EW350 Gearbox Lubrication

[SteveTea]

I have cleaned out the old lubricant from the gearbox of my 1926 EW350 and now need to fill the box with new lubricant.  The Douglas Care and Maintenance Guide says that “Wakefield’s Castrolease, Shell Grease, Soft or Gargoyle Mobilgrease” should be used but I don’t think these are available now so are there any modern equivalents?

I understand that some people use a mix of grease and oil, however, I do not know what grade of grease or oil to use and, if a mix is used, what ratios of oil to grease should be mixed.

I’d be grateful for any advice that can be offered.

[EW-Ron]

What you are looking for is a 'semi-fluid' grease, or 00 grade, or thixatropic grease.

Ride on lawnmowers in particular use it in their gearboxs.
It softens and flows with heat, so doesn't create cavities for the gears to operate in (unlubricated) (!), like solid greases do.

Beware of grease mixed with oil, they separate out. And then don't lubricate where they need to. And leak.

Hereabouts, Penrite supply a range of products for the classic market.
https://www.penriteoil.com.au/assets/img/product_images/SEMI0005.png
but there are many such equivalent products.
Enquire at your local lawnmower shoppe if nothing leaps out at you.

[Odd Bob 66]

Hi Steve. I've bought some of the Penrite grease from these people. Not run it yet, so can't comment on leakage.
I'm pretty sure I've read of people using Castrol Spheerol grease in EW 'boxes, which they also sell.

https://www.classic-oils.net/Greases-by-Application/Semi-Fluid-Greases/

Regards, Paul.