swivels - ep-90 or grease?

Britpart grease, from Paddocks in a squeezy bottle rather than a sachet, is currently GBP 3.65 +VAT for one swivel's worth.

On the invoice as "H0-38 GREASE". I'm pretty sure it's a numeral-zero.

The grease is standard fit these days - go with the grease.

Theoretically forever, and as long as your swivel seals are good that's a fairly good bet.

They recommend flushing it out with EP90 every 2-3 years or so and replacing it, but that's more for the sake of getting contamination out of the way than anything else.

P.

Where the upper and lover are both roller brearings, then grease is fine. Where the top is a Railko Bush I have doubts about whether the bush will be lubcricated sufficiently by grease as the bush is lubricated by splash, so oil may be better in this case.

Is supposed to be "for life", but any water getting in there is likely to reduce this somewhat.

Richard

Twas Wed, 15 Sep 2004 10:42:18 +0000 (UTC) when beamendsltd put finger to keyboard producing:

I have no idea, how do I tell?

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

A lot longer than EP90 if your seals are dodgy. I redid my swivel bearings on a Series a couple of months ago, but I didn't have time to change the swivel seal. Put EP90 in, it all leaked out within a week. The grease has now been in over 2 months and holding fine.

It's not expensive, and at least you don't lose it all if the seals get dodgy.

Alex

I thought that it wasn't suitable for series vehicles as they don't have CV's but UJ's in the swivels, or something like that.

On or around 16 Sep 2004 11:26:19 GMT, Simon Barr enlightened us thusly:

I think it's more about the railko bushes in the top of the swivels, mind. same argument applies to running for extended periods with disengaged FWH.

when they change from railko to rollers, I dunno. or even if they all changed at once, almost certinaly not knowing LR.

Twas Thu, 16 Sep 2004 13:27:16 +0100 when Austin Shackles put finger to keyboard producing:

So how do I find out if I have these bush things in mine and therefor if it's ok to use the grease?

the credit card is standing by here.....

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

And what exactly is a Railko bush anyway?

Is it a plain phosphor bronze type thing?

On or around 16 Sep 2004 13:48:37 GMT, Simon Barr enlightened us thusly:

summat like that. not sure what it's made of and why it's called railko. Series book mentions nowt else, RaRo book only taper rollers for swivels. I suspect but don't know 100% that all 90/110 use taper rollers.

you can always pull the top swivel pin and look :-)

saw my old 110 parked outside the local garage today, sporting some RaRo wheels shod with big knobbly SAT-style (probably Nankang) tyres (no accounting for taste) while the chap who had it's 90 was also there wearing the 15" 8-spokes that were on mine.

Made by Railko and looks a bit like bakelite or something. Railko still exist and still make bushes but all their modern stuff seems to be flash plastic.

Only very early Series II's have a cone bearing in the top of the swivels, most have Rialko bushes. The Rialko bush is best described as a friction lining, it looks and feels similar to clutch/brake linings.

The way to check is the steering arms which connect to the drag link/track rod. If they are attached to the top of the swivel, it's early, with cone bearings. Attached to the bottom of the swivels, it's late, with rialko bushes. If yours is Series IIa then it should have rialko bushes. I think the early ones went out around 1962/3. Apparently, this change occoured from axles numbered 141107339 on (88") and 151108875 on (109") for RHD, and 144104520 on (88") and

The later bushes do not need lubrication, in fact if you look at the design, it's practically impossible to get any EP90 into them from inside the swivel anyway.

Alex

The bush housing material is oil-absorbant - ideally the housing and thrust washer should be soaked in oil for 12 hours before fitting.

Richard

The only sure way in the absence of axle numbers!

In article , Alex writes

If it leaked EP90 out then it will be leaking water IN.

Better to fix all your seals first and then use the grease.

Twas Thu, 16 Sep 2004 22:49:33 GMT when Alex put finger to keyboard producing:

Mine is later than these at 1984, it's an early 110. I'll see if I can get the axle number and look at the steering arms.

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

That's probably the best way, none of us are being much help are we!

Good luck finding the axle number, I couldn't find mine. I've only looked in the area where its meant to be and there's no sign of it. Wire brushed the area, still no sign. I gave up and trusted the parts mans judgement.

Twas 17 Sep 2004 11:40:51 GMT when Simon Barr put finger to keyboard producing:

It's supposed to be on top of the left hand axle tube, but it's raining...... :o(

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Supposed to be yes, reckon mine must've washed off or something!