front trunions

[Dannyb]

Just fitted new front trunnions. I have used a grease gun filled with oil but how can I tell if I have injected enough oil if any at all. The gun does not feel like it's pumping like when it's filled with grease.

[heraldcoupe]

It should feel the same if it's properly pressurised, though some guns aren't up to the job. Does your gun have a bleed valve?

You need to pump oil in until it overflows past the seal at the top of the trunnion.

Cheers,
Bill.

[Dannyb]

It can't be pumping oil in then as there does not seem any pressue. May try my other gun after taking out the grease cartridge

[willcolumbine]

As Bill says, some guns aren't up to the job. I've got a couple of grease guns that won't work with oil. I've recently bought an oil gun from Frost Automotive that does the job nicely. Might be worth a try if your grease gun can't be made to perform!

[Velocita Rosso]

My ordinary thumb operated oil gun, stuffed in the grease nipple hole, actually pumps oil very freely and it comes out at the rubber seal

[Dannyb]

Thanks for that....I will try again tomorrow

[Richard B]

1684 wrote:

Just fitted new front trunnions.

If you are fitting a new unit, fill the trunnion with EP90 before screwing it onto the vertical link.

[JensH]

Some quality grease nipples can be dismantled and the spring removed/altered. Makes a lot of difference!

[rotoflex]

I also think that you may not be overcoming the valve in the grease nipple

[Freebird]

JensH wrote:

Some quality grease nipples can be dismantled and the spring removed/altered. Makes a lot of difference!

You don't want to remove the ball completely or the oil may come out of it over time.

I found an excellent way of filling the trunnions is to cut the pointed end off a brake nipple (5/16" UNF IIRC) and fit it in the hole. You can then use a normal "Wesco" type oil can and a short length of tubing to pump the EP90 in.

After the oil has appeared around the rubber seal, replace the nipple with the original blank or grease nipple to seal the oil in. The brake nipple allows an unresticed flow, wheras I find grease nipples are too restictive and the oil goes around them in preference to through them.

Glen.

[JensH]

Freebird wrote:

You don't want to remove the ball completely or the oil may come out of it over time.

Glen.

That will not be a problem - just leave the ball inside with e.g. half of the spring. Oil shouldn't run up anyway  8)

[Dannyb]

Thanks all. I have now got over the problem. I took the nipple off and held in in a vice . tried the oil gun and nothing came out the other end so it could not get passed the ball. I tried another larger gun filed with grease and this was ok. I then went back to the gun with oil in it and it worked. Did this for both sides and refitted. Pumped the oil in and until it came out the top seal. I should imagine if the larger gun was filled with oil this would have more pressure to get passed the seized ball.
It's nice to know other people have the same problem and find out different ways to get over it....thanks everyone.

[rotoflex]

Freebird wrote:

You don't want to remove the ball completely or the oil may come out of it over time.

The book says to take the plug out, screw in a nipple, goosh the oil in, remove the nipple, replace the plug.

It makes even more sense now as you don't have to worry about exposing the modified nipple to road damage and being compelled to create another.

[Freebird]

The trick is in remembering where you put the nipple after use. "Somewhere safe" obviously!

[Bainzy]

balls...exposed nipples...grease...pumping...

....you people make me sick   ;D

[rotoflex]

Freebird wrote:

The trick is in remembering where you put the nipple after use. "Somewhere safe" obviously!

I always swallow it and poop it out later when needed.