Prop Shaft UJ lubrication - some questions :)

agentmulder · Apr 16, 2016

Gidday,

Fun times under the machine this afternoon.

Front prop shaft:

Front UJ nipple found - all good, greased up and no play
Slider nipple found - greased up, no play
Rear UJ nipple ... not found .... wait ... roll the vehicle so prop is 180 ... um, yeah, not found.

Is this normal for the rear of the front shaft to not have a nipple? (why??) - I cant feel a hole anywhere either...

Rear prop shaft:

Front UJ nipple found - all good, greased up and no play
Slider nipple found - greased up, no play
Rear UJ nipple - hrrrm, ok lube goes in but feels under pressure - when I push in the small nipple bearing it squirts out, indicating pressured air was in there (yeah?). I go to town on the grease gun and get some grease popping out, but only from two of the UJ arms. The other two, I assume, remain 'dry'

What to do about this dry situation? Does this pretty much force taking off the shaft and getting into it circlip pliers and all?

Advice - as always - appreciated, cheers!

The Mad Hat Man · Apr 16, 2016

Not all uj's have grease nipples.

It is worth while, occasionally to take the nipples off and try pushing grease through them. They have been known to block, so you get the pressurised feel without getting any grease in.

As for grease only coming out of two cups, that is also not uncommon. It just shows the grease is coming out of the weakest part of the uj. Not much you can do about it, until the uj needs replacing.

blue beasty · Apr 16, 2016

Could be a nipple snapped off, not really worth faffing around with, just replace when it shows signs of play.

Same with the suspected blockage. So long as you've got some grease going in that's about all you can do other than either clear the nipple or replace the U/J and there's no point doing that until it needs replacing.

mojo247 · Apr 16, 2016

Be careful when pumping grease into your UJs as sometimes it dislodges the needle bearings and introduce problems. Especially, if like I did once, installed the cheapest UJs I could get :/

tottot · Apr 16, 2016

As others say go for quality spares.

Retroanaconda · Apr 16, 2016

Greasing after a good run ensures the grease already in there is nice and warm and reduces the risk of blockages holding things up as things are more fluid.

frog hopper · Apr 16, 2016

Something a mechanic mate showed me while having a coffee while I was putting new joints in one of my props was to file a groove across the ends of the spider (and clean off filings afterwards) to allow grease into the bearing if the bearing cup was tight against the spider at a future date. Seemed logical to me.

agentmulder · Apr 17, 2016

Retroanaconda said:
Greasing after a good run ensures the grease already in there is nice and warm and reduces the risk of blockages holding things up as things are more fluid.

Ahhhh, yes, I like this - I need to think about that option more often.

Added bonus is that get to cook my forearm on the exhaust too (after smearing excess grease on it).

I didn't do it, but whats the word on putting in some WD-40 overnight, then gunning it? Is the purging action of the grease enough to counter the ingress of the degreaser? I'm guessing not the best of ideas, but just throw it out there anyway

My obsessive nature is starting to convince me that I need to remove it and open it up now

jamesmartin · Apr 17, 2016

agentmulder said:
Ahhhh, yes, I like this - I need to think about that option more often.

Added bonus is that get to cook my forearm on the exhaust too (after smearing excess grease on it).

I didn't do it, but whats the word on putting in some WD-40 overnight, then gunning it? Is the purging action of the grease enough to counter the ingress of the degreaser? I'm guessing not the best of ideas, but just throw it out there anyway

My obsessive nature is starting to convince me that I need to remove it and open it up now

just grease regularly and if showing sounds of failing replace, and dont get over complicated with it

lynall · Apr 17, 2016

Grease only coming out of some of the cups is nowt to worry about.
Just grease them every couple of months and dont worry about them.

IamRobbie · Apr 23, 2016

I grease mine from new and when they die they die. Replace with hardy spicer or some name like that

tottot · Apr 23, 2016

frog hopper said:
Something a mechanic mate showed me while having a coffee while I was putting new joints in one of my props was to file a groove across the ends of the spider (and clean off filings afterwards) to allow grease into the bearing if the bearing cup was tight against the spider at a future date. Seemed logical to me.

Quality ones come with the groove all ready done. A mate swears an air powered grease gun gets the grease to all journals.

Pricilla · Apr 24, 2016

frog hopper said:
Something a mechanic mate showed me while having a coffee while I was putting new joints in one of my props was to file a groove across the ends of the spider (and clean off filings afterwards) to allow grease into the bearing if the bearing cup was tight against the spider at a future date. Seemed logical to me.

I like that tip....next time I change them I'll look into doing this

The Gribbin · Apr 24, 2016

I found it hard to get my grease gun on to the front UJ nearest the gearbox, so brought a needle attachment for the grease gun... so much easier now, you have to get square on with a bit of pressure to keep a seal as the needle locates into the 'eye' of the grease nipple, and you pump in grease as normal. Made by Sealey, on Ebay for about £5... sorry not any good with linky attachments.

ANR · Nov 30, 2020

What is the best type of grease for the prop shaft? Is it lithium grease? The Haynes manual just says 'appropriate' or something like that.
Andrew

Flossie · Nov 30, 2020

HMP
High melting point.
Use for wheel bearings too.

lynall · Nov 30, 2020

The Gribbin said:
I found it hard to get my grease gun on to the front UJ nearest the gearbox, so brought a needle attachment for the grease gun... so much easier now, you have to get square on with a bit of pressure to keep a seal as the needle locates into the 'eye' of the grease nipple, and you pump in grease as normal. Made by Sealey, on Ebay for about £5... sorry not any good with linky attachments.

That is actuakky a very good tip (geddit!) as I use them pointed tip style greasers are work for steering u/js.

lynall · Nov 30, 2020

ANR said:
What is the best type of grease for the prop shaft? Is it lithium grease? The Haynes manual just says 'appropriate' or something like that.
Andrew

Tbh any grease will pretty much do, the trick is to grease them often, at least a couple of times per year.

The Mad Hat Man · Dec 1, 2020

lynall said:
Tbh any grease will pretty much do, the trick is to grease them often, at least a couple of times per year.

Or before every MoT

. You can check dust caps at the same time.

Also these are good - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREASE-G...391346?hash=item3f1d87fe32:g:0iUAAOxybqpRhei8

lynall · Dec 1, 2020

The Mad Hat Man said:
Or before every MoT . You can check dust caps at the same time.

Also these are good - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREASE-G...391346?hash=item3f1d87fe32:g:0iUAAOxybqpRhei8

So far out of all the grease gun ends I have tried, the best is machine mart about same price as your link, of course thats not delivered, so have to add on other stuff.

Prop Shaft UJ lubrication - some questions :)

Member

Well-Known Member

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads