Gimbal bearing / engine coupler grease

[gmctodd]

I have three choices for grease readily available at my work, all Castrol grease

Pyroplex Blue NLGI #1 lithium complex
Pyroplex Gold NLGI #2 semi-synthetic aluminum complex
Pyroplex Protection ES NLGI #1 synthetic Lithium Complex

My boat only has a zerk on the coupler and the the gimbal. the U-joints are sealed and the trailer has oil bath hubs. I read in one post where the Pyroplex Blue was about the same stuff as the Mercury engine coupler grease.

Would one of these be a good choice for all?
Would it also work on my truck suspension components?

Thanks,

 

[bluestream]

I would use this on the coupler: Pyroplex Blue NLGI #1 lithium complex.

Any wheel bearing grease for gimbal.

And yes, it will work on the suspension.

 

[gmctodd]

So based on my little knowledge of grease, the pyroplex Blue would be good for everything. It carries a GC-LB rating too. Is my thinking correct?

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: gmctodd
So based on my little knowledge of grease, the pyroplex Blue would be good for everything. It carries a GC-LB rating too. Is my thinking correct?


Yes, I guess so. For some reason Merc does not recommend the "spline" grease for gimbal bearings. Maybe its good but not quite as good; It should work though.

Merc used to recommend 2-4-C grease for gimbals back in the day. Any grease is better than no grease at all...

 

[edwardh1]

maybe spline grease is too sticky and thick?

 

[Mkos1980]

I personally run the Merc brand Spline Grease. Its VERY sticky and thick.. Almost like tar. Blue in color. Nothing like the M1 grease I use on my gimbal and trailer bearings. The M1 is like water compared to the Merc Spline Grease.

 

[1 FMF]

using a #1 grease especially in the summertime for the gimbal bearing will probably cause a lot of the oil to separate out and you'll need to regrease the gimbal to prevent it from running dry.

the purpose of the spline grease is to be applied on the driveshaft splines to prevent rust and the driveshaft from rusting to the coupler and gimbal bearing. it is not meant to lubricate a bearing, so don't use it for the gimbal bearing or any type of bearing application. it's too thick and the oil will not separate out well enough to lubricate.
if you plan on installing the drive and not removing it for 5+ years then it would be a good idea to use the spline grease because it'll last and not washout as easily, but if you keep up on maintenance and remove the drive every so often then any grease would suffice for spline grease.

for the gimbal bearing, any bearing rated grease will work, preferably #2 grease. aluminum complex has about the best water resistance and wash out of any type of grease soap, so i would use that gold #2 aluminum complex grease if you wanted to use one grease for everything. It would be a good idea to pump out most of the grease with the new al. complex in the gimbal bearing so there is no soap incompatibility, if you used lithium complex previously that's compatible with pretty much everything but if previous grease was a calcium base such as pennzoil or lubriplate marine grease then those have borderline compatibility with aluminum complex.