Best lubricant for squeaky wheelbarrow wheel axle

[tired]

I was about to buy a new wheelbarrow when an older neighbor offered to let me have his if I could fix it up. It had been left outside for years. The tire was flat, and the tube had a split in it. I took it apart, got that all fixed up, and put it back together, only to find that it is excruciatingly loud when rolling it. I guess it's technically a bushing, or rather just a bare rod on the end of the axle that rests in a simple metal cup on each side. (So maybe it's lacking a bushing then?)

Representative photo:

This seems like something normies would use WD-40 for, and that seems like the wrong answer.

What say you guys? WD-40 Silicone spray (not regular WD-40--I use it to lubricate the car windows)? I use Valvoline Palladium moly NLGI grease for my driveshaft on the truck. That seems like it would be a dirt magnet in an obviously dirty environment. I could take it back apart and squirt some grease in the rests. There's obviously no zerk or any way to keep dirt out.

I just want the best option that will require the least maintenance. Maybe spraying some of the silicone spray in there without having to take it apart is the best optin. This is obviously a pretty decrepit wheelbarrow that has one bolt rusted through the tray so it's a real treat to turn. But it works for hauling the lady's potting soil and geraniums around the yard, so it's doing all that's required of it. Keeps me from carrying them around. I just want to not need to wear ear muffs all time I'm moving it. Seriously, dogs started barking any time I rolled it.

 

[oldhp]

How thick is the metal that holds the axle? If thick enough drill and tap it for a grease fitting. Done.

 

[shurguywutt]

Just squirt some used motor oil in there. I guess you could use fresh if you want to be all fancy. DONE!

 

[tired]

How thick is the metal that holds the axle? If thick enough drill and tap it for a grease fitting. Done.

It's a simple bracket. Like not that much more substantial than a shelving bracket. It's like bent sheet metal. I can take it off completely. It just holds the axle and connects the wheel to the wood frame.

 

[ripcord]

What y'all needs is some axle grease. Back in the day we used coal tar, but bear grease worked in a pinch....

All kidding aside, just pull the wheel off and use whatever grease you've got on the axle shaft. If you really want it to stay put, some calcium sulphanate based grease resists washing out better than most types of grease. Bentonite clay based grease is supposed to be the best at staying put but I've never seen it for sale anywhere.

 

[Lubener]

Simple wheel bearing grease. No need for something special. It will last for many years.

 

[facility1]

get some spray grease in a aerosol can at some farm type storeand work a little in the more than likely sloppy ball bearing, it will work for some time. or put a needle fitting injector on your grease gun tip (usually used in sealed automotive boots etc) and try to get some multi grease in it.

 

[burbguy82]

My vote is for grease, like the typical stuff used in excavators and ball joints, etc.

Of course you will have to remvove each bracket to apply it, but will probably last longer than a liquid oil. On the other hand, motor oil is thicker than WD40 or the like, and no removal of the wheel is needed.

Life is tough, with tough decisions.

 

[Revving2Redline]

Looks like a job for Liquimoly Mos2 or better yet Lucas Stabilizer. Kidding aside, I would use a grease.

 

[Danno]

The brackets hold the axle, no movement there. The solid axle is in a sleeve in the wheel, that needs the lube. I remove the wheel, tap out the axle, smooth it with some sand paper, clean it up, then use some new motor oil, or super grease, just on the axle inside the wheel sleeve and the wheel sleeve. Only the rotating surfaces. Not the whole axle. Should do the trick.

 

[billt460]

The first thing oily you grab on the shelf will work just fine. You're trying to stop a squeak. Not push a V-8 to 400,000 miles.

 

[CharBaby]

If you just want to quiet down the noise temporarily, spray in any lube(oil, WD, PB etc.) that you have lying around and move on.
If you want to quiet them down more permanently, remove the wheel/tire & shaft(both sides) from the wheelbarrow handles. Just unbolt them and lightly sand or wire brush the shaft and put on any heavy grease if you have any sittin'round. It doesn't matter what kind. Brake lube, bearing grease, anything from a grease gun. Anything!
Heck, I've reached underneath a car suspension and grabbed two finger full of grease off of an old car back in the day.

 

[dippschtick]

What y'all needs is some axle grease. Back in the day we used coal tar, but bear grease worked in a pinch....

All kidding aside, just pull the wheel off and use whatever grease you've got on the axle shaft. If you really want it to stay put, some calcium sulphanate based grease resists washing out better than most types of grease. Bentonite clay based grease is supposed to be the best at staying put but I've never seen it for sale anywhere.

Yup. Get some of that Amsoil Truck and Chassis grease. Then take that free Amsoil sticker you get and slap it on the side of that wheelbarrow. Let the whole world know you mean business!

 

[D1dad]

Schaeffers penetro. I unclogged an airless paint sprayer with it yesterday that had been sitting in the shed for 5yrs. I was so impressed I came in and used it on a dresser drawer in the spare room that took a 900 lb gorilla to open and close and now the wife can actually open it. That’s all the proof I have that it works as it’s the only time I’ve ever used it.

 

[1444buicking]

We tried sticky chain saw oil as that was what we had on hand. I suppose heavy bearing grease would last longer.

 

[tired]

The first thing oily you grab on the shelf will work just fine. You're trying to stop a squeak. Not push a V-8 to 400,000 miles.

Yeah I wasn't worried about making it last forever or anything. I just didn't want to go to the trouble to take the thing apart and add in the NLGI grease I have to only learn later that this is the last thing you want to do. I'll probably just take it apart and add the grease. Save some time and trouble in the future.

 

[bchannell]

anything from vasoline to valvoline

 

[Fsharp]

There should be bearings in the wheel itself. If the axle is turning in the bracket and squeaking something is seized up.

 

[tired]

There should be bearings in the wheel itself. If the axle is turning in the bracket and squeaking something is seized up.

It's pretty basic. It's just the bare axle resting in the bracket. I had to take it all apart to get the wheel fixed. I think I'm just going to put some moly NLGI grease in there because that's what I have a lot of.

 

[tired]

Just wanted to update people. Appreciate all the responses. I took it apart again and greased the axle and the little bracket with the Valvoline moly NLGI grease. It worked great. Instantly silent. We'll see how long it lasts. I needed an excuse to prime my new grease gun so I can re-grease my drive shaft.

End result.

Also, I cannot recommend Lock n Lube grease guns highly enough. I got the one with the built in coupler. Easiest grease gun I've ever primed. LockNLube grease gun - very high quality.