[pmrid (Peter)]

I recently found myself with a Celestron CG5 mount that was seriously stiff and effectively unusable. So I decided to do a full strip and rebuild a la Astroboy.com - a very good resource. While I was at it I decided that I migt as well do over my Meade LXD-75 mount which, shock,horror, is virtually identical in its mechanical arrangements, sizes, designs.
So I had them both stripped down and ready for the application of silicon and lithium greases in their various parts. But it seemed to me that in flushing out the thick claggy grease that was in them and replacing it with these newer greases was, in many ways, falling into the same trap. I went looking for an alternative that was a good surface lubricant but was not claggy and prone to gunk up. The answer I have found was off the sheeps back. Lanolin. I used liquid lanolin although it is also available in a grease form. Just a light coat by brush and themounts slipped back together like the proverbial glove. I am delighted by what I've seen so far., I have stuck with grease in the worm mechanism but elsewhere, including in the bearings in the RA axes, lanolin was a superb alternative. Stronly recommend it.
Peter