The Ford Barn

PO51 · 10-06-2014, 08:18 PM

I'm quickly putting my 28 open pickup together to trailer down to church for a trunk or treat event, How do you grease the U joint mine does not have a zert fitting on the clam shell cover that encloses the u joint, I'm only going to drive it about 1 mile before it get dis assembled again.

P.S. · 10-06-2014, 08:27 PM

Without the grease fitting on the clamshell, I don't know how you could grease it except through the speedometer gear hole with the speedo gear drive removed. You would have to pump a LOT of grease in there to get it to the U-joint. Tom Wessenberg greases the U-joint well before ever putting the rear end in the car. That's excellent advice.

Tom Endy · 10-06-2014, 08:35 PM

The grease fitting for the U-joint is usually found on the lower right side of the transmission rear bearing retainer.

Tom Endy

Joe K · 10-06-2014, 09:38 PM

If yours is the earlier style "ring" type universal, grease is essential as the ring unit has not bushings or bearings. I've packed mine by hand with good gobs of grease during assembly as I don't have zerks on my covers.

Later OEM and aftermarket "clevis" type universals (made probably by Dana-Spicer then and now - they've got the market almost all to themselves) are not needful of grease as they come pre-lubricated. Some of these type universals targeted at open drive trains DO have zerks (usually at the apex of the cross) but a lot don't and even in open drivetrains are usually designed to last the life of a car (although I have NEVER owned a car that did not need a universal joint sometime in it's life.)

Still, I would give the model A clevis type a good all over coating of grease before I put my axle together simply to prevent corrosion on a part that might otherwise be subject to captured/entrained water picked up from the road.

Joe K

PO51 · 10-06-2014, 09:33 PM

OK I found the parts and in the inner half sphere theren is about a 5/8 hole is there a zert fitting that goes in there or do you just pump the grease in through the hole? If it is just a hole how does the grease stay in?

Tom Wesenberg · 10-06-2014, 10:15 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PO51

OK I found the parts and in the inner half sphere theren is about a 5/8 hole is there a zert fitting that goes in there or do you just pump the grease in through the hole? If it is just a hole how does the grease stay in?

The inner half sphere is what the driveshaft housing pushes against to move the car forward. It needs to be kept well greased as the driveline is bouncing up and down over each bump in the road. It's the outer cast housing, which fits over the bell on the front of the driveshaft, that has the grease zerk, or should have one.

I remove the two bolts holding the speedometer gear and pump grease in the zerk until it comes out the speedometer gear opening, It may well take a full tube of grease to make this happen. I use the original grease gun and had to refill it between 10 and 12 times before grease showed at the speedometer opening.

racingrufus · 10-06-2014, 09:34 PM

Mine has the grease fitting, how many pumps should you pump into it.

Allanw · 10-07-2014, 03:09 AM

I spent Sunday afternoon on my back under the car filling an empty UJ housing... I kept going until I thought my arms were going to fall off.

It's still not coming out the speedo opening.

I hope my arms have recovered by next weekend - I'm tempted to order a pneumatic grease gun

CarlG · 10-07-2014, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allanw

... I'm tempted to order a pneumatic grease gun

Amazon $75

Purdy Swoft · 10-07-2014, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allanw

I spent Sunday afternoon on my back under the car filling an empty UJ housing... I kept going until I thought my arms were going to fall off.

It's still not coming out the speedo opening.

I hope my arms have recovered by next weekend - I'm tempted to order a pneumatic grease gun

If your transmission doesn't have a sealed rear bearing, you could be pumping the transmission full of heavy grease. Just a thought. Its best to pack the area around the U joint with grease when it is installed.

Allanw · 10-07-2014, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

If your transmission doesn't have a sealed rear bearing, you could be pumping the transmission full of heavy grease. Just a thought. Its best to pack the area around the U joint with grease when it is installed.

Yeah.. nah - it's a sealed one!

I put in some while assembling, but didn't want to make it too messy or cover it with crud while assembling.

Now I just have to deal with "Grease Gun Arm"

CarlG · 10-07-2014, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allanw

...Now I just have to deal with "Grease Gun Arm"

See post #9

PO51 · 10-07-2014, 11:52 AM

Can I put lots of grease around the U joint before I connect it to the driveshaft? I'm installing engine and trans into a rolling frame before the cab goes on.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-07-2014, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PO51

Can I put lots of grease around the U joint before I connect it to the driveshaft? I'm installing engine and trans into a rolling frame before the cab goes on.

Yes you can. I put almost a full tube in this one before I installed the tranny.

BTW, I always place the 2 holes in the inner cap shown in the second picture at 9 and 3.

Joe K · 10-07-2014, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

BTW, I always place the 2 holes in the inner cap shown in the second picture at 9 and 3.

And depending on the production year of your half sphere/clamshells - you may not have a choice.

Joe K

Mitch//pa · 10-07-2014, 12:37 PM

i have the same gun carl posted a pic of.. it works great

beechboy · 10-07-2014, 05:50 PM

If you don't have a zerk, can you drill and tap the housing and install a zerk?

Thanks

Tom Wesenberg · 10-07-2014, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beechboy

If you don't have a zerk, can you drill and tap the housing and install a zerk?

Thanks

If your bearing retainer doesn't have the zerk, then feel around for the hole for the zerk. I haven't seen one without the grease zerk or at least the hole for one. If you need original parts give Bert's a call. Bert's 800-321-1931

Gary, that red grease isn't just packed around the joint. It's packed solid and will also get some tranny oil over time. Remember greasing is needed for the bell as well as the U-joint. The grease also lubes the speedometer drive gear.

Pete · 10-07-2014, 07:19 PM

...

Garychinook · 10-07-2014, 06:52 PM

H.
Ii guys,
Certainly new to the model A thing and not new to automotive. So I thought the ujoint was lubed by trans lube draining back and around the ujoint. I don't get how packing grease all around the outside of the ujoint lubes it.
Is there a modern sealed ujoint that is available to install in the driveshaft to eliminate the issue?

Gary

10-06-2014, 08:18 PM	#1
PO51 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 274	U-joint I'm quickly putting my 28 open pickup together to trailer down to church for a trunk or treat event, How do you grease the U joint mine does not have a zert fitting on the clam shell cover that encloses the u joint, I'm only going to drive it about 1 mile before it get dis assembled again.

10-06-2014, 08:27 PM	#2
P.S. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: California Posts: 1,696	Re: U-joint Without the grease fitting on the clamshell, I don't know how you could grease it except through the speedometer gear hole with the speedo gear drive removed. You would have to pump a LOT of grease in there to get it to the U-joint. Tom Wessenberg greases the U-joint well before ever putting the rear end in the car. That's excellent advice.

10-06-2014, 08:35 PM	#3
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: U-joint The grease fitting for the U-joint is usually found on the lower right side of the transmission rear bearing retainer. Tom Endy

10-06-2014, 09:38 PM	#4
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: U-joint If yours is the earlier style "ring" type universal, grease is essential as the ring unit has not bushings or bearings. I've packed mine by hand with good gobs of grease during assembly as I don't have zerks on my covers. Later OEM and aftermarket "clevis" type universals (made probably by Dana-Spicer then and now - they've got the market almost all to themselves) are not needful of grease as they come pre-lubricated. Some of these type universals targeted at open drive trains DO have zerks (usually at the apex of the cross) but a lot don't and even in open drivetrains are usually designed to last the life of a car (although I have NEVER owned a car that did not need a universal joint sometime in it's life.) Still, I would give the model A clevis type a good all over coating of grease before I put my axle together simply to prevent corrosion on a part that might otherwise be subject to captured/entrained water picked up from the road. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

10-06-2014, 09:33 PM	#5
PO51 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 274	Re: U-joint OK I found the parts and in the inner half sphere theren is about a 5/8 hole is there a zert fitting that goes in there or do you just pump the grease in through the hole? If it is just a hole how does the grease stay in?

10-06-2014, 09:34 PM	#7
racingrufus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: alabama Posts: 146	Re: U-joint Mine has the grease fitting, how many pumps should you pump into it.

10-07-2014, 03:09 AM	#8
Allanw Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Whangarei, New Zealand Posts: 298	Re: U-joint I spent Sunday afternoon on my back under the car filling an empty UJ housing... I kept going until I thought my arms were going to fall off. It's still not coming out the speedo opening. I hope my arms have recovered by next weekend - I'm tempted to order a pneumatic grease gun __________________ Allan '29 Tudor, Canadian RHD Whangarei, NZ "Duct Tape can't fix stupid, but it can MUFFLE the sound"

10-07-2014, 11:52 AM	#13
PO51 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 274	Re: U-joint Can I put lots of grease around the U joint before I connect it to the driveshaft? I'm installing engine and trans into a rolling frame before the cab goes on.

10-07-2014, 12:37 PM	#16
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: U-joint i have the same gun carl posted a pic of.. it works great

10-07-2014, 05:50 PM	#17
beechboy Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: springfield oh Posts: 57	Re: U-joint If you don't have a zerk, can you drill and tap the housing and install a zerk? Thanks

10-07-2014, 06:52 PM	#20
Garychinook Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Western WA state Posts: 63	Re: U-joint H. Ii guys, Certainly new to the model A thing and not new to automotive. So I thought the ujoint was lubed by trans lube draining back and around the ujoint. I don't get how packing grease all around the outside of the ujoint lubes it. Is there a modern sealed ujoint that is available to install in the driveshaft to eliminate the issue? Gary