Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) One-shot out, zerks in

Can we talk about installing zerks in place of the one-shot oiler? My car has had this done by a PO and I'd like to understand it better. I've read about the supposed ineffectiveness of the oiler but don't understand how pumping grease to that point improves things. Are the king pins modified (ie. drilled) in some way to accommodate the grease? If so, what specifically is done? As always, thanks for sharing hard-earned wisdom.

Tom, in my opinion you are correct to question this ptractice.

There is no point in pumping grease into the same place via two different zerks.

David Rutherford always recommended using EP90 or similar for the top of the kingpin. The stub axle and kingpin oil-way act as an oil chamber and the grease acts as both lubricant to the kingpin bushes and to contain the oil.

The grease gets wiped off by the vertical motion. The oil bleeds out to maintain lubrication.

I had heard the same but using EP140.

Yes, he told me always use a heavy gear oil on the top bush.

There are as many opinions on the one shot as there are Morgans, all I will say is what I have found during ownership of a couple of Plus 8's with the one shot. Provided the one shot is used (cold engine) regularly and sparingly 3 Sec maximum depression of feed button every 200 miles and you are greasing with a good grease every 500 miles this system has worked successfully for me with no appreciable wear to the kingpin bushes over many tens of thousands of miles.
I will admit to liking my cars kept as authentic as possible here and don't like things like spot lamps and badge bars etc hanging off them just to give you a feel for the way I like to run things.

Good luck with your best choice of Morgan

Fill your boots lots of comments here

http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan9.html#Dynamics

The reality is whichever method a little & often works

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you. However, what's the point of pumping grease into the same place via two different routes? One might as well ignore the nipples or zerks on top of the kingpin and use the ones directly on the stub axle.

Grease has been known to congeal and block the oilway in the kingpin. It was designed as an oilway and is therefore a small diameter.

Anyway, as you say John, each to their own. I suspect that owners are more likely to over-grease and therefore any difference in wear is likely to be minimal. Just don't let enthusiasm and over-use cause the grease to contaminate the brake disks and pads!

While I was crawling under the front end and greasing it I noticed for the first time (oops) that the Mulfab thrust bearings appeared to have grease nipples on them - can this be so?

Neither of my sets have nipples. Is a photo possible?

I'll try Dave - a touch of sciatica at the moment but normal service will be resumed asap.