Robin4 wrote on 2021-08-19, 22:45:

Hi all

What is recommended to grease the sliding rails of the head of a floppy drive?

Lithium grease should work fine. Do not apply too much, though.

Silicone lubricant

maxtherabbit wrote on 2021-08-20, 14:04:

Silicone lubricant

QFT.

Make sure it's low viscosity though, ordinary dielectric grease is too thick. You can thin out silicone grease by diluting it with 30 weight silicone oil. Keep adding it and stirring until you're satisfied with the consistency. Also, don't use silicone grease with PTFE in it.

I've resurrected two Panasonic 5.25" drives already with this method (JU-455 and JU-475).

What's the problem with PTFE? I have used silicone with PTFE on lots of floppy drive rails and it works perfectly.

tri flow is also good?

I use white light weight lithium grease applied with a tooth pick to rails, worm gears, etc. Also: I use a cotton swab with IPA to loosen/clean up the old grease before applying new.

Robin4 wrote on 2021-08-20, 22:39:

tri flow is also good? […]
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tri flow is also good?

No. Just buy a tube of Permatex dielectric grease for 10 bucks and use that.

Does grease for slot cars also work?

Any good lubricant will do.
PTFE, silicone, lithium grease, sewing machine oil...

Just don't use stuff it's not intended for long lasting "drying" stuff like 10w30 gearbox oil. Don't even think of using the infamous WD40, which will actually attract humid after a few months (as it degrades). Even butter would do better.

waterbeesje wrote on 2021-08-22, 21:33:

Even butter would do better.

This is an interesting thought.

IF butter was your only possible source of grease, you'd want to use clarified butter, i.e. the pure fat without the protein and water etc in it... though I think I'd go for the vaseline in the bathroom cabinet first.

NO ! Agree with most everything waterbeesje said. BUT not butter !
Yes Vasoline aka Petroleum Jelly yes but not butter, ever. Butter no matter what will turn rancid very quickly making a worse mess than first started...
You guys are silly talking butter 😁