Greasing

[30-9]

Hi Gents

I’m having hard time getting grease into king pins. Is it necessary to take weight off front end?

[JSeery]

No, it really shouldn't make any difference. Have you been able to grease them in the past?

[deuce5wndw]

No shouldn't have to jack it up. Usually it is because the grease is old and dried up in the fittings. Screw them out and clean them and while you have them out check that the grease hole in the bushing is lined up with the fitting.

[corvette8n]

Get your self one of these.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wmr-w54209/overview/

[30-9]

Ok thanks. Let me try taking off zests and cleaning.

Btw is there drawings showing all fittings to be greased. I checked owner manual and vanpelts site without finding.

[Seth Swoboda]

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While you're checking on the king pins, check to see if they are worn. I found that when I install new king pins and have them honed to fit, the steering and handling of the front end is greatly improved. It'd be worth the time and effort.

[KGS]

Originally Posted by 30-9

Btw is there drawings showing all fittings to be greased. I checked owner manual and vanpelts site without finding.

If you have an original owners manual, you will find a "lubrication and maintenance chart" in the center of the manual. Any part marked with an "A" indicates that it should be greased with pressure gun lubricant. All other points to be oiled or greased are depicted on this chart. Ford recommends this maintenance to be done each Fall and Spring.

[30-9]

Found it thank you!

[Kube]

Actually one should always take the weight off of the spindle pins when greasing. That isn't backyard mechanic advice but rather professional (schooled) advice.

[JSeery]

Kube, any input as to why there is an advantage?

[flatford8]

I always jacked up a vehicle because I just thought it was easier to get them to take grease. Some times if I had a helper I would have them turn the steering wheel back and forth to get the grease all around the pin..... Mark

[marko39]

If old grease is dry you can warm up with a heat source. I had a old truck that most fittings would not take grease and a few minutes of the torch fixed them. You should try a heat gun first.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 30-9

Found it thank you!

Are you wanting a car or a truck lube chart? Here is a 1940 car chart.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Kube, any input as to why there is an advantage?

I was taught that the side of the pin that was weighted against the bushing would not be easily lubricated. To avoid this possibility, simply removing the weight from the pin assured an even application of lubricant.
Now, away from my schooling and in to the real world... I'd witnessed numerous times, mostly the old Ford I-Beam trucks wherein the pins would wear seemingly prematurely. These were on client's vehicles that were in fact well maintained. The common denominator? Vehicles were lubricated with the weight on them.

[richard crow]

have you ever herd of a grease pit. years ago when they were in use you drove the car over it & it was greased from below with all four wheels on the grond how quick we forget but then again a lot of you are young & never saw them

[aussie merc]

there are 2 reasons to raise vehicle 1 lifting the axle will take the weight off the thrust race and allow it to take grease correctly 2 raising the vehicle will take any side load off the upper and lower bushes ensuring that they are fully lubed not just on one side also [instructions from avon meritor worlds largest and longest manufacturer of beam and solid type axles ] They also recommend rotating from lock to lock while lubing

[deuce5wndw]

Originally Posted by Kube

Actually one should always take the weight off of the spindle pins when greasing. That isn't backyard mechanic advice but rather professional (schooled) advice.

Never too old to learn something!

[A bones]

Originally Posted by deuce5wndw

Never too old to learn something!

Very true. The point that Kube makes seems perfectly logical. The other side of the argument points to real life experience.

I worked in grease pits, and under the old Globe drive on hydraulic lifts.

The fact that that's the way we did it, does not change the fact that with no weight on the axle, the grease can better flow into all areas.

Let us know what worked.

[Clem Clement]

My Model A only takes grease with the car jacked up

[Dave Castle]

Originally Posted by JSeery

No, it really shouldn't make any difference. Have you been able to grease them in the past?

Totally incorrect, all weight should be taken off front end when greasing the king pins ! I professionally maintained equipment for over 40 years.

[cmbrucew]

Large trucks and equipment very often you would need to lift up and let down all four corners to get pins and shafts to take grease.


Bruce

[petehoovie]

"all weight should be taken off front end when greasing the king pins!"

I never knew this. Very informative thread here....

[big job]

It takes 20 seconds to jack it up ! or maybe 1/2 hour to find a jack LOL or grease a
class 8 truck which will be an education for the use of a jack..

[supereal]

The usual problem when kingpins won't take grease is that at sometime the bushings were replaced and they were not drilled for access for the grease, or the holes were too small. The holes are carefully drilled through the grease filling holes after the bushings are in place.

[30aadoodlebug]

This sounds like the new "what type of oil should I run in my flathead?" thread! Interesting reasoning from both side of the aisle.

[tubman]

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Originally Posted by 30aadoodlebug

This sounds like the new "what type of oil should I run in my flathead?" thread! Interesting reasoning from both side of the aisle.

Hmmmm, I don't see anyone explaining why leaving the chassis "loaded" is of any advantage. After reading this thread, I will be doing my grease jobs "unloaded".

[30aadoodlebug]

tubman,

In my avitar picture of me with one of my model a's, notice she is jacked up for a front end grease job. Just being a whippersnapper!!!

[FlatheadTed]

'We recently fitted new king pin bearing to a 39 because they were ceased up ,after reading this thread I went out and checked a set of early king pins (rod brake type ) I noticed a slot in them to feed grease up into the bearing but its on the side not in line with the zerk/nipple so its not going to work ? it would take lots of pumping to get any grease up there ,

[Brian]

Ted, Check the bush; it should have an elliptical groove in it running from the grease hole, to enable grease to both lubricate the entire circumference of pin, and also intersect with your afore mentioned groove in pin, to grease the thrust bearing.

[FlatheadTed]

Ok Thanks Brian ,you learn something every day (Me doh)

[Talkwrench]

this has been an interesting one...

[Bored&Stroked]

Well - I happen to have a 2-post hydraulic lift . . . and I'm way too lazy to lay on the ground and grease anything . . . so I always put my cars up on the lift. This gives me a chance to see where the grease is going, makes it easy to wipe off the excess and also to inspect everything on the chassis.

Now that I'm 60, the thought of ever laying on a "creeper" again - makes me ill.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Brian

Ted, Check the bush; it should have an elliptical groove in it running from the grease hole, to enable grease to both lubricate the entire circumference of pin, and also intersect with your afore mentioned groove in pin, to grease the thrust bearing.

Brian, I have never removed an authentic bushing on either a '39 or a '40 that had a groove in it.
I'm not suggesting it didn't happen in the rest of the world, but with dozens done, I've never witnessed a single one.