<VV> Grease question - NO DIRECT CORVAIR

[Bruce Schug]

I have a small speedometer ratio converter. I got it several years ago  
and had it geared for my 205/55-16 tires. It worked well for several  
years, until I wore those tires out. When I replaced them with  
205/45's it was no longer accurate, so I removed it and put it up on  
the shelf. Again, several years later, I have put 205/55's back on. I  
re-installed the converter. In a short time, I broke a speedometer  
cable. I know they don't last forever, so I just got a new one and put  
it on. But while doing that, I realized the converter was very hard to  
turn and had probably caused the cable to fail.

The converter simply screws onto the speedometer, just like the cable  
normally does. The cable then screws onto the converter. I took the  
converter apart to see if I could figure what was going on. I couldn't  
really see anything wrong. I turned the gears a bit and spread the  
grease around and put it back together. Maybe the gears were just  
binding up or something, I thought. It still didn't turn as easily as  
I thought it should, although I don't remember what it turned like  
when it was new. I spun it some with an electric drill motor. It  
turned fine, so I re-installed it before going to drive the Tail of  
the Dragon.

After maybe 75 miles, something started making noise, either the  
converter or the speedometer itself. The speedometer registered fine  
and the needle was steady. Before returning home I removed the  
converter.

I think I need to clean the gears and put new lubricant on them. The  
grease that is on them now is thick and seems almost like Vasilene.  
The converter is two simple molded plastic halves that fit together  
with lips. There is no gasket to retain lubricant, just overlap of the  
lips on the molded plastic halves.

SO MY QUESTION IS... what kind of grease would work on this AND NOT  
RUIN THE PLASTIC GEARS. The converter has small plastic gears inside.  
My guess is they're nylon or something similar, as that is often used  
for parts like these. I also know that some greases will attack  
"plastic" gears and ruin them over time. It seems like Lubriplate  
would be a good lubricant, but I'm afraid it is too thin and would  
seep out of the casing.

I have not been able to contact the converter's manufacturer. It is  
marked "PENNWALT" and "S.S. WHITE Industrial products". It has another  
small logo that reads like, "CIRCLE ESS". There is no part number or  
anything else on it, except for "MADE IN USA". In digging around the  
internet, one company bought the other. I can't see any products like  
this on their site.

If someone could suggest a grease that they know won't attack plastics  
or tell me how to contact the manufacturer or refer me to someone that  
knows about such greases or products, I would appreciate it.


Bruce

Bruce W. Schug
Treasurer, Membership Chairman
CORSA South Carolina
CORSA member since 1980
Performance Corvair Group
Stock Corvair Group
VirtualVairs
FastVairs
'67 Monza, "67AC140"
bwschug at charter.net