The Ford Barn

700rpm · 08-30-2013, 12:46 AM

I lubed my coupe the other day and had one fitting on the DS front spring shackle that would not take grease. I removed the fitting and cleaned it, and still no good. SO I removed a good fitting from below and used it to replace the one I thought was bad, and it still wouldn't take grease. So it's not the fitting. What is causing this, and what should I try now, short of removing the shackle?

Tom Wesenberg · 08-30-2013, 12:51 AM

Try jacking it up so the shakle moves some, or have someone try to bounce the car up and down near that shackle while you try to pump in the grease. Also you might try heat.

Mike V. Florida · 08-30-2013, 06:39 AM

Yes heat is your friend.

Mitch//pa · 08-30-2013, 06:49 AM

as tom suggested jack it up also try poking around with a long paper clip or dental pick with the fitting out. spray some kroil in it with a straw. i would use heat as a last resort and then very little

700rpm · 08-30-2013, 10:17 AM

So is it just old grease that's hardened in there and needs to be softened up with heat or solvent? Sounds like an easy fix.

Tom Wesenberg · 08-30-2013, 12:17 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 700rpm

So is it just old grease that's hardened in there and needs to be softened up with heat or solvent? Sounds like an easy fix.

Usually that's the case. My temporary front axle also has a couple grease fittings that won't take grease even after I jacked it up. The next time I grease the car I will try heat on them.

Jim/GA · 08-30-2013, 12:50 PM

I also don't feel like the original cone-shape fittings let you build up as much pressure as the newer style grease fittings. So on the screw-in places, like a shackle, I remove the cone fitting if it won't take grease and temporarily screw a modern fitting in. My grease gun really clamps on to them. Sometimes that will give you enough pressure to force some grease, then put the cone fitting back.

columbiA · 08-30-2013, 01:31 PM

Clean out all the old grease that you can,heat the perch,then fill the hole with a good penetrating oil- not WD-40 & quickly install a modern fitting.With the weight off the shackle,It should take grease.This method has always worked for me.

ford3 · 08-30-2013, 04:08 PM

have a friend run the grease gun while you smack the shackle with a 2# hammer, hit as close to the fitting as you can

700rpm · 08-30-2013, 05:00 PM

It has the modern fitting. I'll try some of these solutions and report back.

700rpm · 08-31-2013, 10:52 PM

I removed the fitting and cleaned out the shackle with a piece of wire. Then replaced the fitting and with a lot of pressure I was able to force the new grease in. I didn't use any heat.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Mitch//pa · 09-01-2013, 07:40 AM

thanks for the update ray i was hoping the wire would work before having to resort to heat.

08-30-2013, 12:46 AM	#1
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	How to lube a reluctant shackle--Followup I lubed my coupe the other day and had one fitting on the DS front spring shackle that would not take grease. I removed the fitting and cleaned it, and still no good. SO I removed a good fitting from below and used it to replace the one I thought was bad, and it still wouldn't take grease. So it's not the fitting. What is causing this, and what should I try now, short of removing the shackle? __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. Last edited by 700rpm; 08-31-2013 at 10:50 PM.

08-30-2013, 12:51 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? Try jacking it up so the shakle moves some, or have someone try to bounce the car up and down near that shackle while you try to pump in the grease. Also you might try heat.

08-30-2013, 06:39 AM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida between Sarasota and TampaSouth Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? Yes heat is your friend. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

08-30-2013, 06:49 AM	#4
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? as tom suggested jack it up also try poking around with a long paper clip or dental pick with the fitting out. spray some kroil in it with a straw. i would use heat as a last resort and then very little Last edited by Mitch//pa; 08-30-2013 at 06:56 AM.

08-30-2013, 10:17 AM	#5
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? So is it just old grease that's hardened in there and needs to be softened up with heat or solvent? Sounds like an easy fix. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

08-30-2013, 12:50 PM	#7
Jim/GA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Young Harris, GA Posts: 1,964	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? I also don't feel like the original cone-shape fittings let you build up as much pressure as the newer style grease fittings. So on the screw-in places, like a shackle, I remove the cone fitting if it won't take grease and temporarily screw a modern fitting in. My grease gun really clamps on to them. Sometimes that will give you enough pressure to force some grease, then put the cone fitting back. __________________ Jim Cannon Former MAFCA Technical Director "Spread the Joy! Have a Model A day!"

08-30-2013, 01:31 PM	#8
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? Clean out all the old grease that you can,heat the perch,then fill the hole with a good penetrating oil- not WD-40 & quickly install a modern fitting.With the weight off the shackle,It should take grease.This method has always worked for me.

08-30-2013, 04:08 PM	#9
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? have a friend run the grease gun while you smack the shackle with a 2# hammer, hit as close to the fitting as you can

08-30-2013, 05:00 PM	#10
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle? It has the modern fitting. I'll try some of these solutions and report back. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

08-31-2013, 10:52 PM	#11
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle--Followup I removed the fitting and cleaned out the shackle with a piece of wire. Then replaced the fitting and with a lot of pressure I was able to force the new grease in. I didn't use any heat. Thanks for all your suggestions. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

09-01-2013, 07:40 AM	#12
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: How to lube a reluctant shackle--Followup thanks for the update ray i was hoping the wire would work before having to resort to heat.