On the subject of Greasing points and Nipples

[Michael.Brown]

Hi all
On the subject of greasing points and nipples and I hope this might help some others in the future. This applies to my 1942 W/NG but may well be similar to others. Notwithstanding the fact that Zerk nipples would have been standard fitment I have decided to change mine for the "bull nose" type to allow use of a modern gun although the Tecalemit original brass works well on them too.

There are 16 greasing points and where screw type nipples are fitted they are all 1/4" BSF except for the gear change one on mine which is 5/16" BSF (this may have been re-tapped in the past though).

Two nipples (both straight type) are not generally removable: Speedometer drive (formed on the brass plate) and the rear brake spindle (pressed in). The two greasing points for the lower auxiliary spring pivots are part of the pins and can be lubricated with a needle fitting. Front and Rear Hubs require 45 degree type, Gearbox Filler and Gear Change require 90 degree types. All remaining nipples are straight type, 1 on the Kickstart shaft, 5 on the Girders and 2 on the Steering Head.

I fitted copper washers on the Hubs to take up the curvature and fibre washers on the Gearbox shell to permit good orientation.

Mike

[Michael.Brown]

Incidentally an M6 x1 grease nipple is a practical alternative having the same TPI as 1/4" BSF and only slightly smaller O/D if BSF are not available.

Mike

[Bob.Murphy]

Eerrm . . . BSF threads have a cutting angle of 55 deg; Metric (and Cycle Thread) have 60 deg so not really compatible even if the dia and tpi/pitch are the same.

You will get away with it in alloy but don't let an Engineer see you doing it .

Bob.

[Michael.Brown]

Of course you are quite correct Bob, and I would never advocate using the wrong thread type on anything structural. You could regard the nipples certainly as non structural and therefore in the absence of the right nipple the metric will fit well enough especially as there are only possibly a maximum of 3 threads in use.

Mike