Chuck, et al:
In college (1977 or so), I had overhauled a NR rear derailleur and had greased the limit screws with Phil Wood grease. After the first rear wheel catastrophe (chain in spokes), I recall re-verifying that the upper limit screw wouldn't stay put when it was greased. I subsequently had no drift when I overhauled the NR RD and used oil instead.
Similarly, in September of 1979, the headset on my new Pinarello was an aluminum Edco which loosened and dented (brinnelled) when I was riding thru Portuguese Bend in Palos Verdes (old rutted roads). I recall that there was a keyed locknut in that installation. The Edco headset was only a few weeks old (I'm sure it was originally tight) when it loosened up and was ruined.
Afterwards I had a Chris King headset installed, which did not use a keyed lockwasher (OEM setup). This one also would also loosen up, but due to the stronger bearings it was not ruined. I then overhauled the headset and used Phil Wood oil and I have not had any drift since then.
What can I say? The drift sure seemed consistent to me.
Andrew Gillis (Long Beach, CA)
> In over 25 years of using grease on threads I've never experienced any
> of the problems you have had. Never had an aluminum headset "drift" on
> a steerer tube (that's what the locknut is for) and never had a Nuovo
> Record or any other derailleur lose its adjustment. Campagnolo's
> derailleurs have used springs to keep the screws secure in their place
> and I have never had one back out.
>
> Oil or grease keeps the exposed BB axle from rusting ;)
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> SoPas, SoCal