Willie Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Hi Everyone, I have discovered missing dust covers on a couple of front trunnion joints on my 1964 TR4. I plan to take the components apart to install new covers and I wondered what advice you guys would give on whether it is best to pack the trunnions with plenty of grease or use SAE 90 oil instead. I grease the points several times a year, so am confident the threads are well lubricated. I have seen critical references to this, with there being an obvious preference in some circles for the oil option. I would appreciate others' views. Best wishes Willie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Triumph Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Triumph specified EP90 gear oil for TR trunnion lubrication from about 1960 onwards, before that it was grease. I was informed by a retired Triumph development engineer that during the Fifties, they had seen some trunnion failures due to grease hardening and turning to a non-lubricating powder, hence the change to oil. Modern greases are much more stable, so a good high melting point grease e.g. Castrol LM is suitable. Many on the forum use Moly grease, as used in modern CV joints. I use EP90 GL4 in the trunnions of my TR6, applied pretty well every time I have cause to jack up the front of the car. If choosing to use oil for the trunnions, note that EP90 is not the same as SAE90. Trunnions need an 'extreme pressure' lubricant, EP90. It's also important that the EP90 is a GL4 type. The additives in the widely available GL5 version can attack yellow metal. Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 (edited) CV joint grease in my TR6 and the 4A. It stays in there. Edited January 16, 2017 by peejay4A Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Oil. After seeing a Spitfire's joint snap, I was convinced. It was filled with grease. Menno Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 (edited) Hi Folks, grease for me - Aeroshell7, renewed/topped up annually. Roger Edited January 16, 2017 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kob666e Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Grease and gear oil mixed 50/50 in a jar and keep a little grease gun full just for the trunions. It's neither too thick to set, or so thin that it all leaks out onto the inside of the tyres.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 Oil. I use EP140. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 EP90 for me .... Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveR Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 (edited) I concur with Nigel, Standard Triumph specified EP90 GL4 gear oil for TR trunnion lubrication from about 1960 onwards, before that it was grease. Same reasons. Dave Edited January 16, 2017 by DaveR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John L Posted January 16, 2017 Report Share Posted January 16, 2017 You may have to solder round the washer at the base of the trunion to make its oil tight! J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Willie Posted January 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 A big thank you to everyone who has replied. John L's comment about ensuring the end cap is leak-proof suggests that to this day the design assumes grease is used. I did wonder about mixing oil & grease. The highly viscous 140 EP sounds like a good compromise! I assume this is only applied through the bottom grease nipple, with the other two being greased? Willie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 You may have to solder round the washer at the base of the trunion to make its oil tight! J Like this Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveR Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 I agree its worth checking for leakage. With the original Stanpart trunnions oil leakage wasn't a problem. However, some of the later replacement trunnions it has been a problem. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted January 17, 2017 Report Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) I have gone from EP140 to worm steering box oil. Simply because I ran out of EP140 and always have steering box oil on the shelf. http://www.millersoils.co.uk/automotive/tds-automotive.asp?prodsegmentID=153§or=Classics Cheers Peter W As I now have a dedicated grease gun filled with this oil, my next mod will be a grease (oiler) nipple on the steering box so I can fill/top up without dribbling oil down the outside of the steering box casing. Edited January 17, 2017 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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