Aeroshell #5 Grease
 

So I saw somewhere that Aeroshell #5 is called out for the nose fork swivel. I had to order it at ACS. Are people pretty much staying with that?

-Marc

Yes. You'll also need to it to pack your wheel bearings. Hartzell recommends #6 for the prop as well.

You don't need much of either.

Aeroshell 5 is recommended for load bearings, such as wheels, etc. Aeroshell 6 is also a mineral based grease, but there are slight temperature differences. They are very similar, but have minor differences.
Here is what Shell says:

AeroShell Grease 5 is particularly effective for use as a wheel bearing grease, especially when landing speeds are high, and is suitable for the lubrication of aircraft and engine accessories operating at high speeds and at relatively high temperatures, e.g. magnetos, generators and starters. For the lubrication of rolling bearings which are required to start at temperatures as low as ?23?C an adequate period should be allowed for the grease to channel.

AeroShell Grease 6 is a general purpose airframe grease for use in anti-friction bearings, gearboxes and plain bearings within the temperature range of ?40?C to +121?C.

Aeroshell Grease 5 is now obsolete - most are using Grease 22 in its place.

Pete

Aeroshell 5 will still be available in North America--it is being phased out of some overseas markets.

Hartzell specifically states NOT to use Aeroshell 22.

Here's HC-SL-61-353, which talks more about it.

Interestingly, the Grummans with the similar nose gear Belville washers call out Shell #6 for that application, not #5.

Wheel bearings call for Shell #16, but say that Cleavland manual is also applicable.

Grease Craziness
 

This whole grease thing is ridiculous. Aeroshell should be ashamed! For goodness sake, just tell me which grease to use. The transition from mineral based greases to synthetics seems to be giving them fits and, as a corporation, I don't think they are handling it well at all. As an end user, I'm completely, and thoroughly, confused!

There is a sticker on the Hartzell hub that specifies which grease it was initially serviced with. MIne was Aeroshell #6 The manual states you can mix 5&6 but if you use anything else you have to completely clean out any old grease. Easier just to use what Hartzell used.

I use Aeroshell #5 for pretty much everything that I don't squirt LPS-2 on.
I even changed to it in my prop at rebuild time as it is approved to reduce oil separation and prop seal leaking, a common problem.
It performs well in my tailwheel.

Don't get too hung up on it. Consult the manufacturers data of the equipment you are lubricating and follow their recommendation.

since you asked
 

the nose swivel is hardly a moving part compared to a spinning wheel bearing.
I lean toward just a sticky grease that won't run or ooze into areas I don't want ( like the washers)...so I used Lucas/Red Ram sticky #2 red stuff.

Lucas Red 'N' Tacky Grease is a smooth, tacky, red lithium complex grease fortified with rust and oxidation inhibitors. It has good water resistance and washout properties. It has excellent mechanical stability and storage life. It is able to withstand heavy loads for extended periods of time. It can be used in many agricultural, automotive and industrial applications. Lucas Red 'N' Tacky Grease is fortified with a high degree of extreme pressure additives that give it a TRUE Timken load much higher than other greases of this type. Its especially good for sliding surfaces and open gears.


not rocket science in this application.....a crude hunk of pipe sliding over another hunk of steel...no big pressures or temps here.

my silly opinion, YMMV.