Thanks Ian thats interesting and useful info. Didnt know about the whole talc thing. To be fair though the Mnf uses some very thick clear lubricant (looks like vaseline) not the white stuff. In the field I tend to use whatever people around me have so I have used all sorts of stuff including the white grease thats likely caused the problem.

Thanks again - I shall stear well clear of the non clear greases in the future.
The thick clear grease (loctite) I used before is no longer supplied to Singapore for some reason so looking for an alternative - any recomendations??

Cheers
Mike