What grease for front-cell focussing Rollei 35 Tessar?

[snusmumriken]

The focussing ring on this little Tessar lens became slack some time ago, and - with helpful advice from forum members here - I successfully dismantled, cleaned, re-greased, and re-assembled it. The result was distinct improvement, but not a huge improvement: a little more effort was needed to turn it, but focus still wanders off its last setting as the camera brushes against my fingers or its case. There’s quite a lot of rotational force on it via the lens hood. So I must have used the wrong grade of grease. Those on offer are:
Grade 10: Ideal for lens helicoids where minimum damping and fast focus action is required.
Grade 30: Ideal for lens helicoids where slightly more damping is required (Many Nikon AI lenses for example)
Grade 40: Ideal for zoom sliders and lens helicoids requiring firmer damping.
Grade 250: Ideal for lenses and components requiring significant damping
Grade 500: Ideal for rotational controls such as aperture rings etc.
Grade 1500: Ideal for rotational controls requiring more damping.
Grade 3000: Ideal for maximum damping, macro sliders etc.

I previously used Grade 30 (and of course I have to remove that now). Any advice which grade I should try next? I don’t want to have to do this repeatedly.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I find the Japanese optical grease to be a minor disaster. The oil separates out from the grease, this leads to: fogged glass; oily diaphragms; and dried-out grease in the helical.

Nye sells a damping / optical grease, I have no experience with it.

I use Corning vacuum grease, there is no oil and so: it is non-volatile and doesn't produce vapor that can fog a lens; it doesn't get into the diaphragm; and it doesn't dry out. I have a jar dated in the early 70's and there is no separation or drying.

Amazon - vacuum grease

 

[bernard_L]

I find the Japanese optical grease to be a minor disaster.

Worst case IMO being Olympus 35RD.

 

[snusmumriken]

I find the Japanese optical grease to be a minor disaster. The oil separates out from the grease, this leads to: fogged glass; oily diaphragms; and dried-out grease in the helical.

Nye sells a damping / optical grease, I have no experience with it.

I use Corning vacuum grease, there is no oil and so: it is non-volatile and doesn't produce vapor that can fog a lens; it doesn't get into the diaphragm; and it doesn't dry out. I have a jar dated in the early 70's and there is no separation or drying.

Amazon - vacuum grease

Very many thanks, it sounds like you have saved me a disaster!

 

[retina_restoration]

HeliMax-XP Optical & Instrument Grease.

 

[snusmumriken]

Do the Helimax and Corning products come in only one grade? Because I still have this uncertainty that I need something more damping than what I’ve got, but have no idea how much more.