Heads up: people are using the wrong kind of grease on Copal shutters

I've seen three different repair posts this month where someone used lithium grease instead of damping grease on the slow speed escapements. That stuff turns into glue after a year and you'll be stripping the whole shutter again. Has anyone else run into this mess?

2 comments

2 Comments

val2237d ago

Yeah, "turns into glue" is exactly what happened to me on a tricky Compur I fixed up. I had to soak the whole escapement in naphtha for two days to get that lithium gunk out. Nye oil on the pivots and damping grease on the teeth has been solid for years now, no issues.

skyler5167d ago

Oh man, I feel you on that lithium grease mess. It's like someone deliberately picked the worst possible lubricant just to make our lives harder down the road. I've had to soak a few old shutters in lighter fluid myself, and it always feels like a gamble whether the gunk will dissolve or just laugh at you. Your Nye oil combo sounds smart though, I've heard good things about that stuff holding up better than the vintage recipes. Glad yours came back to life and stayed that way.