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I'm servicing a Tohatsu MFS5B outboard for the first time. The service manual says to use "waterproof grease" in most of the common wear areas, but not for the swivel mechanism.

The swivel consists of two bushings and associated grease nipples below the engine. The service manual says to use "Rubber grease" for these, but I'm having trouble finding any locally.

Is silicone grease ok?

Is there another type of grease, or specification I should look for?

My local hardware stores have plenty of different greases for automotive, industrial and farm applications but they all seem to be based on mineral oil or lithium which I understand isn't compatible with rubber bushings. Some googling suggests red rubber grease, based on vegetable oil, but that's not available locally.

IsAGuest
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1 Answers1

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I'd suggest silicone lube is probably your best bet. According to the WD-40 website:

... and unlike lithium grease, silicone lubricant is the perfect lubricant for rubber surfaces, but it is also extremely versatile, so it can be used on most other materials, including metal, plastic, wood, and even painted materials.

Along with its lubricating properties, silicone lubricant is waterproofing and prevents moisture from penetrating into the surface, which causes corrosion and rusting. The application of silicone lubricant is fast and simple and does not attract any dirt or grime. Another one of the advantages of silicone lubricant is that it can handle different environments such as window seals, doors, plumbing fittings, tools, valves, linkages and other equipment. It is also effective throughout the year, in most weather conditions.

Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
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