Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) First 500

The misses read a thread about Greasing and thought she had caught me on a Porn site

I prefer to discuss supple leather offcuts. The smell can be addictive.

Damn. I forgot to mention the leather and neoprene.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, really Need to get this back on track

My nipples are quite well aligned (steady!) and I'm using Shell Retinax A every 500 miles at present. The car was built with the Devol bushes and damper blades but these have been replaced by bronze bushes and thrust bearings by the previous owner, some 500 miles before I bought the car.

The bottom nipples accept grease easily and I use enough strokes to displace the existing grease i.e. until clean non blackened grease appears around the rebound spring, then I clean it all off. Messy I know, but my thinking is if the grease is black it has debris (dust or metal) in it which will cause wear.

However, I'm having some difficulty greasing via the top nipples. Grease does appear to be going in, but it is very hard to pump it in. I'm hoping that there are holes and galleries in the bushes and that the grease is getting where it should be... time will tell.

Did the last greasing yesterday, and I'm now hoping to add my name on the list for the next production run of DaveW's excellent gaiters, please... PM to follow.

There, not too smutty.... really

The top greasing points are usually very difficult to get any grease into...

Ta Graham

The lubrication holes in the kingpin are very small, and must be cleaned out when installing new ones. I've actually had to dissemble the suspension again after making the mistake of not cleaning them out and finding I could get nothing in. No need for anything fancy, a bit of stiff wire will do the job.

Older standard bushes are plain metal, but I believe Melvyn offers ones with a grease spiral or similar. (He certainly used to, but I never bought them).

Also, certainly with older cars designed for oiling, getting grease in is hard work as it is thicker than oil (duh...). I always used a mixture of grease and oil, but Penrite supply a liquid grease for those who don't want to mix their own.

What are you lot on about? I thought greasing nipples went out with starting handles?

I thought my job was to keep it clean and maybe check tyres now and again in between my annual service. Now I am panicking and will need to dig out the hand book!

You might have a nearly new car, but don't forget (as many have) that it's based on 1930's design. While materials may be much improved over those days, some routine maintenace is still essential. While greasing the front suspension, it also gives you a chance to check around for slackening nuts/bolts etc. All part of the joy of Morgan ownership, getting the owner to interract more with their cars...

Hi Clipper, I had the same thoughts as you last year when I got my Morgan.
The last time I had seriously picked up a spanner was over 30 years ago when I gave my AF sockets, scanners and grease gun away to a friend who was rebuilding an MG.
All you need is a grease gun (preferably with flexible hose to aid connection)
and some scanners and about 30 mins each month and you are sorted.
Not worth worrying about it, and as Graham says part of the joy of ownership.
And the family think I know what I am doing!