Should spiral balances be lubricated?

Question

Should the spirals be lubricated? How often and with what? It seems the old spirals get very sticky and I am sure contributes to the breakage.
Thnaks,
Jerry

Paul · Accepted Answer

All spiral balances sold on SWISCO.com do come pre-lubricated.  After a few years it is not a bad idea to clean and add new grease to your spiral balances.  You will want to use a grease that will stick on to the spiral.  As long as you use a grease that sticks on the spiral, this is not a process that you will need to perform often.  WD40 is a popular lubricant but is not a good lubricant for spiral balances because it is too thin.  Stop by your local mom & pop hardware store for a recommendation of a grease that will perform well.