Nipples - to grease or to oil?

[Raider]

??) This point has been raised elsewhere but I thought it should be discussed on this part of the forum.
The comment "Herald drivers should keep their nipples greased" is not always correct - sometimes they need to be oiled. If the correct greasing/oiling doesn't happen there can be dire consequences in a lack of lubrication to your trunnions. The consequences of a lack of lubrication to your trunnions doesn't bear thinking about.
As the back issues officer for a specialist publication I can provide many an article on this common problem - it has been a concern of Dr Triumph's over the years. So, if you need more information refer to Club Torque back issues and order the relevant magazine or photo-copied article which I will be happy to supply in a plain brown envelope.  :X

[Deleted User]

when out of work for a while and helping out at a well known triumph speacailist oil was ALWAYS used over grease,unless the coustomer wanted greasing in which case the apprentice would get his gloves on!

[Luke]

:-/Martin I beg to differ about Herald owners/drivers oiling nipples.
According to a 12,000 miles service on a Herald, Rear hubs apply grease gun and give five strokes only.
Water pump apply a grease gun to the nipple and manipulate the gun until grease exudes from the overflow hole on top of the pump.
Steering unit apply a grease gun to the nipple and give five strokes only. Over greasing may cause damage to the rubber bellows when the steering is turned to full lock.
It's your steering lower swivel you oil at around 6,000 miles. I can't find anything about front hubs but I think I know what's wrong with the slack fan belt now. :D

[Raider]

:) I wondered who day Tripper was to start with until I checked the details - white tornado strikes again!

When I said to grease or to oil it does depend on where we are talking about. Quite right grease for the rear hubs and the steering rack but EP80 gear oil for the front lower steering swivels (or trunnions).  Some people do still say grease though even here and apparently don't have a problem - I have only ever followed correct procedure and used gear oil.

Wherever, we are taking about though nipples are still involved! 

[Greeks]

Couldn't agree more on the nipples ... i use EP90 on my front trunnions though ;D I've heard many prefer to use baby oil on their nipples ...
Some manuals don't specify the need to use oil instead of grease for trunnions, but there are dozens of stories of grease causing them to wear or seize. My old man always used grease, but he said he never worked out why he got through so many trunnions!