I have ball links that I would like to lubricate. The housings are some type of plastic and the balls are aluminum. The balls are snug in the housings and may benefit from lubrication so that they rotate more freely.
Any suggestion as to a safe lubricant would be appreciated.

I use Tri-flow lubrication find it on Amazon, or bicycle shop, get product .

Marvels Mystery Oil

You want something dry, oil will pick up dirt then act like a lapping compound.

Most bicycle shops have tri-flow dry lube

Vaseline ?

Greetings, Luc

Originally Posted by BarracudaHockey

You want something dry, oil will pick up dirt then act like a lapping compound.

Most bicycle shops have tri-flow dry lube

+1 dry

Best path is to get a link sizing tool. Heli guys have been using them for ages. I have never lubricated a ball link on anything I use them on. Giant scale, gliders, or helis.

But as noted, if you feel you want to, use a dry lube.

+1 to Judge... if you really want to do something use a sizing tool. See this for an example of what one looks like, but you need to find one specific to the size of the links you are using.


FWIW, fly 3D helis as well (700 class gas) and don't bother to size links... unless they are ridiculously tight they loosen up after a few flights.




BTW, are you sure the balls are aluminum? That would be really surprising as they would wear out ridiculously fast - every link I have ever seen, heli or plane, has been steel. One thing people don't realize is that even the steel balls wear out over time (counter intuitive but true).

Try squeezing the plastic housing, ball link with some pliers.That always works for me,

A long time ago there was a popular heli columnist who wrote a long article on how he used a Dremel to polish his balls.....I mean links!!

Now we are polishing balls .......

Originally Posted by jharkin

+1 to Judge... if you really want to do something use a sizing tool. See this for an example of what one looks like, but you need to find one specific to the size of the links you are using.


FWIW, fly 3D helis as well (700 class gas) and don't bother to size links... unless they are ridiculously tight they loosen up after a few flights.




BTW, are you sure the balls are aluminum? That would be really surprising as they would wear out ridiculously fast - every link I have ever seen, heli or plane, has been steel. One thing people don't realize is that even the steel balls wear out over time (counter intuitive but true).

DuBro balls are nickel plated brass. Some years ago they were just plain brass.

The pinch trick many use on tight heli ball links doesn't work as well on DuBro links. If way too tight out of the package, I've had to resort to polishing some to reduce the size a bit. I can always loosen a tight ball link but can't do anything to tighten one that is too loose.

Originally Posted by jharkin

+1 to Judge... if you really want to do something use a sizing tool. See this for an example of what one looks like, but you need to find one specific to the size of the links you are using.

I bought that exact tool during a brief dalliance with an Align 450. The tool comes with four different size tips and works quite well. I still have the tool and the heli, can't remember the last time I used either...... lol

Originally Posted by Truckracer

DuBro balls are nickel plated brass. Some years ago they were just plain brass.

The pinch trick many use on tight heli ball links doesn't work as well on DuBro links. If way too tight out of the package, I've had to resort to polishing some to reduce the size a bit. I can always loosen a tight ball link but can't do anything to tighten one that is too loose.

Doh! your right. I should know as I actually have some of those old DuBro brass jobs in my parts bin.


This lockdown must be softening my brain....

Originally Posted by jharkin

Doh! your right. I should know as I actually have some of those old DuBro brass jobs in my parts bin.


This lockdown must be softening my brain....

You’re not alone my friend! If it helps, I just looked through my old heli stuff and most of those balls were steel.