Grease for cables/pulleys

[xuerebx]

Hey guys, a few months ago I bought a used cable machine and I used WD40 on the cables and on the two metal rods on the back as per the photos below. However it seems to dry off very quickly and I have to re-spray every week. What stuff do you guys use? Not the brand per se since I'm sure the products in my country are different, but the *type* e.g. silicone based oil etc




Thanks, much appreciated!

[gtl]

I bought an old Pyramid Fitness (cybex) lat pulldown machine from the late 80s/early 90s and had someone come out to replace the cable. I guess their business was to go to gyms and service equipment. I was told to lube the tubes with 3in1 oil. I'm not sure how much it helps or doesn't help, but I do it every now and then..

[mouse]

I don't own/maintain the stuff you're specifically asking about but I would think a little 3in1 would be fine...

I have a few bottles of this at work and it seems to do really well...

https://www.mcmaster.com/8710T21/

[mgil]

There’s also “garage door lubricant” which is formulated for a mechanism very similar to cable machines. Usually has a silicon or Teflon base.

[Hardartery]

I don't maintain any pulley setups, but white lithium grease works great on automotive stuff and tools.

[5hout]

This is some anal retentive nonsense, but WD 40 is more solvent than lubricant. It's why it dries and runs off so fast. Probably anything grease, oil or lube that you happen to have on hand would be better (heck lard would probably work better).

[murphyreedus]

I just use Rem Drilube or similar on dry lube my pulleys/guide rods. Works and lasts without the buildup that you can get with grease/oil.

[mouse]

(heck lard would probably work better).

Would make it taste better too

[James]

Use silicone spray for indoor pulleys and guide rods. It will lubricate but it's not sticky so it doesn't hold or attract dust.

You can get a can for like $6 at home depot.

You can lube up your truck window tracks when you're done with the pulldown.

[xuerebx]

Thanks all for your input, much appreciated! I'll try to look for a silicone based spray as it seems like my best bet.

This is some anal retentive nonsense, but WD 40 is more solvent than lubricant. It's why it dries and runs off so fast. Probably anything grease, oil or lube that you happen to have on hand would be better (heck lard would probably work better).

Yeah, makes sense (I'm not well versed in anything requiring manual labour).

[ccoyle]

This is some anal retentive nonsense, but WD 40 is more solvent than lubricant. It's why it dries and runs off so fast. Probably anything grease, oil or lube that you happen to have on hand would be better (heck lard would probably work better).

Correct. WD40 is not a lube. "Triflow Superior Lubricant" is an excellent spray-on product. Not messy
like a grease, dozens of uses, including pulleys and cables. Easy to find, cheap.

[Renascent]

@mgil, how often have you had to lubricate those BNYZWOT pulleys (if at all)?

[xuerebx]

FYI I've used a silicone based spray and it's worked essentially like grease (but much less messy!). Cheers guys!

[mgil]

mgil, how often have you had to lubricate those BNYZWOT pulleys (if at all)?

Nope! And they are still very quiet. The pressed in bronze bushing pulleys I had before were quite noisy.