Re: U Joints on a '32 901

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2015/12/12 11:36:59

If you read thru the lubrication recommendations over a period of years in the 30s you'll note the did change from a recommendation of heavy oil to grease, both for the universals, king pins, drag link, etc. The logic behind oil was simple, oil is mobile and can flow, grease can not. The universals and king pins have a reservoir (at the center of the universals, at the top on king pins) for oil and under centrifugal force of rotation the oil was "metered" out to the needle bearings; for king pins it was the force of gravity. The admonition against grease was it's lack of flow and danger of rupturing the seals.

I still use heavy oil for the king pins and universals but have gone to chassis grease for the drag link and tie rod ends. At 90,000 miles these are all still tight, no replacements needed as yet. If you find it difficult to oil the universals get a pressure olier like the one shown with a syringe-type tip which pushes the ball check valve in the Alemite fitting to the side, allowing oil to enter.

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