Quiz of the week.

Mr Gazza · 18-08-2019, 07:20 PM

Okay, you can probably guess from the photo that this is not a Monster related question, but the owners club that should have the answer to this is useless!

Can anyone allude to what "SSO aviation GP grease" is, or was, as this was relevant about 50 years ago. Could anyone suggest a modern equivalent please?

It all sounds very specific, but in the absence of any good info it will be getting high melting point Lithium!

Thanks guys..

Jez900ie · 18-08-2019, 08:03 PM

I guess this is a Norton kinda thing?

jerry · 18-08-2019, 08:19 PM

any decent heavy duty grease will be ok its just like wheel bearings

Darkness · 18-08-2019, 08:23 PM

Access Norton seem to think that you use whatever is in the grease gun.

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonC...do-drive.3783/

Mr Gazza · 18-08-2019, 08:25 PM

Those speedo drive gearboxes were fairly universal on all British bikes from the fifties onwards, coming in a couple of drive ratios and changing from a square sided, black painted version, to the sleeker silver painted version in the picture, in the late sixties.

But yes mine is for the Norton. I cleaned it spotlessly today, inside and out, with solvents and then Jeff's Ultra-sound cleaner. It's all painted and looking like new, but I couldn't decide what grease to use that won't fly out all over the polished hub..

Mr Gazza · 18-08-2019, 08:28 PM

I'm thinking on those lines Jerry.

I saw the Accessnorton post Darkness and thought it was about right for the ignorant attitude most have for the old bikes!! No wonder they all wore out!

18-08-2019, 08:34 PM

Gary, probably not helpful but my late father was RAF and I spent my formative years being told..." Grafite grease son ", whatever that means

Mr Gazza · 18-08-2019, 08:37 PM

It's grease with Graphite in it... Very good stuff.

Luddite · 18-08-2019, 08:50 PM

It's a bit difficult to tell from the photo, but it looks like there might originally have been a letter, (now rubbed off), before the SSO - maybe an E for 'ESSO'?

This might be the modern equivalent:

https://www.exxonmobil.com/en/aviati...grease-shc-100

But, as Jerry says, I'm sure any modern bearing grease would do. I'd imagine lubrication technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since the days when British bikes ruled the road.

350TSS · 18-08-2019, 08:53 PM

GP = general purpose I think

18-08-2019, 09:04 PM

Obviously I am not saying this out loud but when my father left RAF , there were certain " acquisitions" in the shed....or man cave as we now call it, grafite grease was a go too item in my early years.

I also have a complete supermarine spitfire for sale if anyone is interested...

......JOKE...

Jez900ie · 18-08-2019, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moco1961

I also have a complete supermarine spitfire for sale if anyone is interested...

......JOKE...

I've got two of those Spiteful things already. If only your Dad had put a Lancaster in the shed!

18-08-2019, 09:23 PM

If only, you know what Jez, he had a BSA Batham in the shed and my mother "gave" it away ! I kid you not!

....he worked on Javlins I believe

Mr Gazza · 18-08-2019, 09:42 PM

Yes Luddite There is an "E" missing. I just sussed it looking at Andover Norton's site. They still sell the gearboxes with the sticker included...I'm going to see if I can get the sticker separately (to put on my anorak!).

The modern equivalent looks far too good for my old gearbox.. It would never have had anything that good. I'll put some good stuff in though..

Thanks for all the interest and great replies seeing as it's not a Monster question, but the proper club would not have responded like this, nor so quickly. They don't like change!!

Jez900ie · 18-08-2019, 10:04 PM

How old is this Norton? Early 70's?

18-08-2019, 07:20 PM	#1
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,979	Quiz of the week. Okay, you can probably guess from the photo that this is not a Monster related question, but the owners club that should have the answer to this is useless! Can anyone allude to what "SSO aviation GP grease" is, or was, as this was relevant about 50 years ago. Could anyone suggest a modern equivalent please? It all sounds very specific, but in the absence of any good info it will be getting high melting point Lithium! Thanks guys.. __________________

18-08-2019, 08:03 PM	#2
Jez900ie Pleasantly surprised! Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Stoke on Trent Bike: M900ie Posts: 780	I guess this is a Norton kinda thing? __________________ Monsters don't hide under the bed, they sleep inside the shed

18-08-2019, 08:19 PM	#3
jerry Old Git Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cricklade Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,903	any decent heavy duty grease will be ok its just like wheel bearings __________________ MONSTERMAN

18-08-2019, 08:23 PM	#4
Darkness . Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stockbridge Bike: M900 Posts: 1,984	Access Norton seem to think that you use whatever is in the grease gun. https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonC...do-drive.3783/ __________________ Original and Best since 1993

18-08-2019, 08:25 PM	#5
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,979	Those speedo drive gearboxes were fairly universal on all British bikes from the fifties onwards, coming in a couple of drive ratios and changing from a square sided, black painted version, to the sleeker silver painted version in the picture, in the late sixties. But yes mine is for the Norton. I cleaned it spotlessly today, inside and out, with solvents and then Jeff's Ultra-sound cleaner. It's all painted and looking like new, but I couldn't decide what grease to use that won't fly out all over the polished hub.. __________________

18-08-2019, 08:28 PM	#6
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,979	I'm thinking on those lines Jerry. I saw the Accessnorton post Darkness and thought it was about right for the ignorant attitude most have for the old bikes!! No wonder they all wore out! __________________

18-08-2019, 08:34 PM	#7
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	Gary, probably not helpful but my late father was RAF and I spent my formative years being told..." Grafite grease son ", whatever that means

18-08-2019, 08:37 PM	#8
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,979	It's grease with Graphite in it... Very good stuff. __________________

18-08-2019, 08:50 PM	#9
Luddite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southampton Bike: M1100evo Posts: 2,465	It's a bit difficult to tell from the photo, but it looks like there might originally have been a letter, (now rubbed off), before the SSO - maybe an E for 'ESSO'? This might be the modern equivalent: https://www.exxonmobil.com/en/aviati...grease-shc-100 But, as Jerry says, I'm sure any modern bearing grease would do. I'd imagine lubrication technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since the days when British bikes ruled the road. Last edited by Luddite; 18-08-2019 at 09:25 PM..

18-08-2019, 08:53 PM	#10
350TSS Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Shipbourne Bike: M900 Posts: 1,422	GP = general purpose I think

18-08-2019, 09:04 PM	#11
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	Obviously I am not saying this out loud but when my father left RAF , there were certain " acquisitions" in the shed....or man cave as we now call it, grafite grease was a go too item in my early years. I also have a complete supermarine spitfire for sale if anyone is interested.........JOKE...

18-08-2019, 09:23 PM	#13
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	If only, you know what Jez, he had a BSA Batham in the shed and my mother "gave" it away ! I kid you not! ....he worked on Javlins I believe Last edited by Moco1961; 18-08-2019 at 09:25 PM.. Reason: Addition

18-08-2019, 09:42 PM	#14
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,979	Yes Luddite There is an "E" missing. I just sussed it looking at Andover Norton's site. They still sell the gearboxes with the sticker included...I'm going to see if I can get the sticker separately (to put on my anorak!). The modern equivalent looks far too good for my old gearbox.. It would never have had anything that good. I'll put some good stuff in though.. Thanks for all the interest and great replies seeing as it's not a Monster question, but the proper club would not have responded like this, nor so quickly. They don't like change!! __________________

18-08-2019, 10:04 PM	#15
Jez900ie Pleasantly surprised! Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Stoke on Trent Bike: M900ie Posts: 780	How old is this Norton? Early 70's? __________________ Monsters don't hide under the bed, they sleep inside the shed