Getting the swingarm lubed

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Hey Chap

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Oct 25, 2007
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So, does anybody have a method of getting 140wt oil through the zerk fitting and into where it will do some good in the swingarm?
 
Hey Chap said:
So, does anybody have a method of getting 140wt oil through the zerk fitting and into where it will do some good in the swingarm?
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Remove the fitting and squirt the oil in with a syringe. I use 90W gear oil and it seems to work fine but probably leaks out more readily.
 
I put the bike on the sidestand (this puts the air at the highest point near the zerk), remove the jerk fitting and then use a small oilcan to squirt ithe EP140 in, takes ages as you have to wait for the air to come out after each squirt, its full when no more bubbles appear.
 
Well I have been removing the "grease nipple" and then injecting 'Silkolene' chain lube..

This is relatively free flowing and yet retains the adhesion associated with chain lube ~

With the tube attached I carefully and slowly inject the lube into the bushing ~ too fast and the grease spills out ~

I have used this technique for some years now and feel comfortable with the result ~ 8)
 
1) Remove the 1/4-28 bolt holding the spindle.

2) Remove the zerk fitting.

3) Pump 140 wt oil in the zerk opening with a large syringe and a section of vacuum hose to form a reasonable seal to the hole until the oil oozes out of the spindle retaining bolt hole.

4) Remove the syringe and quickly replace the zerk fitting.

5) Replace the spindle retaining bolt.
 
I fill a grease gun with gear lube and use the zerk. What am I missing? Why doesn't everybody do it that way?
 
I tried a grease gun w/140 wt but the stuff came out of every end of the gun as it filled through the zerk. Quite a mess. What kind of gun are using? does it dispense without getting everywhere?
 
lubing the swing arm

Norton really was not thinking on in this area. Even if you can get a tight seal using a grease gun with thick oil, to get anything in there you need an air escape path. I used a lube pump with hose attached and clamped an air needle used for sports balls on the end. Take out the zirc, insert needle and pump in the oil. Was still messy as not much air gets out.

David
 
I'm with BrianK on this one, just got to be carefull when the air had gone cos you'll blow the ends off.
Got the medals for that one :oops:

Cash
 
Got a question about the oil. I haven't done intensive searching, but what I have found so far is only multiple viscosity gear oil, like 75-140W or 85-140W. Is this acceptable to put in the swingarm?
 
Yer doin' better than me Dawg, I use 90W gear oil.

It does run out of the grease gun if you let the gun sit. You need to just put in enough for one use. I use Royal Purple gear oil, GL-4, although I'm trying to get up the gumption to use GL-5, in which case I'll switch to Redline Shockproof Heavy gear oil - flows great but apparently the equivalent of 250 weight when hot.
 
I use a conventional oil can with a few inches of clear windscreen washer hose. One end is fitted tightly over the spout and the other end is pressed over the grease nipple with hand pressure. The trick is to use a pointed tool (e.g. scriber) to press the little ball valve in the grease nipple inwards every so often to allow air to escape after a certain amount of oil is pumped in. Otherwise, you're just compressing the air inside. Pump till you feel resistance, remove the hose, press on the little ball valve in the nipple until you hear a hiss, repeat till oil emerges from the nipple as you depress the little ball valve.
 
If you remove the spindle locking bolt, it will vent from there and filling is quite quick with no "burping" issues.
 
I have recently moved house and my manuals are packed away ,Can soebody point me to the "spindle locking bolt" as i plan to try and get some oil into the swingarm this weekend. I have 80/140 gear oil at hand will that suffice?
Cheers
 
Once I saw a Commando who's owner had fitted a little can underneath the seat wich contained the oil and a thin hose straight to the upper hole of the swinging arm. There he had a banjo with a hollow bolt (similar to the ones on the cylinder head). That way he knew that whenever the tin was empty he had to refill with oil and the swinging arm was always filled to the top.

Dunno if I've explained it correctly :? . Anyone has ever seen something like that?
 
I've simply fitted a hollow bolt to replace the one that holds the spindle. Then attached a clear plastic pipe up to the level of the battery. Fill with 140 weight oil and you can watch it go down slowly over the months, whilst dripping on the floor from time to time (a few drops per week). The swinging arm bushes are always wet!

Fortunately or unfortunately, this is the only leak on the bike!
 
They used to have small oil cups for electric motors and such that would do this pretty well.
 
HEY BRIAN K, Did ever think you'd see two pages of posts, on how to lube the frick'n swing arm?????
 
When it comes to our Nortons, I think some, myself included, become somewhat anal. That being said, I do like the idea of the constant feed mentioned.
 
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