Greasing the Shade Sail Commercial Bracket Rod

As with the turnbuckles, it is important to grease the threaded rod of the commercial bracket.

1. Locate or purchase a tube of white lithium grease.  We have found the paste version (similar to toothpaste consistency), to be the only type that works well.  Sprays and other lubricants do not sufficiently coat the threads.
2. Start by applying grease to the very end of the rod, the part that will initially be covered by the nuts. Spin the rod and move the grease around with your finger to ensure the grease gets on all the threads and in all the grooves. Move the nuts back to the end of the rod.
3. Expose the remainder of the threaded rod by sliding the bracket completely to the end opposite the nuts. Liberally apply grease to the rod, excluding the portion that is covered by the sleeve on the bracket, as this area will never receive the nuts and does not need lubrication. This process can be messy, so it may be helpful to have some paper towels on hand. Just remember, you can always wipe some of the white lithium grease off, which is better than having the rod seize, so it is better to err on the side of too much grease rather than not enough. When all the threads and grooves are covered with grease, your commercial bracket is ready to be installed.