what do you lube your balls with?

[ElfShotTheFood]

What should i use to lube the rollers and bearings on the old centipede trackball i received today?  there is a sticker on the bottom that is mostly gone that says something about 3-in-1 oil, but i cant make out much more than that.  it would appear that a beverage was spilled in and around the casing and it needs a good cleaning.  but what should i lube it up with when its clean.  any suggestions?

[CheffoJeffo]

I use 3-in-1.

[shorthair]

or graphite. I wonder if anodizing or something would help lubricity....wait, teflon, duh....although it is toxic. Toxic enough to possibly absorb through the skin even at lower temperatures. Hm. Yeah, graphite.

[Zebidee]

Make sure that you clean the old bearings properly of any old lubricant & dirt.  Kerosene is a good solvent (and flammable/fumey obviously so take care), but there are others.  It is important that you don't mix your lubricants.  graphite is a 'newer' lubricant and is used more often now for high performance stuff (.... like a trackball I guess), but is more expensive so might even not be used new stuff.  I have no idea how much it costs though ...

[Zebidee]

Because there are so many new lube products coming onto the markets these days, it might be a good idea to pop into your favourite local bike store (esp racing bikes) .  Those people usually know about the latest good lubes around to keep things spinning frictionlessly.

[Havok]

K-Y?

 

[shardian]

I use 3-in-1. I brought back a centipede track from the dead with that stuff. You don't want to lube the rollers though - just the bearings. The best thing you can do for old rollers is to lock one end into a drill and spin it in some fine steel wool.

[Kaytrim]

I found a product years ago that makes a big difference in lubrcation and quiets things down quite a bit,  Tri-Flow.  It comes in a spray can like WD-40 but dosen't evaporate.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[Ken Layton]

9 times out of 10 the old bearings are shot (rusty, ball with a flat spot, too much slop, etc.) so it's not worth screwing with. Just buy the whole rebuild kit (roller shafts and bearings) from Bob Roberts and be done with it.

For the few times the bearings are still in good shape but just gunked up, soak them in mineral spirits for about 15 minutes (work the bearings by hand to loosen things up). Now blow out the bearing with a can of air until dry. Then oil it with two drops of 3 in 1 oil and reassemble the trackball unit.

[Zebidee]

I found a product years ago that makes a big difference in lubrcation and quiets things down quite a bit,  Tri-flow

I use Tri-flow on my bikes

[shorthair]

K-Y?

 

Na. It's sugar-based. Get's sticky.

Triflow: yeah, we'd use this cleaning our rifles....though, in entirety, I think Ken has the best advice.

[ElfShotTheFood]

Thanks guys.  i really just wanted to make sure the half missing sticker didn't say "don't use 3in1 oil".   a couple of the bearings are pretty well shot so i will probably order the rebuild kit.  unless the local skateboard shop has bearings that fit.  i doubt it but its worth a shot as i hate waiting for things in the mail.

I was kinda expecting a few more wise ass answers though.   


thanks again       

[AgentX]

Speaking of balls...  My X-Arcade trackball bearings have been pretty misable since I got the thing. I was thinking of just replacing the bearings. Are they the same as skateboard bearings?

Thx

[Magnet_Eye]

crisco

 

[blueznl]

I simply cannot give a polite answer on this one. What do YOU use? 

[Joystick Jerk]

Ball lube.

[shorthair]

ID glide. It's water-soluble, non-silicone.