Silicone Grease

gvganser · 03-08-2013, 02:17 PM

Ok. I'm feeling like this is falling under the "stupid question" category... Well. Just shy of it anyway. At least it is asked.

I am rebuilding my carbs and it is the first time in the bikes 112,000 miles that this has been done... And I want to do it right. And I don't somebody to be all like "Well what on earth did you do that for?"

So I ask you. What is Silicone Grease? I keep seeing people recommending Silicone Grease for the o-rings when you put them on... Just a little bit but more liberally for the butterfly o-rings.

The only thing at the auto stores was a spray can from the maker of WD-40 and dielectric grease seems to be made of silicone... But is that what people are talking about?

Signed,
Idiot Out Wundering

100RT · 03-08-2013, 02:27 PM

NAPA auto parts carries Sil-Glyde® under part # 765-1351. Comes in a tube like tooth paste buts tastes a lot worse.

chollo9 · 03-08-2013, 02:45 PM

Not a stupid question. However, you don't need it for your carb o-rings. Anything slippery will do--silicone spray, some light oil, even spit would work. Thousands and thousands have also been installed dry. Often, just because there is some theoretical best way, that doesn't mean it's necessary.

photorider · 03-08-2013, 03:33 PM

FWIW it is usually available in the plumbing section of your local hardware store.

Plaka · 03-09-2013, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvganser

Ok. I'm feeling like this is falling under the "stupid question" category... Well. Just shy of it anyway. At least it is asked.

I am rebuilding my carbs and it is the first time in the bikes 112,000 miles that this has been done... And I want to do it right. And I don't somebody to be all like "Well what on earth did you do that for?"

So I ask you. What is Silicone Grease? I keep seeing people recommending Silicone Grease for the o-rings when you put them on... Just a little bit but more liberally for the butterfly o-rings.

The only thing at the auto stores was a spray can from the maker of WD-40 and dielectric grease seems to be made of silicone... But is that what people are talking about?

Signed,
Idiot Out Wundering

Yes, silicone dielectric grease. You want it for your spark plug boots too.

brittrunyon · 03-09-2013, 03:56 AM

Silicone grease is a waterproof grease made by combining a silicone oil with a thickener. Most commonly, the silicone oil is polydimethylsiloxane and the thickener is amorphous fumed silica. Using this formulation, silicone grease is a translucent white viscous paste, with exact properties dependent on the type and proportion of the components..

Silicone grease is commonly used for lubricating and preserving rubber parts, such as O-rings. Additionally, silicone grease does not swell or soften the rubber, which can be a problem with hydrocarbon based greases.

I use it on the carb o-rings & all electrical connections.
Not sure where you;ll find it in your part of the planet.

Hope this helps.

craydds · 03-09-2013, 04:04 AM

I bought something like this from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/3M-Silicone-Pa...silicone+paste

I use it for many purposes. Works great to slick back my hair before a hot date.

craydds · 03-09-2013, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chollo9

However, you don't need it for your carb o-rings. Anything slippery will do...

I do not use silicone grease on carb parts - I prefer a dab of mineral grease or oil.

disston · 03-09-2013, 04:36 AM

I hear Silicone grease works but I think something or anything that costs $40 a pound is too much for this application. I use wheel bearing grease. I am only putting a dab of grease on the O-rings so they install with out tearing.

fallingoff · 03-09-2013, 04:42 AM

windscreen sealant is good

as it does not absorb water

as a lot of sealants do

cheers

Stan_R80/7 · 03-09-2013, 04:59 AM

Lowes sells silicone grease: http://www.lowes.com/pd_53861-1366-88693_

Sometimes I substitute superlube or white lithium grease for o-rings.

rufusswan · 03-09-2013, 05:33 AM

Petroleum Jelly. 10,000 uses around the house or shop.

Twinz · 03-09-2013, 06:17 AM

Silicone grease is available at dive shops for lubricating and waterproofing o-rings

kantuckid · 03-09-2013, 07:26 AM

FWIW, I'm still using the same Dow tube of silicone greas that I swiped from my employer in 1970's.

mark1305 · 03-09-2013, 07:46 AM

Silicone greases are not all the same. For example greases for pump parts, seals, etc are often stickier than dialectric greases to stick to applications that get wet. Dialectric silicone greases are non-conductive, slippery like vaseline, and designed to lubricate and moisture proof electrical connectors.

Dialectric greases do work to lubricate rubber parts, though.

I keep a jar of old vaseline in the shop for o-rings and stuff. I also keep a bottle of commercial tire lube for things like carb boots where I want it slippery for assembly, but to dry out out and stay put.

03-08-2013, 02:17 PM	#1
gvganser ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland Oddometer: 44	Silicone Grease Ok. I'm feeling like this is falling under the "stupid question" category... Well. Just shy of it anyway. At least it is asked. I am rebuilding my carbs and it is the first time in the bikes 112,000 miles that this has been done... And I want to do it right. And I don't somebody to be all like "Well what on earth did you do that for?" So I ask you. What is Silicone Grease? I keep seeing people recommending Silicone Grease for the o-rings when you put them on... Just a little bit but more liberally for the butterfly o-rings. The only thing at the auto stores was a spray can from the maker of WD-40 and dielectric grease seems to be made of silicone... But is that what people are talking about? Signed, Idiot Out Wundering

03-08-2013, 02:45 PM	#3
chollo9 Screwed the Pooch Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Silk Hope, NC Oddometer: 492	Not a stupid question. However, you don't need it for your carb o-rings. Anything slippery will do--silicone spray, some light oil, even spit would work. Thousands and thousands have also been installed dry. Often, just because there is some theoretical best way, that doesn't mean it's necessary. __________________ If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough When you get knocked down you gotta get back up, I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer but I know enough, to know, If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough

03-09-2013, 03:56 AM	#6
brittrunyon R 100 GS & R 100/T Joined: Oct 2010 Location: The High Desert of New Mexico Oddometer: 351	Silicone grease is a waterproof grease made by combining a silicone oil with a thickener. Most commonly, the silicone oil is polydimethylsiloxane and the thickener is amorphous fumed silica. Using this formulation, silicone grease is a translucent white viscous paste, with exact properties dependent on the type and proportion of the components.. Silicone grease is commonly used for lubricating and preserving rubber parts, such as O-rings. Additionally, silicone grease does not swell or soften the rubber, which can be a problem with hydrocarbon based greases. I use it on the carb o-rings & all electrical connections. Not sure where you;ll find it in your part of the planet. Hope this helps. __________________ 1992 R 100 GS (ZED) 1981 R 100/t (The Naked Lady) My Motorcycle Videos & More @ http://vimeo.com/user2721333 No Rules Photography @ http://brittrunyon.com/

03-09-2013, 04:04 AM	#7
craydds Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Las Cruces, NM Oddometer: 993	greasy silicone I bought something like this from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/3M-Silicone-Pa...silicone+paste I use it for many purposes. Works great to slick back my hair before a hot date. __________________ Ray ABC #12947 '75 R90S

03-09-2013, 04:36 AM	#9
disston ShadeTreeExpert Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Silver Spring, Md Oddometer: 4,980	I hear Silicone grease works but I think something or anything that costs $40 a pound is too much for this application. I use wheel bearing grease. I am only putting a dab of grease on the O-rings so they install with out tearing. __________________ Never memorize something you can look up. ---Albert Einstein

03-08-2013, 02:27 PM	#2
100RT Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2009 Location: N. E. OHIO Oddometer: 269	NAPA auto parts carries Sil-Glyde® under part # 765-1351. Comes in a tube like tooth paste buts tastes a lot worse.

03-08-2013, 03:33 PM	#4
photorider Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Chicago and Guatemala Oddometer: 113	FWIW it is usually available in the plumbing section of your local hardware store.

03-09-2013, 04:42 AM	#10
fallingoff Studly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: syd oz Oddometer: 914	windscreen sealant is good as it does not absorb water as a lot of sealants do cheers

03-09-2013, 04:59 AM	#11
Stan_R80/7 Beastly Gnarly Joined: May 2012 Location: VA Oddometer: 280	Lowes sells silicone grease: http://www.lowes.com/pd_53861-1366-88693_ Sometimes I substitute superlube or white lithium grease for o-rings.

03-09-2013, 05:33 AM	#12
rufusswan Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Branson MO Oddometer: 900	Petroleum Jelly. 10,000 uses around the house or shop. __________________ 1971 BMW R75/5 Toaster LWB 2002 Baja Chetak http://zenhuckfinn.wordpress.com/

03-09-2013, 06:17 AM	#13
Twinz Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2005 Location: VT Oddometer: 454	Silicone grease is available at dive shops for lubricating and waterproofing o-rings __________________ Twinz, Montpelier, VT 04 aprilia Futura, Ash Black 94 R1100RS...Sadly sold 73 Guzzi V7 Sport...Sadly sold 80 Guzzi V50 II...when all else fails

03-09-2013, 07:26 AM	#14
kantuckid Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Kentucky-Eastern that is! Oddometer: 1,654	FWIW, I'm still using the same Dow tube of silicone greas that I swiped from my employer in 1970's. __________________ "If I had my life to live over,I'd dare to make more mistakes next time...I'd relax,I'd limber up.I'd be sillier than this trip, take fewer things seriously, I would take more chances... take more trips...climb more mountains...swim more rivers...eat more ice cream." Jorge Luis Borges, at age 85

03-09-2013, 07:46 AM	#15
mark1305 Old Enough To Know Better Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Merritt Island, FL Oddometer: 5,515	Silicone greases are not all the same. For example greases for pump parts, seals, etc are often stickier than dialectric greases to stick to applications that get wet. Dialectric silicone greases are non-conductive, slippery like vaseline, and designed to lubricate and moisture proof electrical connectors. Dialectric greases do work to lubricate rubber parts, though. I keep a jar of old vaseline in the shop for o-rings and stuff. I also keep a bottle of commercial tire lube for things like carb boots where I want it slippery for assembly, but to dry out out and stay put. __________________ Mark J Merritt Island, FL When a person asks you for advice, they don't want advice. They want corroboration.

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