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Topic: 2 greases, 1 projector

Michael Rourke
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 159
From: San Luis Obispo, Central Coast of CA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 02-25-2004 12:03 AM

I haven't been able to find a grease that holds up to the punishment inflicted on the main drive gear on my Century MSC's (besides Genuine Century Gear Grease/Rheolube before they changed it). I have tried Mobil One Synthetic, that white stuff that Wolk sells Tu-235, and now Superlube and they all melt, dry up, or shy away from the main drive gear.

I was thinking, the draw back of using Moly grease on your Century's is because it's so hard to get off because of it's plating properties...but wouldn't that be ideal for the main drive gear? Also, it has the highest dropping point of the greases I listed, another plus for using around the point of most friction. The main drive is covered by that oil baffle so the greases shouldn't cross contaminate each other.

Anyone here not too impressed with Moly grease and wouldn't recommend it? Thanks

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-25-2004 10:08 AM

Black molly greese is all I ever use on Century

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-26-2004 07:25 PM

Hey Gord set me up for this one and he knows it!

If your drive gears are heating up that much there may be other problems with the equipment, it is obviously running way too hot. Perhaps water cooling it would be in order..... What size lamp is behind this machine?

I'll dredge this one back up because if you use that black crap on your projector and you ever need to change a gear you'll feel like you were just dredged up from the bottom of the local sewage plant. Your hands will also smell the same way.

Anyone that uses any grease that is fat based or has any other junk base such as Black Moly does is asking for a big smelly mess which will be difficult to clean up when the moly greases base starts to dry up. I am not aware of any moly grease that is synthetic based that will not eventually dry up.

There are Centurys locally that have been running for years here in SLC, both direct drive, and standard drive that rarely blow main drive gears out..... perhaps once every 5 to 7 years. These machines have always been lubed with either the original Century Gear Grease, or Superlube.

The key is frequent lubrication, the correct amount, and cleanliness.

Another thing to keep in mind is that direct drive Centurys are the weaker of the two main drives as the drive gears have much finer pitch teeth than does the standard drive projector. Standard drive gears will last considerably longer than the direct drive main gear even if both are given exactly the same lubrication intervals.

Mark @ CLACO

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 02-26-2004 07:27 PM

quote:
Black molly greese is all I ever use

Greese is the word!

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