Richard Pope Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 I've searched but found few posts on this .... I recently saw one should use Constant Velosity joint grease in trunnions. What is the current majotity recommendadtion for lubricating trunnions, please. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harlequin Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 I am about to change from CV grease to steering box oil G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 This works well https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204000795608 Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
astontr6 Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 3 hours ago, Richard Pope said: I've searched but found few posts on this .... I recently saw one should use Constant Velosity joint grease in trunnions. What is the current majotity recommendadtion for lubricating trunnions, please. I have used CV grease for over 40 years and I am still on the original trunnions. When I tested some new replacements, they had more play in them than my originals, so I reused my originals. But I do grease them every other year as I only do 2 to 3 k per annum. Bruce. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 2 hours ago, astontr6 said: I have used CV grease for over 40 years and I am still on the original trunnions. When I tested some new replacements, they had more play in them than my originals, so I reused my originals. But I do grease them every other year as I only do 2 to 3 k per annum. Bruce. New Moss supplied ones are every bit as good as originals Stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CP26309 Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 Oil it is then! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 You'll need some sort of oil gun. I used oil once but it was pretty messy to inject and I have some suspicions about the ability of the old trunnions to retain oil. For the last 10 years or so I've used moly grease. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 That is a low velocity joint that was designed to operate in an oil bath. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John McCormack Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 The same oil is recommended for my TR2 trunnions. I've been using modern greases for 39 years and about 150,000 miles. Still on the same trunnions and they are in good nick. I tend to grease them every 3- 6 months. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSM Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 EP 140 gear oil Harvey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Schnippel Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 Hello, I don't think it makes any difference fat or oil. The main thing is that the pivot bearing is screwed onto the axle carrier as far as possible and no water can penetrate. Many greetings Ralph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
astontr6 Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 10 hours ago, stuart said: New Moss supplied ones are every bit as good as originals Stuart Yes it was Moss who were supplying the sub- standard ones as usual. I am very careful when buying anything from them. Over the years I have dealt with them I have had too many rejections, all on quality. Bruce. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 If you use oil (personally I don't) make sure that there is a good seal around the bottom caps of your trunnion or the oil will be gone in no time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, Schnippel said: Hello, I don't think it makes any difference fat or oil. The main thing is that the pivot bearing is screwed onto the axle carrier as far as possible and no water can penetrate. Many greetings Ralph Hi Ralph, I did that some years ago and remember it is one turn more possible with the caliper bracket detached from the vertical link. This is what you mean with „as far as possible“? My old trunnions have not been detachable with the bracket bolted on the vertical link. So the former owner did it correctly. Btw I use oil because my new trunnions have been oil sealed the way I put them out of the box. Ciao, Marco Edited July 28, 2022 by Z320 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Pope Posted July 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 So the conclusion is oil, CV grease or other grease!! I've totally stripped things and cleaned my trunnions and everything else and all new seals etc. as part of my restore. I am leaning towards non-oil because of leaks and mess but will decide later. Thanks for all replies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytr5 Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 I soldered the bottom of the exterior trunnions (new Moss) and use Penrite semi fluid grease which I do every year. I maybe right or maybe wrong but that is what I do. Regards Harry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyb633 Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 i use oil and there is an easy way to fill trunnions without mess . get a grease nipple that fits the thread , drill out the spring and ball bearing leaving a nice clean hole [ after washing ] then connect a rubber pipe to your oil can , push the other end on the nipple and simply pump in your oil till trunnion is filled . you will get a small amount of oil from the top of the trunnion seal when it is full . simples . andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSM Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 I just fill my grease gun with oil ( trunnions have grease nipples in them ) Harvey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Z320 Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 (edited) Drilled grease nipple here too, with a small 5 ml syringe filled with oil, pushed direct in the drilled nipple it seals well Edited July 28, 2022 by Z320 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
michaelfinnis Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 I find that If you unscrew the grease nipple the tip of an old style lever pump oil can held against the hole will seal nicely and allow you pump oil in. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DenisMc Posted August 1, 2022 Report Share Posted August 1, 2022 (edited) Hello Richard, I have been following this thread with interest! I have a TR5 and use Castrol High Temperature grease for both the lower steering swivel and the upper ball joint. According to Castrol, this is the modern equivalent to Castrol LM grease as recommended for this purpose in the Haynes Triumph TR5 & 6 Owners Workshop Manual. In fact, the blanking plug on the OS swivel does not seal well and to improve this I apply a small hydraulic jack to it. By doing so I can then get the old grease to extrude from the joint as I pump new grease in. If I used oil it would soon be lost. Regards, Denis Edited August 2, 2022 by DenisMc typo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 This works pretty well to oil the trunnions: Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Pope Posted August 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 Thanks all for your opinions. I'm leaning towards not using oil but some type of grease. I know people say it was designed for oil but in the 50's there were not the products available today. If there were, perhaps they would have used a grease - or further perhaps use a ball joint and not a trunnion. To me oil will simply leak out from the seals and generally appears to me not to be the best solution. A grease of some sort will stay inside and lubricate better as oil will drain away due to gravity. I'm refurbishing everything so all new seals, etc. I'm not too bothered about the mess of filling and think the oil can solutions above are good, but am pretty sure I'll go for a grease type solution. Richard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSM Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 Just a thought remember all those Morris Minors in the 60s at the side of the road with one of the front wheels hanging off using the recommended grease in their brass trunnions. Harvey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, HSM said: Just a thought remember all those Morris Minors in the 60s at the side of the road with one of the front wheels hanging off using the recommended grease in their brass trunnions. Harvey I think that failure may have also had a lot to do with NOT greasing at the specified intervals rather than the lubricant used. In days of yore the GPO used to replace the Morris Minor van front suspension upright and trunions every year as routine maintenance. I had a friend who was a mechanic for them and he did a roaring trade in part worn suspensions for Minors. Peter W Edited August 2, 2022 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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