GALILEO
— And yet, it turns. —
PLM LUBRICANTS Flagship Bearing Oil
10ml / 1,480 JPY
It started with questioning "common sense."
People generally judge the quality of bearing oil using a single method: flicking a roller with a finger and seeing how long it keeps spinning without a load. It’s certainly a satisfying test, but it’s looking at the wrong thing.
Oil that spins lightly and for a long time under no load is simply demonstrating that its viscosity is low. In a no-load state, the only force resisting the rotation is the stickiness of the oil itself. The lightness of a finger-flicked spin only shows whether the viscosity is low; it has almost no relation to performance under the actual loads encountered while running. Furthermore, to try to get close to the viscosity of water, you’d have to thin it out with solvents—at that point, it’s no longer a lubricant.
On an actual track, a roller never just spins freely. Every time you go around a corner or hit a wall, the bearing is under real, constant load. That is the moment that truly matters, and GALILEO is the oil created exactly for that purpose.
The 3 Pillars of GALILEO
| 01 Base oil viscosity considering agitation resistance |
02 Metal adhesion via optimal additives |
03 Long-lasting effect from a single application |
We don't make oil just to be light.
The foundation is a fully synthetic oil designed specifically for miniature ball bearings.
To this, we added a uniquely formulated additive package, chosen after extensive testing, to support the oil film.
The "viscosity" that considers agitation resistance, and the "adhesion" that clings to metal.
Our biggest challenge was ensuring these two factors could coexist without conflict.
Load Test Results
To simulate the force received from a wall, we hung a weight on a roller to apply a load and measured the motor's power consumption (an indicator of rolling resistance). We compared dry bearings against those treated with GALILEO.
Motor used: Power Dash, 3.0V
| Load | No Load | 50g | 100g | 200g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Reduction vs. Dry | No difference (as intended) | Approx. 16% | Approx. 12% | Approx. 6% |
When there was no load, there was no observable difference between dry and GALILEO. This was by design. We were never aiming to win in that condition. As the load increased, GALILEO maintained a lower current than the dry bearing. This means the oil film holds up without breaking even under pressure. Lower rolling resistance reduces the burden on your motor and batteries. The power saved can then be directed toward acceleration and top speed.
How to use
- Degrease and clean the inside of the bearing using a cleaner that won't damage plastic, such as PLM LUBRICANTS' "Yasashii Parts Cleaner Shakariki."
- Once the cleaner has dried thoroughly, apply one drop of GALILEO, allow it to penetrate, and rotate the roller to distribute the oil.
- After application, place the bearing on paper for a few minutes to remove excess oil.
- You may not feel a difference compared to dry bearings when spinning with no load, but it will demonstrate its effectiveness under the load of actual running.
Why "Galileo"?
It is a tribute to the man who looked past the "visible truth" that the whole world believed in and pointed out the reality of the situation. GALILEO is the same. We aren't chasing numbers that look good when nothing is happening; we are designing for the moments that truly matter. That is the philosophy behind our creation.
Galileo. And yet, it turns.
