Help!, I have extensions to the kingpin nipples & wish to grease them, but what make of grease to use. My Morgan is a 1986 +8 located in Australia.
Ron, I will have a minority view here so I expect to be outnumbered or even criticised but here goes.
The majority of 'greasers' pump grease into the stub axle nipple as well as doing the same for the kingpin top nipple. I believe that this is not the best approach and I'll explain why.
Originally, my Plus 8 was fitted with the 'one-shot' oiler that directed engine oil into the front suspension via unions at the kingpin top. When the car was re-chassised by David Rutherford, he removed the 'one-shot' oiler valve and associated pipework and replaced them with a nipple on the kingpin top. David's advice was to use grease (I use Castrol SMX moly grease or similar) in the stub axle and heavy oil (EP90) for the top nipple.
Here's the logic: The kingpin and stub axle not only provides axial / rotational movement (for steering) but also linear movement (for suspension). The problem is the linear movement as this 'sweeps' the grease from between the bearing surfaces.
The stub axle grease nipple injects grease directly through the two bronze bushes. The small diameter oilway through the kingpin was there for directing oil into the area between the bearings. Being an oilway it is too small as well as being rather long as an effective means of greasing with the small but attendant risk of the grease going 'solid' and blocking the oilway.
Morgan didn't use the 'one-shot' oiler for nothing; it's purpose was to direct oil to the area of wear to assist the grease. Essentially the grease formed a seal and the oil provided the means of getting a grease/oil mixture lubricant directly past the bearings and overcome the areas of the kingpin/bearing that would be swept of grease. The problem with the 'oneshot' oiler was over use and modern thin oil: it made an unholy mess of the suspension.
EP90 is much, much thicker and is held in the stubaxle chamber by the grease. To use, pump grease into the stubaxle as usual and using a separate grease gun, inject EP90 into the kingpin top. The gun will go 'solid' when the stubaxle chamber is filled.
This works for me and the kinpins haven't been replaced since 1990 (I don't do a high annual mileage of course!). I stripped sides both down last winter and the wear was well, well within acceptable limits.
As I said on starting out, I expect to have a minority view but though that some might find the solution and particularly the rationale useful or interesting. It works for me!
