On the advice of several people here, I bought a BAL leveler shortly after I bought my pop-up last year. As usual, it was excellent advice! But now I have a question: I've used the Leveler on about eight or nine trips now--in both wet and dusty conditions. It seems to still be well-lubricated, but I'm assuming that at some point, it's going to need more grease (especially since we always seem to get some on our hands, no matter how careful we are! :p ) If this was motor oil, I could figure out what to use, but I don't know much about grease. What's the right kind to use? Should new grease be added on any particular schedule, or just when it seems like it needs it?
Thanks!
I would be willing to be that some type of white lithium grease or just about any kind of lubricant that would stick to it would be fine. Look for something in a toothpaste-type tube or something like that in automotive stores/sections.
Larry
If you use, Reese Hitch Ball grease, you all ready have a jar of some pretty good stuff. It'll work too. Since you don't crank at a high enough RPM to create heat, anything to prevent rust, is all you're after.
Thanks, guys! I didn't know if it had to be something special or if "anything greasy" would work. I also wondered about the hitch ball grease because I do keep a jar of that handy!
This ain't a high-speed babbit bearing we're dealing with here. Any kind of lubrication will do. In fact, the *gooier* (is that a word?) the lube, the more dirt/grit it will atract/catch and allow to grind at the threads. Silicone spray will provide enough lubrication to get the job done, and be less messy on the hands as well. About the only maintainence the threaded rod should need is a good cleaning, as needed, to remove any grit from the threads.
I didn't know, :( but I assumed that the hitch lube would do and I used it. I am glad to here it is OK to use. :)