Lubricating HP Deskjet Guide Rail

Martin

I've got 3 different deskjets which were all prelubricated with some white
stuff on the printcartridge track.

On the cheapest machine the lubrication is no longer evident and the printer
although working, now squeaks.

Is the white stuff that HP uses for lubrication available to the general
public at low cost ,or could I try a drop of light machine oil on the track
?

Thanks.

Martin

ato_zee@hotmail.com

> Is the white stuff that HP uses for lubrication available to the general
> public at low cost ,or could I try a drop of light machine oil on the
> track
> ?

I'd suspect that it might a spray-on dry PTFE lubricant, I have a can
from many years ago branded R S Components as a PTFE spray.
R S Components are still around with an on-line catalogue to search.
->IF<- it is PTFE spray, I'd tend to avoid machine oil as it might
form a gunge with the PTFE particles.
PTFE spray appears to be micron sized PTFE particles in an
evaporating carrier. Shake can well and spray from about 10 ins.

GMAN

In article <47670bdd$0$13933$.co.uk>, wrote:
>
>> Is the white stuff that HP uses for lubrication available to the general
>> public at low cost ,or could I try a drop of light machine oil on the
>> track
>> ?
>
>I'd suspect that it might a spray-on dry PTFE lubricant, I have a can
>from many years ago branded R S Components as a PTFE spray.
>R S Components are still around with an on-line catalogue to search.
>->IF<- it is PTFE spray, I'd tend to avoid machine oil as it might
>form a gunge with the PTFE particles.
>PTFE spray appears to be micron sized PTFE particles in an
>evaporating carrier. Shake can well and spray from about 10 ins.


Its White Lithium Grease.
Usefull for lubing rails and sliding parts in CD and DVD drives, VCR's, record
changers etc...

Its known under the names Lubriplate, Mollylube among others.It can be
differenct colors like black but it is usually white

This is where i buy mine


Look most the way down on the right side for the

GC Electronics White Lithium Lubricant Part Number 19-2302
$7.50 each


Its enough to last you quite a few years!!!!!



Just do a GOOGLE for "White Lithium Grease"

DO NOT buy the spray on stuff and do not use 3 in 1 oil like you would on
sewing machines and the like. Remember (If it slides, lube it, if it spins,
oil it.) It must be the white stuff , it has the consistency of butter.

You usually find it at places that sell electronics repair parts(NOT radio
shack!)


Oh my heck, looks like you can get it at your local ACE hardware store now!!!
.
html?ref=42

Barry Watzman

GMAN is correct, it's white lithium grease, and it's readily available.
Lubriplate is one of the top brands, but you can buy generic stuff at
any auto parts store and most hardware stores.

Now, that said, in some instances I'm becoming convinced that no
lubricant at all is the best lubricant. Some of these mechanisms use
fiberglass reinforced plastic sliding over chrome steel rails, and there
is near zero friction if everything is just clean ... the only reason
for using lubricant would be to reduce possible long-term wear. In
printers, where the speed of motion is fast, that may be necessary, but
in some other mechanisms (scanners, for one) the speed of motion is very
slow (far less than 1" per second) and it's not clear that lubricant
does much. The friction and drag are definitely higher with lithium
grease lubricant than without it, and that's when the lubricant is new.
After a few years, this stuff dries out and begins acting more like
glue than like lubricant.

Another lubricant to consider is a "dry Teflon" lubricant made by Dupont
and also sold under the "Finish Line" brand. This goes on as a liquid
that quickly (minutes) evaporates to a wax impregmented with Teflon
micro-particles. It works very well for lots of applications. You can
find this at most bicycle shops, it's widely used to lubricate bike
gear-changing mechanisms.

GMAN wrote:
> In article <47670bdd$0$13933$.co.uk>, wrote:
>>> Is the white stuff that HP uses for lubrication available to the general
>>> public at low cost ,or could I try a drop of light machine oil on the
>>> track
>>> ?
>> I'd suspect that it might a spray-on dry PTFE lubricant, I have a can
>>from many years ago branded R S Components as a PTFE spray.
>> R S Components are still around with an on-line catalogue to search.
>> ->IF<- it is PTFE spray, I'd tend to avoid machine oil as it might
>> form a gunge with the PTFE particles.
>> PTFE spray appears to be micron sized PTFE particles in an
>> evaporating carrier. Shake can well and spray from about 10 ins.
>
>
> Its White Lithium Grease.
> Usefull for lubing rails and sliding parts in CD and DVD drives, VCR's, record
> changers etc...
>
> Its known under the names Lubriplate, Mollylube among others.It can be
> differenct colors like black but it is usually white
>
> This is where i buy mine
>
>
> Look most the way down on the right side for the
>
> GC Electronics White Lithium Lubricant Part Number 19-2302
> $7.50 each
>
>
> Its enough to last you quite a few years!!!!!
>
>
>
> Just do a GOOGLE for "White Lithium Grease"
>
> DO NOT buy the spray on stuff and do not use 3 in 1 oil like you would on
> sewing machines and the like. Remember (If it slides, lube it, if it spins,
> oil it.) It must be the white stuff , it has the consistency of butter.
>
> You usually find it at places that sell electronics repair parts(NOT radio
> shack!)
>
>
> Oh my heck, looks like you can get it at your local ACE hardware store now!!!
> .
> html?ref=42