What's a good grease for crank bearings?

[Waternut]

Well I went ahead and started to replace my crank seals tonight. I must say it was a lot easier than I really expected and my trailer doubles nicely as a bench for the engine. The whole crank looks really clean but the bearings have almost no grease in them anymore. Here's what I found... The grease left over in those seals was so thin that I can scoop it up on my finger and it'll drip off.

So my question is... What is a good waterproof grease so I don't see that happen again and eventually destroy my crank?

If you viewed earlier...sorry for the huge files.

 

[SuperJETT]

The premix oil lubes the bearings, no grease needed.

On the rear seals, pack a little grease in between them to help lube the seal lips, and that's it.

 

[sflsurfrider]

i usually pack the void between the 2 rear seals full of grease. :dunno:

 

[Midlake Crisis]

If this is your first time (like it was mine over the past month or so) be careful of the position of the seals when you replace them. It was tricky even with the manual.

 

[Superjet3]

i usually pack the void between the 2 rear seals full of grease. :dunno:

I like to leave some air space to prevent the seal from poping out if the grease expands.

 

[The Penguin]

how much space?

or maybe easier to ask - how much grease should be put in there?

 

[Waternut]

The premix oil lubes the bearings, no grease needed.

On the rear seals, pack a little grease in between them to help lube the seal lips, and that's it.

Thanks guys. I read about the confusion on which way the seals went so I kept all the seals together just as they came out. I'll goop a bit in between the two rear seals.

I love how easy 2 strokes are to work on. Just hate how much I have to actually work on them.

 

[750SX]

I didn't put any in the space. I just greased the lips of the seals.

 

[Freakrider]

talked to a engine builder tonight...he said only fill with grease the concave area of the seals that slides on the crank...then the rest of seal go on dry.

 

[Waternut]

talked to a engine builder tonight...he said only fill with grease the concave area of the seals that slides on the crank...then the rest of seal go on dry.

hmmm...maybe I should do a little extra research on this before completing assembly. I just sprayed the parts with WD-40 so they don't start rusting before tommorrow evening.

 

[sflsurfrider]

talked to a engine builder tonight...he said only fill with grease the concave area of the seals that slides on the crank...then the rest of seal go on dry.

im not sure why youd want to leave it dry. grease could only help.

 

[hangtime]

I would think you wouldn't need grease except to slide it in place ,it's going to be gone after it starts up anyways and you get your lube from your premix :dunno:

 

[Scorn800]

I use a nice thumb full of kawasaki water proof grease(same little tub for last 10yrs) in between the seals and light coat on edges

 

[Freakrider]

hmmm...maybe I should do a little extra research on this before completing assembly. I just sprayed the parts with WD-40 so they don't start rusting before tommorrow evening.

I been told WD-40 (petroleum base) slowly eats rubber...and anyone that sprays the engine compartment down with it... would be better to use silicon. I would not spray crank seals with WD-40.

 

[Waternut]

I been told WD-40 (petroleum base) slowly eats rubber...and anyone that sprays the engine compartment down with it... would be better to use silicon. I would not spray crank seals with WD-40.

Well I haven't installed the seals yet, just sprayed the crankshaft and exposed parts. I live in the south so I don't even winterize my ski but why do so many people say to spray WD-40 in the engine before winterizing it then? I would think if it ate away at rubber then everyone doing this would be rebuilding their motor in the spring.

 

[Big Kahuna]

because when you coat the motor, you really are not getting it on the seals. But you are protecting the engine from condensation.

 

[vitaly]

The bama boys use KY.