The Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Register Forum

Hello,
I want to grease the outer universals on the drive shafts, does anyone know what size nipple I need to purchase ? The joints are the original ones BTW with the grub screw fitted.
Thanks,
Michael.

I'm fairly confident they are 1/4" UNF with a long shank to make it easier to get the grease gun in between the yokes of the u/j.
Like these....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/36015719 ... 797&crdt=0
Edit: Or better still, these, because we know these are right
http://www.chriswitor.com/proddetail.php?prod=144825RM

Thanks Dave,
I should have checked Chris's site first, he has the right stuff.
Mike.

I have to admit to keeping the old grease nipples when I changed UJs in the past (when they had grease nipples that is!). So I have a 'few' in a drawer. Somewhere!

If you intend to leave the nipples in place (which should be OK) do make sure that t hey don't foul the UJ spider!

Cheers,
Mike.

That's very good advice from Mike (as always), though I believe he means that care has to be taken to avoid a foul with the prop shaft flange rather than with the spider. To expand on this...

When fitting a new UJ having a long grease nipple, it needs to be assembled with the spider in a rotational position such that the nipple won't hit the flange due to the running angle of the prop shaft when on the car. (I wish I could think how to explain that more clearly!) Get it wrong and the nipple will need to be replaced with a plug (grub screw), or the assembly taken apart and refitted correctly.

I've never realised that the rotational orientation made a difference to the position of the grease nipple - I suppose I just assumed that it was symetrical. Many thanks for that insight David - it's the first bit of real "I never knew that" information I've received for a long time where I truly would never have guessed.

But when I last looked at fitting grease nipples to the outer drive shaft coupling I'm sure I concluded it would need an angled nipple, as the coupling was in a tunnel through the trailing arm housing. Or is there a hole in the arm aligning with the nipple to get the grease gun through?

Thanks David! Yes, of course, the nipple fits into the spider! David post has also reminded me that the flange (and the other end on the shaft) is a bit asymmetric allowing a bit more room for a grease nipple so it is important to make sure the hole in the spider is in line with them!

Clifford - I find I'm always learning something new!

Cheers,
Mike.

Clifford Pope wrote:...But when I last looked at fitting grease nipples to the outer drive shaft coupling I'm sure I concluded it would need an angled nipple, as the coupling was in a tunnel through the trailing arm housing. Or is there a hole in the arm aligning with the nipple to get the grease gun through?

I can't recall the situation with the drive shaft outer grease nipple offhand, but I'm sure someone else will know.

I've always partially withdrawn the driveshaft from the swing arm to grease the outer UJ. I've never seen any angle nipple there or a hole in the swing arm itself to give access while the drive shaft is still installed. Can't see any reason why not though although aligning the grease gun through the hole could be interesting!

Cheers,
Mike.