Topic: Points Lube

[The Gurg]

Seeing on other posts to oil the points cam. The points cam is the center shaft the points rest against right? I want to lube that rather than the points or both? Is Sil-Glyde Brake Lube ok? Says non-melting, temp and water resistant.

The felt gets oiled too, just a couple drops. I have 10w-40 and SAE 30, either one better?

[BenelliSEI]

The points cam is the outer part and it rotates on the centre shaft to create the mechanical advance. The cam portion actually gets rotated by the plate and weights as they move outward when accelerated. The shaft needs to be very clean and lubed to allow the rotation to happen freely. A few drops of thin oil works well.

[HondaMan]

For the points: the feet (where they rub against the points cam) need to be lubricated with grease, not oil. Oil will fly off at high RPM and can cause troubles, like fouling the points contacts! You can use a small amount of axle grease, or you can buy tiny packets of Points Cam Grease (Blue Streak makes it, still) or a whole tube of it (lifetime supply!) from many autoparts stores. Put a dab on the felt, too, to it will apply a little bit more as the points cam warms up. It both stores the thin lube there and lets it cool off in the felt for later reapplication, to keep some on the cam. Points Cam grease is a wax-based grease with a higher melting temperature than regular axle grease.

[my name is nobody]

For the points: the feet (where they rub against the points cam) need to be lubricated with grease, not oil. Oil will fly off at high RPM and can cause troubles, like fouling the points contacts! You can use a small amount of axle grease, or you can buy tiny packets of Points Cam Grease (Blue Streak makes it, still) or a whole tube of it (lifetime supply!) from many autoparts stores. Put a dab on the felt, too, to it will apply a little bit more as the points cam warms up. It both stores the thin lube there and lets it cool off in the felt for later reapplication, to keep some on the cam. Points Cam grease is a wax-based grease with a higher melting temperature than regular axle grease.

+1...I have a soft bag of dedicated bike tools for my bikes, and my tube of blue streak points lube is
in there with the tune up related stuff. I've been on the same tube since 1984, and have used only a fraction of it.

[The Gurg]

Ok, I appreciate you all confirming that the points cam is what I thought it was (the cylindrical part of the spark advancer assembly: 30220-300-005), but hadn’t thought about the correct lube for the spark advanced shaft (30231-300-010). I had used assembly lube on the shaft, but now understand it doesn’t have oil getting to it and needs grease.

If I get some Blue Streak points grease I assume I can use that on the spark advancer shaft too?

Sounds like the Disc Brake lube wouldn’t be best? Seen people use that to save a trip to the auto parts store. I also have a tub of Bel Ray waterproof grease. Says it’s an all purpose grease, but lists wheel bearings as a possible use. Would that work?

Assuming a couple drops on the felt, a really thin coating on the points cam, tiny drop on each point, and a thin but slightly thicker coating on the advancer shaft?

Searching around for Blue Streak and thinking it’s not being sold anymore. Lubricam seems like the current top brand? Should I get that? Any recommendations or links?

Auto parts store wants to sell me a couple dielectric grease packs, but I think that’s different than points grease right?

[HondaMan]

Ok, I appreciate you all confirming that the points cam is what I thought it was (the cylindrical part of the spark advancer assembly: 30220-300-005), but hadn’t thought about the correct lube for the spark advanced shaft (30231-300-010). I had used assembly lube on the shaft, but now understand it doesn’t have oil getting to it and needs grease.

If I get some Blue Streak points grease I assume I can use that on the spark advancer shaft too?

Sounds like the Disc Brake lube wouldn’t be best? Seen people use that to save a trip to the auto parts store. I also have a tub of Bel Ray waterproof grease. Says it’s an all purpose grease, but lists wheel bearings as a possible use. Would that work?

Assuming a couple drops on the felt, a really thin coating on the points cam, tiny drop on each point, and a thin but slightly thicker coating on the advancer shaft?

Searching around for Blue Streak and thinking it’s not being sold anymore. Lubricam seems like the current top brand? Should I get that? Any recommendations or links?

Auto parts store wants to sell me a couple dielectric grease packs, but I think that’s different than points grease right?

That's interesting: the Lubricam used to be the Blue Streak name (Blue Streak Lubricam Points Grease). I wonder if someone bought it from Blue Streak?

This wax-based grease has a higher melting point than does regular all-purpose grease. Wheel bearing grease comes in 2 major types: fibrous and non-fibrous types. The latter is used in most cars since about 2010 or so. The fibrous type is intended for front (non-driven) wheels with hand-packed wheel bearings.

You're right about the dielectric grease: that is not a lubricant at all. It is used for sealing sparkplug wires' boots on plugs and distributors, coils, and the like - it is good at keeping water vapor at bay. You must have gone to O'Reilly's asking for the points grease: they tried to sell me the same thing, after which all 3 of their counter people learned for the first time (from me) that it is NOT a lubricant. 

Disc Brake lubricant is a mixture of polymer and silicone greases. It is intended to stop grit from entering the surfaces where it is applied, and it sheds water into little beads to help things stay slippery and dry. It might work for that, but it will also fling off at high RPM. The points grease has "tack" to it and tends to stick to metal whether it is hot or cold (via electrostatic covalence, or 'stickyness').

[grcamna2]

I appreciate this thread, HondaMan,I just checked and it looks like Standard is the brand name marketing that "points cam grease" using the name "Lubricam" with "SL-2" as a size or part# for the tube of grease.
Do you think this is the same stuff as the Blue Streak recipe ?

[The Gurg]

Awesome, I’m betting lubricam is the same formulation. It’s made for points, so regardless, should be ok. Sounds like using the Bel Ray, brake pad lube or something else might not be right. Unless we get some more info, I’ll plan on ordering or picking up a tube of lubricam.

Ok to use on the spark advancer shaft too right?

And yeah it was O’Reillys lol.

[Don R]

 I went to Advance a few months ago and the commercial sales guy gave me a huge tube of points grease. A shop mechanic told him to find it a home. I wish I had a way to repackage it into a dozen or so smaller tubes.

[grcamna2]

Awesome, I’m betting lubricam is the same formulation. It’s made for points, so regardless, should be ok. Sounds like using the Bel Ray, brake pad lube or something else might not be right. Unless we get some more info, I’ll plan on ordering or picking up a tube of lubricam.

Ok to use on the spark advancer shaft too right?

And yeah it was O’Reillys lol.

I want to get some also.Will you be getting yours from O'Reilly's ?? I called my local O'Reilly's store,the person there on Sunday didn't know if they carry Standard brand "Lubricam".. I hope they do call me back Monday to confirm.

[The Gurg]

Ordered online from O’Reilly’s should get the lubricam tomorrow. Local store didn’t have any in stock.

[grcamna2]

Ordered online from O’Reilly’s should get the lubricam tomorrow. Local store didn’t have any in stock.

I just called O'Reilly's this morning:they told me the "Dielectric grease" thing.. 
I asked if the Lubricam was available,at first the man said "order it online" I asked can you get it? He checked his computer and said "Oh yeah,I'll have it for you today,come pick it up at Noon" I can do that: $6.99+ tax 

[grcamna2]

I went to O'Reilly's today and picked-up my tube of SL-2 Lubricam 
I actually prefer Car Quest so I went there to see if they can get this product,they told me they market the Borg Warner brand of points grease.This is one Car Quest who hasn't changed-over to Advance Auto in Woodland,CA. 

[The Gurg]

Never got a response on this question: the spark advancer shaft gets Lubricam too rather than assembly lube or wheel bearing grease, right?

[grcamna2]

Never got a response on this question: the spark advancer shaft gets Lubricam too rather than assembly lube or wheel bearing grease, right?

Yeah,I know:here we are left to guess.. I have put a heavier type molykote on one before,I just don't know.Lets hope the question gets answered because I would like to know myself.I am going to use this on both the advancer weight pivot shafts;but the main pivot shaft for the rotation of the advance unit?? I would like to know the best recommended stuff,the type of lube that will stay in suspension the longest in this application.

[Deltarider]

Why not use the ATE grease, used on brake parts?

[grcamna2]

Why not use the ATE grease, used on brake parts?

Made for high temperature? I imagine this product could be worth a look

[HondaMan]

I went to O'Reilly's today and picked-up my tube of SL-2 Lubricam 
I actually prefer Car Quest so I went there to see if they can get this product,they told me they market the Borg Warner brand of points grease.This is one Car Quest who hasn't changed-over to Advance Auto in Woodland,CA. 

Car Quest! They were terrific! They are all gone here. They kept my '60s and '70 cars all alive for me, have no idea how they found the parts I always needed. And points grease...

[The Gurg]

Got the Lubricam. Hopefully it’s ok on the spark advanced shaft!

[grcamna2]

I went to O'Reilly's today and picked-up my tube of SL-2 Lubricam 
I actually prefer Car Quest so I went there to see if they can get this product,they told me they market the Borg Warner brand of points grease.This is one Car Quest who hasn't changed-over to Advance Auto in Woodland,CA. 

Car Quest! They were terrific! They are all gone here. They kept my '60s and '70 cars all alive for me, have no idea how they found the parts I always needed. And points grease...

I very much prefer Car Quest over many others.
This one store in Woodland,California is die-hard,independent Car Quest:any time I can I'll go to them.
The rest are all sold to Advance, I guess.

[Sano]

Just a thought to consider, when I cleaned and assembled my replacement advance mechanism with shortened advancer springs I used some points cam grease that I have had for years between the points shaft and the points cam lobe.  It was graphite based hi- temp grease and quite thick and sticky.  Even though I used a very thin coating it was enough to slow down the rotation of the advancer and muck up the advance curve. Once I realized what was going on I shot a very small blast of aerosol spray lube in there to loosen it up a bit and then it revved out properly.

[The Gurg]

Sano-
Appreciate the insight. BennelliSEI said to use a couple of drops of thin oil and make sure it’s all really clean. After reading about your (Sano) experience, I think I’m going to follow that advice on the spark advancer shaft. Use just a thin coat of motor oil on the shaft and use the points grease on the cam, felt, and points.