I wonder how krytox compares to isoflex.

 

I still don’t know why doo didn’t go with oil bath crankcase and direct injection. That would be the best 2 stroke ever built. But I’m not an engineer so my comments are useless

 

My question is why would ROTAX choose Isoflex if a cheaper alternative would doo the same job?

I'll stick with OEM spec.

 

My question is why would ROTAX choose Isoflex if a cheaper alternative would doo the same job?

I'll stick with OEM spec.

This is a solid and very valid point. We honestly do not know the answer. It could be for noise reduction. The new generation of ski doo sleds seems to be all about noise and vibration reduction. It could be specifically for a “performance” quality too. Unless they tell us we do not know. I suspect they choose and top tier product which they got at a good cost due to being awarded the OEM contract but that’s only an assumption. I posted this because I noticed a very good number of other options which are extremely similar by all listed qualities. I had previously always assumed otherwise before actually searching for a replacement and the truth is, I still do not know.

 

I do [not] consider myself a grease expert but occasionally I have to act as one for work.

From then sentence structure I am guessing you meant to say that you were not a grease expert, but occasionally you have had to act as one for work. I too have dug into the Isoflex grease and have found interesting insights from the industrial world. I know of many other greases that have been tried on these sleds, and certain oem bearings on some engines of certain model years don't even have Isoflex.

When looking at the highest mileage 600s and 800s, I think this tells a story that I can count on without having to spend my time to test the sleds that I work on. I think the question to ask is, what greases are used to pack each of the oem bearings. If I knew all these answers with assurance, then I would say it without question. All that I suggesting is, instead of looking at the shop manuals, look at the grease used in oem beatings.

Another thing is grease compatibility. If there is barium type grease in the bearings, I won't be adding lithium type grease.

 

From then sentence structure I am guessing you meant to say that you were not a grease expert, but occasionally you have had to act as one for work. I too have dug into the Isoflex grease and have found interesting insights from the industrial world. I know of many other greases that have been tried on these sleds, and certain oem bearings on some engines of certain model years don't even have Isoflex.

When looking at the highest mileage 600s and 800s, I think this tells a story that I can count on without having to spend my time to test the sleds that I work on. I think the question to ask is, what greases are used to pack each of the oem bearings. If I knew all these answers with assurance, then I would say it without question. All that I suggesting is, instead of looking at the shop manuals, look at the grease used in oem beatings.

Another thing is grease compatibility. If there is barium type grease in the bearings, I won't be adding lithium type grease.

You are correct on both the fact that I intended to state I am not a grease expert but have been tasked with doing so and more importantly a great point not to mix the basic types. I would also tend to agree with the entire post. I will not edit the original post to fix that first statement. Thanks for pointing that out, it was an honest mistake.

 

This is the isoflex on the pto side of my 600r. Motor had 10500kms on it when I changed it for the first time since new. The grease in the bearing itself which I forgot to take a picture of, looked and felt no different than the grease that came out of the tube I replaced it with.
This alone proved to me why BRP uses isoflex, however it baffles me why it is so expensive.

Sent from my SM-G991W using Tapatalk

 

I believe that some feel that a bearing is bad or close to the end of it's life when they open the seals and find very little grease. It doesn't take much grease for these bearings to perform as designed. Too much grease can be harmful as the bearing can heat up and wear prematurely.

I'm all for preventative maintenance but sometimes I find myself tossing bearings before they are toast as I'm trying to reduce the likely hood of a trailside failure.

 

Everyone knows that Isoflex grease is made from unicorn tears hence the cost!

 

German engineering you might find better but you can't pay more

 

My work spent lots of time and money to have an alternate grease found. We buy ISOFLEX by the 3 pound cans. Superior Lubricants test labs came back with a 4 page report that basically said there is no direct replacement for it. So if all the scientists on here feel its better to save $20 than to buy the correct grease, have at it. I will buy the ISOFLEX. Its like people buying cheap 2 stroke oil to save a couple bucks. this is not a sport for the frugal.

 

Care to provide some context on the application your work uses Isoflex on, as well as your position in this company? What were some of the main talking points in this report that provided the basis for their conclusion?

 

Just ordered a tube of isoflex from Amazon, 400 g. 150 bucks. Ouch. Few years ago it was 105. Putting in a remanufactured crank in a week or so, I'm an oem kind of guy.

 

If I recall their was a guy a few years ago that was going to try a different grease in his 800 etech. I wanna say maybe AV 32 or something like that not sure what became of it because I’ve been on 850’s since 17 so I never followed up

 

I read somewhere that Isoflex was developed as a high speed spindle grease for large milling machines.
Krytox has little to no volatiles and is used in vacuum and space applications. I've only seen it used to wet seals since a dry o-ring seal is not reliable.

 

googling iso-flex special a

By the way Isofles special A is NOT what BRP recomends it is Isoflex Tapas NB 52, NOT the same thing the Special A consists of ester oil, mineral oil and lithium soap.
The Tapas 52 consists of synthetic hydrocarbon oil and barium complex soap.

I would NOT use the Special A as a replacement.

 

This is what you want>>>>Amazon.com: Kluber Iso Flex Grease Topas Nb52 (50 Grams) : Automotive

 

I use Shell Aero 22. Aircraft wheel bearing grease. Been using it a couple years. $12 tube.

 

With my original E-Tech 800 motor lasting 13,500 MI before top end failure due to a stator I have no interest in any Grease other than isoflex. I use it in every bearing on my snowmobile. Much more cost-effective to buy a 400 g tube.

 

Reading all this with great interest, I'm relatively new to the isoflex game.

Amazon has a 400g tube for $375 CDN and $84 for a 50g tube.

I'm reasonably frugal but if it costs $84 for the 'correct' grease for one engine treatment, which is only needed once or twice in the engine's lifetime, why even think about it?

That's $5,916 less than a total motor job.

Not even a decision to make here. Isoflex all the way.

 

I know stuff is more in Canadian dollars but I just paid $150 American yesterday on Amazon for a 400 g tube. On eBay I see the 50 g tubes for around $40 American. Do your homework if you're going to order.

 

ISOFLEX TOPAS NB 52 ISOFLEX TOPAS NB 52: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

yeah, relative of mine owns a machine shop and one of the high end machines requires isofles. He called my shop to see if we could get it for him because he heard skidoo uses it....I asked how much of it he needed.......he said a 5 gallon pail........I said, better take out another mortgage.
NHTom