Head lube...

[Lance Jones]

Just curious, anyone use something other than the commercially tagged "Head Lube"? I've heard that Lanolin is good. Any others?

[Ron Hill]

Lance : You bring up a good question??
 
I'd guess that "head lube" must be biodegradeable, but that's only my guess!! 

[Les Luzar]

I use about an ounce of vegetable oil in my head about once a month to lubricate the seals and make the pump easier to push. To freshen up the head I use a little pine sole in the bowl occasionally too and it gives the head a more pleasant fragrance.

[Stu Jackson]

There's really little to lube except the rim of the pump inside the housing.  Take the pump off the base and use Super Lube teflon inside the pump walls.  That's what Peggie recommends.

[Roger Blake]

Squirt of baby oil has worked for me over the years.

[stevewitt1]

I know Peggy said NO petroleum based product.  Vegetable oil suggested here but how about something more viscous like Crisco or any vegetable shortening?  Personally, being in the Retail Food Industry (Piggly Wiggly) I like the idea of food based products. LOL

Steve

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[Roc]

You shouldn't put oils into the holding tank (vegetable, mineral, etc.) becuase they will float on the top, suffocating the aerobic bacteria, which would then create a stink due to the formation of anaerobic bacteria.    Super Lube on the pump walls is what you need.

[Lance Jones]

Is Super Lube a brand name?

[Jim Hardesty]

I use plumbing "valve grease" buy at any plumbing/home supply/hardware store.  I thought if it's for home water it's OK.  It's part of my spring start-up and appears to last a season for me.
Jim

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

The only thing I ever did was to put some silicone grease on the o-ring of the plunger assembly. Teflon grease for swimming pool pump motors would also work.

Mike

[Stu Jackson]

Pump lube from Peggie, from the "101 Topics"  Head Odor

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5755.msg36309.html#msg36309

[Ron Hill]

Guys : The thing that I find most interesting & very frustrating - is the fact that for the first 15+ years that I owned my 1988 C34 (with a Jabsco head) I never knew there was something called Head Lube because I never needed it!!  

I've called Jabsco (customer service) a number of times in the past few years and ask them what has changed in the "O" ring (composition?) in the pump base that has caused the need for Head Lube?  
All I get is a Daaaa??? because the person that I talk to was neither born in 1988 OR was in elementry school then and doesn't know what I'm talking about!!
 
My feelings.  It p*sses me off that I have to carry 2 spare pump assemblies lubed and ready to install when the one on the head gets so stiff and it's hard to pump.  

The body liquids and solids being pumped are the same, so it's something else that has caused the need for head lube!!  "O" rings made in China??  

A few thoughts

[Roc]

Super Lube is the brand name I think.  It's a PTFE lube.  I found a tube of it in Harbor Freight for about 5 bucks.   Also, Forespar told me Super Lube is good for greasing up the marelon valves.

[Lance Jones]

As usual, great insights all!

[lazybone]

I also had problems with difficult pumping and O-ring chattering.  I tried a few different new o rings and nothing helped.

finally tried bore honing the inside of the tube with a engine cylinder hone in a cross hatch pattern.

Problem solved.