use Brylcreem and get away with it.

 

[brickboy240]

Lubriplate is awesome stuff. it is also good for greasing the rails on a 1911 pistol and on an SKS or an AK variant. I use it all the time.

-Brickboy240

 

[Cesiumsponge]

The black grease probably has graphite and maybe molybdenum and should be good, high temperature stuff. Graphite in it will be suspended powder and adds lubricity. I wouldn't worry about it; I have a tube of black molygraphite (and very stinky) grease I use on some heavy contact parts of my firearms and likewise use the same stuff to repack my wheel/drum bearings last time I checked my rear brakes

Colored grease is usually also easier to visually inspect than a very thin coating of oil. If you see gooey stuff, then there is still grease.

I didn't know Militec made a grease. I've been using their orange militec-1 oil for a while in conjunction with molygraphite grease with great results. I might have to check their grease out.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I use Copper Grade Anti-Sieze compound & lubricant on my firearms.

Lasts forever and a little bit goes a long way. The bottle I've got was 2/3 empty when I got it almost 2 years ago. I've still got a bit left.

As for grease...um, if it will stand up to the constant movement and heat of wheel bearings, a rifle action won't be a problem.

-edit-
http://www.markal.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=1
Thats the exact stuff I use and it's flawless...well, almost. If you get it on your hands, know that anything you touch will also have this stuff on it. Pain in the butt when you get it on the finish of a gun. I quickly learned to apply this stuff with a thin paintbrush.

 

[dfariswheel]

kbsrn

Here's some sources for free GI manuals that show grease points:

http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/ NOTE the info at teh top of the page about what use names and password to use.

Another site with good info:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030705071825/http://www.jouster.com/lanestips/