We didn't have much luck with lubricating ours as it was pretty worn out by the time it was sticking. They're easily replaced through your local industrial and automation supplier.
All of our open splits have similar pneumatic pistons made by SMC. If you have another device laying around, you may be able to find a temporary substitute until you can repair or replace the sticking one.
Good luck.

-Tom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
University of Arkansas Stable Isotope Laboratory
http://www.uark.edu/ua/isotope/
http://comp.uark.edu/~tmillic


----- Original Message -----
From: Penny Higgins <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, July 30, 2007 8:33 am
Subject: [ISOGEOCHEM] lubricating lift cylinder on reference open split
To: [log in to unmask]

> All,
> 
> Can someone recommend what I can use to lubricate my open splits? 
> They're sticking a bit, and moving slowly, so I'm not getting my 
> lovely square reference peaks.
> 
> Would mineral oil (like what I have in the rotary pump) be OK, or 
> is 
> there a grease that would be better?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> ~Penny
> 
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>   Stable Isotope Ratios in the Environment Analytical Laboratory
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