Soooo... anyone know if this stuff is out of production? Spruce has an indefinitely back order and I can't find it in stock just about anywhere. Would really like to lube my Hartzell with it and not #6.
I wont use Aeroshell 5 in my mower let alone an airplane. I have dried up old stock tubes tubes that I've thrown in the trash. Greasing Hartzells ever year causes more problems than it prevents. Pushing fresh grease in increases the likelihood of separated oil getting past the teflons and big orings. Radial movement is less than 1/8" at the bearing balls so its impossible for fresh grease to make its way to the interface between the bearing balls and the races.
Bob, do you have a recommendation? Thanks.
Soooo... anyone know if this stuff is out of production?
If so, good riddance.
If so, good riddance.
There's no way to force old grease out without complete disassembly.
I wont use Aeroshell 5 in my mower let alone an airplane. I have dried up old stock tubes tubes that I've thrown in the trash. Greasing Hartzells ever year causes more problems than it prevents. Pushing fresh grease in increases the likelihood of separated oil getting past the teflons and big orings. Radial movement is less than 1/8" at the bearing balls so its impossible for fresh grease to make its way to the interface between the bearing balls and the races.
Soooo... anyone know if this stuff is out of production? Spruce has an indefinitely back order and I can't find it in stock just about anywhere. Would really like to lube my Hartzell with it and not #6.
Sort of -- when the mineral oil separates from the paraffin, it has a nasty tendency of seeping past the blade root seals and into the slip stream; ending up on the windscreen, airframe...(sigh) the chunky paraffin is left behind.
Disgusting "pimple popper" pictures attached for reference.
edit: this is Aeroshell 6 after only 6 months of disuse. (airplane was down for paint...)
It is out of production right now. The plant literally blew up. They almost had a Force Majeure.
https://www.manufacturing.net/safet...prompts-evacuations-in-northern-illinois-town
Sooooo, that explains why Aeroshell grease of any type is on "Indefinite Backorder" from Aircraft Spruce! Huh, wish I'd known that while waiting for a tube from Spruce, and finally locating it on Amazon.
Care to elaborate Dan?
The mineral oil seeps out of it rather quickly. So, load a new tube in the gun, grease the prop, place it on the shelf. Come back in a few months to find an oil puddle, and solids the gun won't pump. Didn't take many annuals to get tired of that nonsense.
it
Sir,
With all due respect, this is very bad advice. Mowers? I have a few of questions:
How did you come to this conclusion that lubrication of a Harztell is not a good Idea?
Do you realize that is against the published recommendations of Hartzell the manufacturer of the propeller?
Have you read the owners manual?
Regards,
Joe
It is out of production right now. The plant literally blew up. They almost had a Force Majeure.
https://www.manufacturing.net/safet...prompts-evacuations-in-northern-illinois-town
******SNIP*****
I took that pic on my way to RFD that day to go work on my plane. It burned for days and there was a TFR over the fire as well. Nasty, big fire:
The mineral oil seeps out of it rather quickly. So, load a new tube in the gun, grease the prop, place it on the shelf. Come back in a few months to find an oil puddle, and solids the gun won't pump. Didn't take many annuals to get tired of that nonsense.
I've had better results with #6...and grease my tractors with it
The mineral oil seeps out of it rather quickly. So, load a new tube in the gun, grease the prop, place it on the shelf. Come back in a few months to find an oil puddle, and solids the gun won't pump. Didn't take many annuals to get tired of that nonsense.
I've had better results with #6...and grease my tractors with it
...I think Dan got confused --
All grease will separate under the force of a normal lever and Pistol type grease gun. Its the spring.
Why does something that only moves 1/8" with 1/2" bearing balls require regreasing every annual?
Correct. I would not use Aeroshell #5 on my mower let alone a certified aircraft. It is an old clay grease formulation that does not perform well.
I have a copy of the service manual that is only available to authorized shops and have torn down many of these props and put them back together for experimentals or disassembled them for transport. I also have a source for parts that are only available to authorized prop shops. I also can read. The last propeller I disassembled was November 2021.
I do many owner-assist annuals and condition inspections. I have on several occasions observed Hartzells start spitting grease after servicing them. The path of grease between the zerks WILL NOT flush all grease out. Packing the cavity where the grease resides simply can force separated oil past the teflons and blade oring.
Do you have your pirated tech data in an electronic format? Try "Ctrl" "F" and tell me any where it tells you to "flush" out grease of a blade retention bearing in a Hartzell compact propeller. There is a specific procedure set forth by Hartzell. I think you are wrong for even posting such rubbish to "flush" grease. Here is what happens when to try to "flush". You fill the hub up with grease. Then the prop leaks and you blame the design and the tech data? I tried to search "Purge" on your behalf and I posted what Hartzell says about that as well.
Have a nice evening.
+1. The shelf life is ridiculously small. I always wonder what the condition is of the grease in the prop.
I have a paper manual in an original 3-ring Hartzell binder that I purchased from Hartzell. Its a little strange for someone to accuse someone of using "pirated" tech data, not knowing anything about what data I have or my background.
Perhaps you should reread my statements which I said which agrees 100% with the manual about not being able to purge old grease thru the zerks. I really dont think you understood anything I said.
They were force to change the formulation of many products due to European REACH regulations in 2018. That is why they are not selling many Aeroshell products in Europe.I wonder if this is a contributing reason why Hartzell discontinued use of Aeroshell and switched to gynco? I had a heck of a time finding gynco when the switch first came out ($50/tube), but it seems available now.
Bob, do you have a recommendation? Thanks.
Yes, dont grease. Its pointless. There's no way to force old grease out without complete disassembly. There is so little movement that none of it really matters. I would be willing to bet a Hartzell would work just fine with zero grease.
I also change the grease every year in my gun so I am always using 'fresh' material.
I'm not so sure that suggesting folks NOT follow the advice of Hartzell is a prudent or responsible one. I'm pretty confident that the folks at Hartzell have a bit more experience in the service history of their products than anyone here on VAF.
No idea of how this particular AC was maintained. Cracked blade retention bearing (A-2022, about $450 each btw).
Joe, am I seeing the crack where marked?
The blue coloration on the other race is interesting. Is that temperature related?
BTW, thanks for the posts. Keep 'em coming!
.
Blue area is just staining. Common of both the race and balls to get stained like that. The inside of the prop doesn't get hot, if that is what you are asking?.
Maybe I should start a new thread? I have probably several hundred pics on my phone of various propeller defects.
The grease recommendations keep changing over the years, but I certainly wouldn't stop greasing them. We send out about 2-3 Hartzell C/S props every 2 month, and about half of them come back with condemned race bearings.
Vic
Looking like this may be difficult to do now that Aeroshell is out of production due to the fire.
Edir: fixed error. Also, factory props for the last few years come with some synthetic Nyco grease which is not to be mixed with AeroShell 5 or 6.ok, this is important!!!!
I spent most of the day doing research on propeller lubricants. HARTZELL and other suppliers cannot get Aeroshell #5 and #6, the only lubricants they authorize in most of their hubs, unless:1. The prop came from the factory with Aeroshell 22; or 2. The prop has been totally cleaned of aeroshell 5 or 6, and then aeroshell 22 can be used. Due to the fire at the plant where these lubricants were manufactured, they are out of stock everywhere!
So, I found that #5 is MIL SPEC G 23139; #6 IS MIL SPEC G 3545 SUPERCEEDED BY MILSPEC G 81322.
Cross reference for these Mil Specs is as follows:
Aeroshell #5 = Royco #45; GN 05; and Total Airgrease #5.
Aeroshell #6 = Nyco GN15; and Total Airgrease 5.
I'm going to roll the dice and go with Royco #45, as I do not need the excessive cold temperature protections that #6 offers, nor has as much separation. I suggested to Hartzell that they publish something for the aviation consumer to reference. PS Do not over lube! 1 to 1.5 ounces is sufficient every year or 400 hours. The newer hubs will not necessarily show any grease at the plug port. Refer to Hartzell SB on the subject.
DAR Gary
I think you have this backwards. #5 offers very cold wx protection. If you use #6 you must placard the prop, ‘not for use below -20(?? I forget the actual number, and if it’s C or F). Also, factory props for the last few years come with some synthetic Nyco grease which is not to be mixed with AeroShell 5 or 6.
Nope, cal pilot had it right. In 115N it wants a placard if #5 is used.
ok, this is important!!!!
I spent most of the day doing research on propeller lubricants. HARTZELL and other suppliers cannot get Aeroshell #5 and #6, the only lubricants they authorize in most of their hubs, unless:1. The prop came from the factory with Aeroshell 22; or 2. The prop has been totally cleaned of aeroshell 5 or 6, and then aeroshell 22 can be used. Due to the fire at the plant where these lubricants were manufactured, they are out of stock everywhere!
So, I found that #5 is MIL SPEC G 23139; #6 IS MIL SPEC G 3545 SUPERCEEDED BY MILSPEC G 81322.
Cross reference for these Mil Specs is as follows:
Aeroshell #5 = Royco #45; GN 05; and Total Airgrease #5.
Aeroshell #6 = Nyco GN15; and Total Airgrease 5.
I'm going to roll the dice and go with Royco #45, as I do not need the excessive cold temperature protections that #6 offers, nor has as much separation. I suggested to Hartzell that they publish something for the aviation consumer to reference. PS Do not over lube! 1 to 1.5 ounces is sufficient every year or 400 hours. The newer hubs will not necessarily show any grease at the plug port. Refer to Hartzell SB on the subject.
DAR Gary
ok, this is important!!!!
I spent most of the day doing research on propeller lubricants. HARTZELL and other suppliers cannot get Aeroshell #5 and #6, the only lubricants they authorize in most of their hubs, unless:1. The prop came from the factory with Aeroshell 22; or 2. The prop has been totally cleaned of aeroshell 5 or 6, and then aeroshell 22 can be used. Due to the fire at the plant where these lubricants were manufactured, they are out of stock everywhere!
So, I found that #5 is MIL SPEC G 23139; #6 IS MIL SPEC G 3545 SUPERCEEDED BY MILSPEC G 81322.
Cross reference for these Mil Specs is as follows:
Aeroshell #5 = Royco #45; GN 05; and Total Airgrease #5.
Aeroshell #6 = Nyco GN15; and Total Airgrease 5.
I'm going to roll the dice and go with Royco #45, as I do not need the excessive cold temperature protections that #6 offers, nor has as much separation. I suggested to Hartzell that they publish something for the aviation consumer to reference. PS Do not over lube! 1 to 1.5 ounces is sufficient every year or 400 hours. The newer hubs will not necessarily show any grease at the plug port. Refer to Hartzell SB on the subject.
DAR Gary
#6 IS MIL SPEC G 3545 SUPERCEEDED BY MILSPEC G 81322.
Cross reference for these Mil Specs is as follows:
...
Aeroshell #6 = Nyco GN15; and Total Airgrease 5.
Detailed Product Description
AeroShell Grease 6 is a general purpose airframe grease for use in antifriction bearings, gearboxes and plain bearings within the temperature range of –40C to +121C.
Specifications, Approvals & Recommendations
U.S. : Approved MIL-PRF-24139A, Meets MIL-G-7711A (Obsolete)
British: Approved DEF STAN 91-12
French: Equivalent DCSEA 382/A
NATO Code : G-382
Joint Service Designation : XG-271