TR2/3/3A Greasing the the Idler lever on front suspension?

[karls59tr]

Replaced it last year. The grease zerk on the bottom faces straight down and close enough to the frame that you can't get a grease gun to fit in there. I'd like to replace the zerk with a 90 degree one (was there a 90 on there from the factory?) but I can't find the right size locally. I'm wondering if the aftermarket replacement is some kind of oddball thread size for the zerk. The threaded portion seems wider than the other grease zerks on the car. Anyone know what size is on there and where I could get one. Maybe the original idler I replaced had so much play in it because no one could get grease in there?

 

[mgedit]

If it a replacement part, perhaps it is metric. I bought a box of various sizes, both in metric and imperial, from Princess Auto a couple of years ago because I got frustrated trying to size zerks in various pieces of machinery. Cheers, Mike

 

[TR3driver]

I'm not certain offhand, but I think the originals may have been 1/16" BSP threads, which would be 28 tpi but larger in diameter than 1/4-28. (.304" according to my chart, which is almost 5/16".) They were definitely right angle.

TRF sells replacements for the original nipples at a premium price, which also suggests they are somewhat unusual threads.

 

[karls59tr]

Thanks for the input guys. I now believe the aftermarket idler lever from Moss must have a metric grease zerk on it. Should have known. Moss could have told them in Taiwan or China to at least put a 90 degree metric zerk on at the factory. Or am I turning into a curmudgeon?layful: