"Jules Richardson" wrote in message
...

is the cylinder of a foot pump supposed to be oiled, greased, or simply
run dry? I just took mine apart to beef up the worn-out plate through
which the plunger shaft runs, and it was completely caked with yuck
inside (a mixture of years of dirt and who-knows-what).

I cleaned it all up, but I'm not sure what if anything it should be lubed
with.

cheers

Jules

Used to be graphite grease in my old dirty pushbike pump using days.

The leather still wore out fairly quickly though.

Still, could be worse: Brunel almost had a pneumatic railway working, but
for the lack of modern sealing materials and lubricants that wouldn't freeze
or get eaten,,,

S