Old timer at the hangar told me to stop using WD-40 on actuator linkages

Guy named Hal who's been doing this since the 70s saw me spraying it on a Cessna 172 flap actuator. He said that stuff just attracts dirt and dries out the seals. Told me to use LPS-1 instead. I thought he was just being old school. Fast forward 6 months and I had to replace two actuators that were binding up. There was this gummy residue all over them. Switched to the LPS stuff and no issues since. Anybody else get burned by using the wrong lube?

3 comments

3 Comments

spencer1991mo ago

Wait, is LPS really that much better than WD-40 for this?

skylerg171mo ago

Oh man, WD-40 on actuator linkages is a classic mistake that I totally made too. I thought I was being clever and keeping things moving, but I ended up with a flap that was basically cemented in place after a few months. Now I'm the guy at the hangar telling people to use Tri-Flow or a dry lube instead, which is pretty funny since I'm definitely not an old timer yet. At least the only thing I blew up was a lawnmower carburetor once by using the wrong stuff, not a plane part. Lesson learned the hard way, same as you.

richard_shah1mo ago

Yeah but hold on, @spencer199, LPS is way different than WD-40 for this kind of stuff. WD-40 is more of a solvent and water displacer, it doesn't really stay put as a lube. LPS has that film that actually hangs around and protects the metal, especially in a dusty hangar environment. I've used both and LPS just works better on control surfaces and linkages where you need it to last a few months, not a few weeks. Trust me, I've ruined enough stuff with WD-40 to know the difference now.