I finally bought myself a grease gun for christmas, but hadn't got around to using it till today. It's a $40 el-cheapo I got from autopro, couldn't find any cheaper. As far as I know, it hadn't been greased since I've owned it (2 years) and I was getting anxious.

So today I set off to grease my nipples! Started with the two ball joints on one side. I thought I loaded the gun correctly, but after a shitload of pumping, no grease appearing. Struggled to get the gun off the bloody nipple. I finally discovered a technique, first you swing it one way to the maximum angular travel, while pulling outwards slightly. Then swing it the other way doing the same. Usually comes off in 2 or 3 swings.

Okay gun was off, and pumping the lever showed no grease coming out. Grr... so I did something really dumb, I took the head off and of course the spring now shoots the cartridge out and starts spilling grease everywhere. _(!#$*@#$ After struggling to get the head back on against the spring, it occurred to me to pull the spring handle all the way out and re-load as per new. That worked, but not after a good bit off grease was splattered everywhere.

Okay, now the gun is pushing grease out, lots more than before too. Good, so I put it back on the nipple. Soon lose lever resistance and lo, no grease coming out. #$*)@ Theres air in there somewhere...

So I pulls the gun off again and takes a look. Theres a little grub screw type thing with an allen head on the gun head. I wonder what happens if I undo it? So as undo it and hear a quiet pssssssss and then the bolt falls off and grease comes oozing out, non-stop. A SHITLOAD of grease.... the orifice is 10mm circular... and it's not stopping! oh @(#$_@*# wheres the **** bolt gone, find it and fiddle against the ever growing coils of grease on my driveway and finally get it to thread in. Wipe brow off and search for the allen key. After searching around, I discover it's completely embedded in the giant grease turd on the ground. Nip it up and clean up the mess.

Okay, pump again, grease coming out, have another go. This time it's good and only a couple of pumps are required before grease appears under the ball joint boots. Both ball joints easily done.

Next, can't find the nipple on the upper A-arm. Theres a suspicious threaded hole which looks nipple-sized. Oh well, onto the other side. Ball-joints done easy. This one has an angled nipple where the hole was on the other A-arm. BUT my stupid grease gun won't reach it, it doesn't have enough bend. FFS! I'll have to get an extension... oh well, I need one for the remote linkage anyway.

Okay, onto the rear swingarm pivots. Pop off the rubber bung and theres an amorphous black mass. Pick away at it with a screw driver and a nipple emerges. Unfortunately, grease gun socket is too big to fit onto the nipple because the cover plate thingo is too close. Struggle with the rusty screws holding that on (uh oh, looks like we got rust in the sill ). Finally got a clear view of the swingarm. Pick off more crud, clean up with WD-40.

Now, start pumping. 10 pumps, 20 pumps.... 40 pumps.... 60 pumps... WTF. can't see grease appearing anywhere... is the swingarm hollow?! 80 pumps... 100 pumps. Ah screw it, other side.

Clean up other side similarly and start pumping.... 20 pumps, 40 pumps.... 70 pumps and the grease gun loses resistance. #@(_*@#$ ran out of grease! If only I hadn't wasted it all earlier.


Now, questions:
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1. How many pumps does the rear swingarm pivot take? Where will grease appear from?
2. Where can I buy a grease gun flexible extension long enough to reach the remote change nipple
3. Are grease nipples sold at Supercheap etc? Are they all the same?
4. Is it okay to leave the swing arm nipple cover off



Thanks!!

hg.

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Copper 4 lyfe!

It is hollow actually. Grease would normally come out before too long, but if the plastic bush has been removed or worn away inside the whole arm could fill up.

1.. Lots - the thing is hollow and takes alot - but once done it doesn't take much in the future

2.. Supercheap

3.. Yes - in those racks with the nuts and bolts and things

4.. You can if you want to but looks neater if covered

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I have at least thrown two grease guns into the bin! With great passion, force and loud curse words



I think in most cases they just collapse under the grease pressure Old Minis were fitted with metal pipes, instead of the dreadfull plastic stuff... Good idea to get you hands on a set of them (they last forever). My next set of swing arms will definately get them (repros, actually).

To avoid blockage and dirt from entering the nipple, it's a good idea to fit dust covers Fresh, shiny nipples each time

Cheers,
Jan

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No speakers, no bodykits, no six-inch spacers, no spak filler, no bullshit

I always throw the crappy plastic tubes away and refit the old metal ones.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Some more questions:

5. Can you grease the rear trailing arms without jacking the car up?
6. I suspect there are metric and imperial grease nipples, which one should I get for a '78 clubby?

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Copper 4 lyfe!

An original mini greese nipple has a 1/4 UNF thread and a 5/16 hex. Easy to get from any bearing shop.
Dont forget the nipple on the back of the diff cover for the gear selector linkage and the one at the bottom of the remote housing.

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Have a Nice Day.
If already having a nice day please disregard.

And what a right bastard that diff cover one is to get at... no wonder they don't get greased!:evil:

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Cant get the !@%$ grease gun off the nipple? A great little trick I learnt from a Qantas mechanic. Did you know that the grease gun female nipple is in 2 parts and can be unscrewed? Unscrew it one or two turns and it slips off the nipple. Do it up when its on the nipple and it wont come off.If the nipple is in good nik it wont leak grease when you pump the s...t out of it. Much better seal. Easy Peasy

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Mk1 Cooper S
Mini K Rally car

I just bought me a pneumatic grease gun for $20 ( only cause my aging arthritc hands are starting to object to too much squeezing). Only problem is the destructions say it takes a standard 450gm cartridge but Supercrap blacked that out on the box - takes it but with the gun on the inside of the cartridge and it effectively bulk fills the gun - one of the features I was trying to get away from.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!