Alternative lubes for Sheridan pivot points?

[RBQChicken]

I know the secret sauce is what everyone will recommend for the Sheridans; I've been using 30 wt. ND motor oil.
Whenever I use the gun after it's been sitting awhile, I'll start pumping it up and notice oil running down the pump lever. I'll wipe the excess off  but the next time I use it there will be a little more running down. 

It got me to wondering why we don't use something different for the pivot points, something that will stay in place after drying, maybe a Teflon lube like Tri-flow.  I also wondered about mixing a little moly in with my 30 wt. so eventually the pivot pins would be impregnated with moly and you'd achieve a little more permanent lubrication of the lever arm pivot points so you wouldn't have to keep it wet with oil or secret sauce.

Is it because the lube on those points eventually slide down the pump tube and work there way into the valve when you pump the gun up, and you don't want that stuff in the valve?

[CraigH]

I would use moly EP grease on pump pivot points.

[RBQChicken]

I put moly on the roll pin and corresponding hole in the pump lever arms when I put the gun back together, but I still get a squeak when I pump.  The moly pretty much got scraped clean off the roll pin when I pounded it through the end cap, but there should have still been some in the hole in the lever arm.

Using a toothpick, I put some moly inside the roll pin, in the gap, after it was installed.  I figured some of it would work it's way in when pumping.  I've oiled that area since then, which probably explains the black looking oil that runs down the lever arm when it's standing.

All this makes me think of that Tri-flow.....  Maybe after it dries the Teflon stays in place where it can do the most good.  For it to work properly, though, it would probably have to be applied to clean surfaces and I'm not about to take the gun apart to do  that.

[oldair]

Tri-Flow is an oil that doesn't dry out.  Although it seems to penetrate well into tiny crevices and do a fine job of lubricating, I've never expected the PTFE additive really has much function.  A tiny amount works well for many applications and may be just fine for pump pivots.  Another option could be Dri-Slide which is moly particles suspended in a volatile carrier - it penetrates to flow the particles into very small clearances, and when the liquid eventually dries off and you clean the excess black smudges away, the lube effect lasts a long time.

[TooJung2Die]

I have an oiler filled with moly grease and 30 wt oil mixed just for the purpose you suggested. Shake it before use because the moly settles.
Jon

[RBQChicken]

I thought Dri-slide was graphite? Is moly graphite?

[limbshaker]

I would use 90w gear oil. Just a drop, work it in, and wipe off the rest. It will run if you use too much, just go sparingly.

For a good "all over" lube, I like to use 10w motorcycle fork oil. It's a little thinner and you have to go real light on the pivots, but it penetrates better. Great for lubing the pump cup and the valve internals. A drop on the bolt from time to time is good too. One lube to do it all, convenient and cheap.

[TooJung2Die]

I thought Dri-slide was graphite? Is moly graphite?

No, moly is short for molybdenum disulfide.

[GumpIsrael]

If you look in the library there should be a write up for how to make "mystery oil." If I remember correctly all it involves is mixing moly and ND 30w in exact proportions and you get a pretty darn good lube. I personally just use ND 30w.

[Andrew]

I use Tri Flow on my break barrels linkages, it's meant for high pressure joints.

Sorry for changing the subject but what I can tell you and this happened by fluke, after polishing my Benji 312 and storing it away for a month or so, the brass of course darkened with oxidization.

For some reason I thought I'd give the brass another coat of oil to slow oxidization of the golden polished brass to a warm honey color, so rather than the usual Birchwood Casey Barricade that I use on my blued guns I used Tri Flow and to my surprise the tarnish on the brass wiped clean off.

Since then which was a couple of years ago and the Benji has been stored away, it still looks golden polished!

The Tri Flow completely removes the tarnish and has gotten into the pores of the brass and hasn't oxidized since, quite amazing.

Here's a pic when first polished and re assembled.



and this is some time later, brass is still golden.

[GumpIsrael]

I use Tri Flow on my break barrels linkages, it's meant for high pressure joints.

Sorry for changing the subject but what I can tell you and this happened by fluke, after polishing my Benji 312 and storing it away for a month or so, the brass of course darkened with oxidization.

For some reason I thought I'd give the brass another coat of oil to slow oxidization of the golden polished brass to a warm honey color, so rather than the usual Birchwood Casey Barricade that I use on my blued guns I used Tri Flow and to my surprise the tarnish on the brass wiped clean off.

Since then which was a couple of years ago and the Benji has been stored away, it still looks golden polished!

The Tri Flow completely removes the tarnish and has gotten into the pores of the brass and hasn't oxidized since, quite amazing.

Here's a pic when first polished and re assembled.



and this is some time later, brass is still golden.

VERY NICE! That benji looks awesome! TrifloW for the brass, sounds like a lube to me. My default stock and exterior lube is Remoil. But only cuz it's cheap. I'll have to check this stuff out.

[Back_Roads]

 The Squeak you hear may be air compressing into the valve body, past the input seat.

[Yng@hrt]

I use Tri Flow on my break barrels linkages, it's meant for high pressure joints.

Sorry for changing the subject but what I can tell you and this happened by fluke, after polishing my Benji 312 and storing it away for a month or so, the brass of course darkened with oxidization.

For some reason I thought I'd give the brass another coat of oil to slow oxidization of the golden polished brass to a warm honey color, so rather than the usual Birchwood Casey Barricade that I use on my blued guns I used Tri Flow and to my surprise the tarnish on the brass wiped clean off.

Since then which was a couple of years ago and the Benji has been stored away, it still looks golden polished!

The Tri Flow completely removes the tarnish and has gotten into the pores of the brass and hasn't oxidized since, quite amazing.

Here's a pic when first polished and re assembled.



and this is some time later, brass is still golden.

That is a great look!

[RBQChicken]

Back_Roads, that is an interesting theory, since the squeak does seem to be coming from a point farther down the pump tube than where the pivot points are, though it's hard to tell for sure where it's coming from.