I’m in just replacing the starter motor on my Elan +2 and would like to know what type of grease or lubricant I should apply to the pinion. From examining the split and fractured pinion on the one I’ve removed (made a noise like very healthy christmas cracker when it failed), it looks a bit dry.
Not sure what is recommended but over the years I have worked a small amount of oil into the pinion and then wiped most of it off … so that it is lubricated but only just
Grease will create a sticky mess and as JPC says too much lubricant will cause dust to adhere and cause more problems than it solves.
I have found that when very lightly lubricated they tend to stick less and are a little bit quieter in operation
I may be wrong on this but I was given to understand that the correct lubricant is powdered graphite- the same stuff that should be used for door locks.
Don’t know where you buy it however because my old man gave me the stuff 20 odd years ago.
You should only use a dry lubricant, powdered graphite is the recommended lubricant, you don’t want oil or grease on the pinion that will collect dust or dirt in it. I haven’t used it for this purpose but I know you can buy a spray can which is a dry graphite lubricant at Canadian tyre stores here in Canada.