cleaning cams

[arrow]

hey there folks, does anyone have a good lubrication for cams that wont get gunked up with dirt?

[Gary_Yngve]

First of all, be careful with your rack in the mountains (try to keep your cams out of dirt in the first place).

 

Make sure the slings don't come into contact with any chemicals you use.

 

I first heat up a pot of soapy boiling water and dip the heads of the cams in (one at a time) and pull the trigger bar back and forth. That usually fixes the problem. I then might spray some WD-40 on the axle/springs.

 

http://www.tradgirl.com/climbing_faq/gear_maintenance.shtml#cleancams

 

http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/cammaintkit.htm

[arrow]

thanks gary,will do.

[G-spotter]

Despite what Gary says, don't use WD-40 on your cams. It attracts dirt and removes oil which lubricates them. Then you have to use more Wd40, which attracts more dirt. Eventually your cam seizes up completely.

 

Instead, the best thing you can use is "White Lightning" bike chain lubricant. If you can't get any, Metolius Cam Lube is the same product in a different bottle at a higher price

[John Frieh]

The search engine on this website:

[ken4ord]

Finishline Dry lube can be found in bike shops works well too. Make sure to wipe off any excess lube once it is applied.

[catbirdseat]

I'd have to agree with Dru. WD-40 is about the worst thing you could use. Not only does it attract dirt but it eventually evaporates, leaving no lubricant- just dirt. Get the Metolius cam lube.

[selkirk]

White ligntning works great So does the boiling pot of slightly soapy water.

 

Watch how much of the wax based lube you use on the small cams though. I have a couple where the action isn't quite as stiff as I'd like as I think there is too much wax on them, well and i'm too lazy to re-clean them

 

A good thing to do to all of them in the winter before putting them away.

[Gary_Yngve]

Thanks for the heads-up on WD-40. I've never been screwed by it (nor have some folks I know who've been climbing since before I was born), but I do have a bottle of Metolius lube that came with a set of TCUs a few years ago buried somewhere...

[W]

I've also been told (albeit unconfirmed), and would suspect anyway, that WD40 is not very good in the long run for the sewn cam slings.

 

in the winter before putting them away.

 

 

Changes in latitudes...

[dbconlin]

I've had good luck using graphite lock lubricant....another option I guess, but White lightning sounds like a good idea. Maybe I will try that next time.

[mattp]

Get the bike chain lube or the Metolious product if you can, but I've had decent results with the WD-40 too. Over the years I have used various products - including silicon, graphite, wd-40, and bike chain lube - and I think the silicon seemed no good but everything else has worked generally OK. I'd be careful to try not to get any of it on the sewn slings.

[Mos_Chillin]

Also, if you have access to an air hose, you can blow the excess lubricant off with an air nozzle. Quite effective at 120 psi.