15 replies to this topic

[pusb]

I'm trying grease the suspension points like a good Mini owner.

 

I wont bore you with the details of struggling to even load the gun to start with, but I have the grease gun fitted to the radius arm nipples, and when I press the plunger all that happens is the grease just goes all over the actual grease nipple. I don't think any is going inside. I thought maybe the little ball joint on the grease nipple was stuck, so I pressed it down with a dart, and grease seemed to come up out of the nipple then.

 

Anyone have any ideas as to where I'm going wrong?

[sonikk4]

Most if not all of the nipples can be removed. Take them out and give them a good clean with something like brake cleaner. Refit then try greasing again. 

[Tamworthbay]

Have you tightened the grease gun onto the nipple? I find a flexible pipe helps no end as the rigid ones can be a pain to get right.

[pusb]

Have you tightened the grease gun onto the nipple? I find a flexible pipe helps no end as the rigid ones can be a pain to get right.

 

I just pushed it on until it clicked. Is there a way to tighten it?

[Tamworthbay]

Have you tightened the grease gun onto the nipple? I find a flexible pipe helps no end as the rigid ones can be a pain to get right.

 
I just pushed it on until it clicked. Is there a way to tighten it?

the end should have a screw thread. I loosen mine off to get it on then screw it up tight.

[sonikk4]

There are some very poor quality grease guns out there and i must admit i have bought one which is now a member of the binned tooling section in my workshop.

 

I do have another one which i bought flexi heads for and actually works. You do need to support the grease head to get a decent connection and even then you may need to manoeuvre it around until the grease starts to go in.

 

We even have this issue with the guns we use at work including the pneumatic and battery powered ones. 

[pusb]

There are some very poor quality grease guns out there and i must admit i have bought one which is now a member of the binned tooling section in my workshop.

 

I do have another one which i bought flexi heads for and actually works. You do need to support the grease head to get a decent connection and even then you may need to manoeuvre it around until the grease starts to go in.

 

We even have this issue with the guns we use at work including the pneumatic and battery powered ones. 

 

I will try in the morning then of holding the head in place to see if I can get a better connection.

 

Also can anyone describe exactly where my front ones will be? I have looked at the pictures in the Haynes manual and it looks completely different to anything I have!

[PaulColeman]

I've had two air powered grease guns and neither of them have worked properly. I'm now using a manual one my Dad had had in his garage for more than 30 years.

 

It may have been that it was full of grease and couldn't take any more?

 

Paul.

[pusb]

I've had two air powered grease guns and neither of them have worked properly. I'm now using a manual one my Dad had had in his garage for more than 30 years.

 

It may have been that it was full of grease and couldn't take any more?

 

Paul.

Well I thought that as when I pushed a dart into the ball joint grease squirted out of it, but is it not supposed to come out further down the radius arm if its full?

[Tamworthbay]

I've had two air powered grease guns and neither of them have worked properly. I'm now using a manual one my Dad had had in his garage for more than 30 years.
 
It may have been that it was full of grease and couldn't take any more?
 
Paul.

Well I thought that as when I pushed a dart into the ball joint grease squirted out of it, but is it not supposed to come out further down the radius arm if its full?

yes it will, always worth pumping it until the grease comes out clean then wipe off the excess. The only exception is if the grease tube is damaged, then it takes about one and half tubes to completely fill the arm with grease (don't ask me how I know).

[RedRuby]

At the front you will have a grease nipple on each of the top arms, I have put a link to a picture of one below, you can see the nipple, it's the small silvery looking protrusion. Then you will have 4 other grease nipples, one on each of the ball joints, they are screwed into the lock washer that secures the ball joint dome nut.

http://www.minispare...|Back to search

[pusb]

At the front you will have a grease nipple on each of the top arms, I have put a link to a picture of one below, you can see the nipple, it's the small silvery looking protrusion. Then you will have 4 other grease nipples, one on each of the ball joints, they are screwed into the lock washer that secures the ball joint dome nut.

http://www.minispare...|Back to search

 

Thanks, that's a big help.

[surfblue]

I've had two air powered grease guns and neither of them have worked properly. I'm now using a manual one my Dad had had in his garage for more than 30 years.

 

It may have been that it was full of grease and couldn't take any more?

 

Paul.

It cant be full of grease, the grease is forced out of the joint when it's going in properly, not the nipple.

[pusb]

Managed to get them done in the end. The reason I couldn't see the front ones was they all had about an inch underseal and dirt on them!

 

The front ones hardly took any grease though, is that normal? The back ones took loads.

[sonikk4]

Managed to get them done in the end. The reason I couldn't see the front ones was they all had about an inch underseal and dirt on them!
 
The front ones hardly took any grease though, is that normal? The back ones took loads.

Yes it's normal due to the size difference.