Lubing the tag-along

[JHZR2]

In the interest of finding more noises on my trek Verve town bike… since I fixed the bottom bracket click, now I’m noticing a lot more squealing of the tag along. I think it’s the metal to metal interface, but could also be the seat post interface. I do have two spacers to make it fit.

What’s the best lube for this? Keep in mind that sometimes it’s not attached, and I don’t want a huge dark mess.

 

[MRC01]

It's a squeal not a creak or click?
It happens only when the tagalong / halfbike is connected?

 

[drtyler]

rubber washer to separate the metal-metal contact

 

[MRC01]

rubber washer to separate the metal-metal contact

Thin felt washers also work well in applications like this. I've used them in suspension pivots, durable and effective.

 

[JHZR2]

It's a squeal not a creak or click?
It happens only when the tagalong / halfbike is connected?

Yeah, a squeak type noise. Remove the tagalong and it stops. I can replicate it with small bike movements with nobody on either. It’s just metal to metal and two sleeves.

Just want a clean/clear option. Silicone would be a first thought but I don’t believe it’s good for metal to metal. I have super lube. That’s clear, but doesn’t seem to last that long…

rubber washer to separate the metal-metal contact

There’s no space for that. The male and female parts are practically an interference fit.

 

[MRC01]

Yeah, a squeak type noise. Remove the tagalong and it stops. I can replicate it with small bike movements with nobody on either. It’s just metal to metal and two sleeves.

Just want a clean/clear option. ...

Clean/clear will be difficult. The first thing that comes to mind is a grease with a tackifier agent to keep it in place, like Schaeffer's 221. Remove the sleeves, ensure they are clean & smooth (steel wool if necessary), thinly grease the mating surfaces, then reassemble.

 

[JHZR2]

Clean/clear will be difficult. The first thing that comes to mind is a grease with a tackifier agent to keep it in place, like Schaeffer's 221. Remove the sleeves, ensure they are clean & smooth (steel wool if necessary), thinly grease the mating surfaces, then reassemble.

So the sleeves are as follows:

Seat post to metal sleeve
Metal sleeve to plastic sleeve
Plastic sleeve to metal clamp post that the unit attaches to.

Then we have the metal male-female connection that the structure of the bike connects with.

So mixed materials. It not sure that the sleeves on the seat post are supposed to slide, at least the metal to metal ones, so something good for plastic to metal (silicone?) may be all I need for the seat post, then something more robust on the actual metal connection.