TECALEM GREASE GUN Service Bulletin Req'd

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MarshalNorton

MarshalNorton

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May be an elementary question but here goes:
should I be able to get enough hand pump pressure using a Tecalem gun until grease squeezes out like the American grease guns?
I wasn't sure if you just put two pumps into everything and thats it?
I'm used to greasing American zereks which you fill till they squirt out.
Some how I don't feel I'm getting enough grease w/ the Tacalem brass device to adequately fill the pivot?
May be just unfamilar w/ tool? :oops:
I bought a beauty of a vintage commando brass Tecalem off unclvinny. I've been looking for one and found it here.
Thanks,
Marshal
 
Are you trying to lube the swing arm pivot :?: if so it uses gearoil, grease blocks all the lube holes up.I use a Techalmite hand pump filled with oil,messy to store,you have to full the whole pivot up, lots of pumps, then bang you blow the 2ba nut off the end of the silly little bolt :oops: :wink: so now it's only a couple of pumps :idea: and no the little hand pumps don't produce as much pressure as a good modern pump.
 
Do you mean this one ?

TECALEM GREASE GUN Service Bulletin Req'd


These guns don't produce as much pressure and of course they rely on the push action to seat the nozzle on the nipple rather than a positive location. In my experience of using them on older bikes, they will push grease right through but only if the drillings are clear. They won't clear drillings full of hard old grease. They are useful for speedo drives where a high pressure gun can pop things apart (or break the nipple off flush trying to free the gun afterwards). :(
 
I know better than to use on swing arm but thanks for the cautionary warning.
Swing arm has been rebuilt w/ new bushes and 140 lube used only.
I purchased the old school gun cause I wanted to lube the brake pedal pivot and the speedo drive.
Especially the speedo drive at the prices they are fetchin today.
The rear brake pivot I know gets 1 or 2 pumps only.
I would prefer during rear brake inspection springing open the top of the shoes at the cam
and placing a minimal lube on the contacts so it's not thrown all over new shoes.
I was just wondering if anybody uses or used these things from the start and could shed a little
expertise on what I can expect to accomplish w/ it.
Also whats full? a couple pumps into the orfice or do you fill it up till it squeezes out somewhere?
I know of no other device that fits these orifices on Brit Bikes
A forum contributor used to work for the factory maybe he could share some factory info on what they were
capable of accomplishing.
I'm not familar enough to know if I'm doing it properly. I only have grease fitting experience that comes from lubing chassis zereks.
Thanks,
Marshal
 
79x100 knows what I am after thanks.
The old lube has been cleared out I can push a wire in each.
Should I keep pumpin till grease reappears out of the brake pedal pivot somewhere else?
I really want to get the speedo drive full also :P
If this device is not capable of doing what I think it is supposed to do I don't want to be out in the garage for eternity waiting on a miracle.
Thanks,
Marshal
 
They don't last forever.

I still have a small TECALEMIT grease gun (it was originally part of a lawnmower tool kit!)-which served me faithfully for around 30 years, as it was a very handy tool. One day it just stopped working, but because the valve is a sealed unit, I've never attempted to repair it, yet I'm reluctant to throw it away.
 
Another source for this style grease gun is chainsaw shops. They are used to grease the sprocket on the end of the bar. They have a lot of power and they are about the same size. Just messy to fill with grease when you need to refill them.
 
Rennie K,
Thanks but being in the US do you think we have them here?
We seem to be in a world of our own down here
Probably the only non-metric country left.
I know a chain saw dealer I'll ask him
Thanks for the lead.
The only concern is that darn speedo drive.
At close to $100.00 USC
I'm grease N it liberally and often.
Marshal
 
I bought one of those grease guns from Uncle Vinny as well, mainly for use with the speedo gearbox. It occurred to me that it might be useful on the swingarm pivot too. Lovely looking little thing. I haven't tried filling it with grease or oil yet though.

Debby
 
Debby,
you will need some surgical rubber gloves as it is messy as sin to fill up.
Played with it the other day.
If you use those disposable rubber gloves it is managable at best.
I purchased some water proof marine grade wheel bearing grease in a tub.
Easier than spoonin it out of a tube.
I wiped my gloved hands off onto disposable paper towel and had at it.
The plunger works cause grease comes out .
I just don't know how to tell when enough is reached cause works at low pressure.
I been able to get gease tosqueeze out of the unit ? Or if I even put enough in to fill it?
I figured there was a trick with these so I threw it up on the board.
Did you get a vintage brass one w/ a little palm plunger ?
They are well made for sure
Mr Anderson is a nice guy too
Marshal
 
Debby,
almost forgot on pre mk 3s you can pull the center bolt on the swing arm.
I use a long flex lined oil can.
I pump 140 into it till at top of threads and go do something else till it settles down and repeat till full.
Not a fast fill method but will fill till top.
Good rainy day project.
When I replaced my swingarm bushes I filled it till the following day at small increments
as I didn't know any other way. Got it full though.
With new bushes its not something I'm going to have to tend to often.
Napa/Pep Boys should have thes metal bodied oil cans with a long flex fill line.
Marshal
 
almost forgot on pre mk 3s you can pull the center bolt on the swing arm.
I use a long flex lined oil can.
I pump 140 into it till at top of threads and go do something else till it settles down and repeat till full.
Not a fast fill method but will fill till top.
Click to expand...

I find it easiest to remove the central fixing bolt in the swingarm pivot, fill a plastic syringe with 140 wt oil, remove the grease fitting from the spindle cap, and pump in the oil until it begins to ooze out the pivot bolt hole. Then quickly remove the syringe and screw the fitting back in. It helps to make sure the grease fitting is located as near the top as possible (rotate the cap). Don't forget to re-install the spindle fixing bolt.
 
MarshalNorton said:
Almost forgot on pre mk 3s you can pull the center bolt on the swing arm.
I use a long flex lined oil can.
I pump 140 into it till at top of threads and go do something else till it settles down and repeat till full.
Marshal
Click to expand...

Exactly what I do. Then I ride around with a rag in my pocket wiping up after the 'Ho until the oil stops leaking past the rediculously poor rubber "seals". Fortunately the MKIIA spindle on my '74 has those felt wicks like a MKIII, so oil in the spindle is unnecessary. Seems to have worked for 35 years, as the bushes and spindle looked new when I inspected them last year.

Marshall, I think the rider's manual says "one or two pumps" of the grease gun for lube on those. Dunno what grease gun they recommend tho. I'm gonna replace the zerk fitting on my speedo drive with an SAE type so I can use my Sears grease gun.
 
Yes, mine drools all the oil out within a week. This is on my 850. My 750 did the same until I converted it to needle bearings. Some people insist that needle bearings will not hold up. I've thought of pulling the spindle and inspecting it for wear, but I have other things to do. So far I have not noticed any problems.

Back to the 850, that still has its oily bushings - if I pull the centrol bolt to pump in the oil, won't the drive side cap fall off? :?

Debby
 
Debby,
I don't know about the mk111 850's but on my 750cc mk4 swingarm the centerbolt I'm refering to is
located in the middle of the cross bar on top that secures the spindle.
I am able to remove the bolt and fill through the hollow threaded section of the spindle.
Again no speed fill here but gets it in there w/o goin through the end caps.
Never had any experience w/ the mk 111 wicked spindle setup.
Marshal
 
debby said:
if I pull the centrol bolt to pump in the oil, won't the drive side cap fall off
Click to expand...

No it is usually rubbing against the inner primary cover making little circle shapes :roll:
 
No it is usually rubbing against the inner primary cover making little circle shapes
Click to expand...

:shock:

Better check your chaincase alignment! You may be missing some spacers from your chaincase fixing stud.
 
Doesn't anyone use the "semi-fluid grease" that Norton recommends in the manual? It might work better in a grease gun.
 
NorBsa,
That's a brillant way to save a speedo drive.
When I got my bike the nose piece on the end had already launched it self somewhere :cry:
I bought a replacement drive unit in 2004 @ $90.00 so I am taking good care of it.
I like how you showed the step by step process. Very good indeed.
Wish I had this kinda insight and shop to do it in. :x
Everyone remember to vote!!!
Marshal
 
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