driveshaft question

[timbn2]

why is there a hole in the center on the top of the end that has the grease nipple? won't that let the grease ooze out? what am i missing?

thanks
tim

 

[Dave Russell]

Not sure what you are referring to. The trunion (center four arm piece) is drilled & tapped for a grease fitting. From this point each of the four legs is drilled from the outside ends to the center. Grease travels from the center to the ends of the legs. Each leg has a cup with needle bearings over it. The cups are sealed at their open ends with ring seals to keep the grease in. What am I missing?
D

 

[Keoke]

why is there a hole in the center on the top of the end that has the grease nipple? won't that let the grease ooze out? what am i missing?

thanks
tim

Well let me guess too. I think yes the grease will leak out into the bearings under the caps when you grease the spider or the shaft is spinning.---Keoke-?

 

[John Loftus]

why is there a hole in the center on the top of the end that has the grease nipple? won't that let the grease ooze out? what am i missing?
thanks
tim

The hole is there to allow the drive shaft (spline area) to move freely in/out when the rear end goes up/down via the rear suspension and when the motor moves fore/aft. Without the hole there would be a vacuum (edit .. and compression) effect. When you first fill the drive shaft with grease and compress it all the way by hand, excess grease will come out the hole. Wipe this off and you are good to go.

Cheers,
John

 

[Dave Russell]

John,
I wasn't sure which fitting Tim was referring to. I guess you answered my question, "What am I missing?"
Thanks,
D

 

[Keoke]

Keoke too---- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif

 

[John Loftus]

glad I could 'shine some light' /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

I wonder though, if my instructions to 'compress fully by hand to push grease out' is the best? Now thinking that may be far more compression than the drive shaft will ever see and remove more grease than necessary. I suppose you could install the drive shaft. Drive for awhile to force some of the grease out and then clean off the excess grease. Or look closely at the drive shaft splines to see if there is evidence of shaft travel and just compress to that level. Or grease after the shaft is installed and stop when grease starts to come out the hole. Take your pick!

Cheers,
John

 

[Dave Russell]

I doubt if it matters much - as long as there is "some" grease in the joint.
D

 

[timbn2]

thanx guys!

 

[Keoke]

I doubt if it matters much - as long as there is "some" grease in the joint.
D

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif Still gonna leak out all over the tunnel.---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif