This one is for those DIY nutters out there, I have a few older nikon lens one of which is a 105mm micro which has a particularly stiff focus ring, I am fairly confident that is due the lubricant and not some other issue like being dropped or similiar. I suspect the lubricant has just gotten old and hardened up. It is not really an option to send it to nikon for a service since a quote would cost more than the lens did.

I also have no issues getting it apart to clean and re-lube the helicoid, however my main concern is the type of grease to use, obviously I want something that is as close to the original nikon spec as possible but something that is locally procurable, I have heard a few suggestions of wheel bearing gease etc but thought I would put it out there and see if anyone had any ideas on this one!