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Topic starter
Group:
We are in the process of doing the first annual on our 108-2 since we owned it just one year. During the annual I tried to grease the fitting on each landing gear hinge point however both would not accept grease. Both zerks were open as I tested them by running a small wire in them since they are the old fashion type without ball check valves. I found it impossible to hold enough pressure on the grease gun to pump grease in the zerk without grease ozzing out the grease gun fitting. So I assumed that zerks may have been overlooked for the past 40 years or so during annuals and just needed to be hit with some pressure to get it to accept grease. I invested in a "Grease Buster" grease gun that positively locks onto the zerk. The Grease Buster prevented any grease from ozzing out underneath the grease buster coupling however I was amazed at how hard I had to pump the grease gun to get any grease into the landing gear. After pumping the gun as hard as I could pump the lever type grease gun, I managed to get some grease to ozze out one end of the joint.
Have any of you had similar experience?
Posted : 06/12/2016 2:39 am
Yes, in near 48 years of ownership, I have never been able to get any grease in there. I even bought a new set of the bronze bushings that go in there but have never installed them. Actually, there is very little movement on that pin and the bronze bushings are probably somewhat self lubricating and it is possible that the initial factory lubrication or any subsequent disassembly and lubrication on assembly may be sufficient. After all this time there is no discernable wear noticed in any loosness of the LG at this point. I removed the landing gear pins on a spar parts Stinson airframe that I bought many years ago and getting those pins out was very difficult and they did not show wear,. As I recall, the bushings do not have a hole or a groove for grease to flow from the grease fitting to the movement area so it may be impossible for them to work. Perhaps someone else has a different experience.
Posted : 10/12/2016 6:43 am
Topic starter
Thank you Larry:
I finally got some grease in the zerks but only after tremendous efforts on a grease fun with a locking nipple "Grease Buster."
I suspect that you are right Larry about the fact that the zerk may not have an opening to the inside of the bushing. I had a bit of grease come out of the joint but I could not tell.
Thanks Larry.
Posted : 10/12/2016 10:22 pm
Topic starter
Thank you Larry:
I finally got some grease in the zerks but only after tremendous efforts on a grease fun with a locking nipple "Grease Buster."
I suspect that you are right Larry about the fact that the zerk may not have an opening to the inside of the bushing. I had a bit of grease come out of the joint but I could not tell.
Thanks Larry.
Posted : 10/12/2016 10:22 pm
I have a feeling that the problem with getting grease in there is that the old grease has solidified, either making a dam or making the path for the grease a very thin gap over a long distance. This is probably too much resistance for most grease guns or the seal at the zerk overcome.
Normally, the new grease pushes on the previously installed grease and moves it outward. The solution would be to clean the old grease out. I have my legs off and the grease is almost rubbery. I do like the light oil method though. At least some is getting in there. Hopefully it would mix with the old grease and loosen it up a bit.
Posted : 05/04/2018 8:50 pm
Larry and BretC,
These are old posts but I'll respond with my experience, which has been the same as yours. Very difficult to pump fresh grease in the gear pivot pin zerks. I did finally manage to get some grease to come out one end after much effort. What I did do, which seemed to help, is take a heat gun to the pin, being careful with the temperature because of the proximity of the fabric. I heated for a good twenty minutes or so. Also, I bought one of those tools from Northern Tool which is used to force thin oil thru the zerk. It uses a piston where you hammer on the end to force the oil thru the zerk. That seemed to help also.
Dennis Crenshaw. N6102M.
Posted : 06/04/2018 2:27 pm
I had a similar problem. I filled the lease buster with a solvent, and broke the old grease loose and then filled them with grease.
Posted : 31/05/2018 12:13 pm
