TIL the old school guys were right about greasing the guide rails

For years, I thought the whole 'grease the rails every 6 months' thing was just busywork. I figured if the car was running smooth, why mess with it? Then I got called to a 15 story office building downtown for a persistent knocking sound. I checked everything, motors, rollers, you name it. An old timer on site just pointed at the rails and said, 'When's the last time you touched those?' I hadn't, and they were bone dry. I spent two hours with a rag and a tub of that thick Mobilith SHC 220 grease, and the noise was GONE. The ride went from clunky to silent. I've been doing it on schedule ever since. Anyone else have a job where skipping the simple step caused a bigger headache later?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_fox25d agoMost Upvoted

Man, I gotta be honest... I've seen the opposite. Over-greasing just makes a huge mess that attracts every bit of dust and grit. Sometimes leaving well enough alone is the move.

robin_wright25d ago

But have you ever had a chain completely dry out and start grinding? @troy_fox, I get the mess thing, but a light coat in the right spots keeps things moving smooth. That grit sticks to any grease, sure, but a dry part wears out way faster from the inside. I'd rather wipe off some extra grease than replace a worn out chain or bearing. It's about finding that middle ground, not just leaving it alone. What do you do when a part starts making noise from being too dry?