Re: Old topics

Posted by BH On 2009/8/28 19:43:03

P.S. - The April, 1955 edition of the Service Counselor advises that no periodic change of the compensator grease was required. However, the unit can be repacked after tear-down and re-assembly by removing a 1/8" pipe plug and installing a grease fitting (temporarily, I presume). This is also illustrated in the factory shop manual.

I can imagine that's how they were filled in production, but it was common practice, in field service back in the day, to fill a grease gun by hand, with a special grease - in the absence of disposable cartridges. Years ago, my dad used to keep a grease gun hand-packed with bearing grease purchased in 5 lb. tubs to lube mower deck bearings.

My point is that the original grease in the compensator would have only (and perhaps unwittingly) been supplemented during routine service if a grease fitting was installed and left in place.

However, I doubt if any engineer ever envisioned that these cars would still be in use over 50 years later. One has to wonder what the useful life of the special grease was. For example, in 1990, I popped the dust caps off the front wheels of a Patrician that hadn't been on the road since 1967, and oil came running out - separated form the soap base of the wheel bearing grease. The special compensator grease had to be a lot more durable than that, but after 50 years...