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Lubing the A Arm Bushings
- Thread starter SpyRyd
- Start date
Bob Denman
New member
:shocked: Did the gun stay tight on the nipple, or could it have popped off? :shocked: I've heard some folks say that it's best to jack the bike up and take the weight off of the suspension for greasing chores...
SPYD1
New member
I had the same question so I pumped on shot of grease onto cardboard and was surprised how much came out. I had to snap a zerk fitting on it to do this. I to have a glob on the fitting afterwards. My test would indicate that the joint took quite a bit of grease but it may be different under pressure.
Bob, I held the head of the grease gun on the fitting while I squeezed the pistol grip. I had the Spyder jacked up but it was on jack stands so there was weight on the suspension. Tomorrow I'll try again and just raise the front off the floor an inch or so to relieve the weight from the front suspension. Thanks for the tip...hope it works.
oe3spyderguy
New member
The grease gun should be pumping the same on or off the fitting if its being restricted it will be harder to pump
Grease gun pistol grip was not hard to squeeze when gun was connected to the fitting.
EzeSpyderGA
New member
Greasing Front Suspension
When I did my last service and did the 8 points, I could see that grease was going into the bushing. At both ends of the bushing the grease was coming out. I did change out several of the grease fittings from straight up fittings to 45 or 90 degree fittings in order to make it easier to get the grease gun onto the fitting. IMHO:yikes:
When I did my last service and did the 8 points, I could see that grease was going into the bushing. At both ends of the bushing the grease was coming out. I did change out several of the grease fittings from straight up fittings to 45 or 90 degree fittings in order to make it easier to get the grease gun onto the fitting. IMHO:yikes:
Thanks Scotty. I didn't feel any resistance nor did any grease push put of the bushings. Therefore it seems to me that I probably didn't have the grease gun head fully seated on the fitting. However I did feel the head click onto the fitting, I physically held the head on the fitting while pumping the trigger, and effort was needed to get the head to release from the fitting. I've greased suspensions on some cars (years ago when I was a young pup) so this isn't my first time using a grease gun.
Does it matter if weight is on the front suspension or not?
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Yep, spent more time cleaning than greasing!
Fortunately the grease fittings on my 2012 RT Ltd are 45 degree fittings. Also I have a Lincoln pistol grip grease gun with a 18" hose extension which made it easy(er) to get into the fittings. Didn't see any grease coming out of the ends of the bushings; not sure what I did wrong. Like I mentioned in my reply to Scotty, I felt the grease gun head click onto the fitting and held the head on the fitting when I squeezed the pistol trigger. All I got was a glob of grease on the fitting.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
As you are likely aware, if the bushings fail to accept grease and the nozzle is properly attached (clicked on) to the zerk, there will be a great deal of resistance. I agree that the nozzle may not have made good contact. That is the usual case, the internal resistance just forces it off. It is stronger than you are, so you will never hold it on. Before I gave up, I'd try several more pumps. If the bushing was quite empty, you would have minimal resistance, and the forced out grease may be in a hard to spot location. The grease would not be forced out until the bushing was filled, either. If you end up with a big glob of grease, and still little resistance, I'd try a different nozzle/gun.
Rotaxer
New member
To me this area is a great big fail for BRP.
All the fittings should be 45* and pointed so that it is easy to get the grease gun on from the factory where it would be easy before assembly. Then trying to do yourself is very hard because of that shoulder around 4 of the nipples, you can't get a wrench in there to tighten. Any maintenance item like this should be a breeze. Wonder how many dealers are as anal about making sure the grease is in fact getting where it needs to go!!!!
All the fittings should be 45* and pointed so that it is easy to get the grease gun on from the factory where it would be easy before assembly. Then trying to do yourself is very hard because of that shoulder around 4 of the nipples, you can't get a wrench in there to tighten. Any maintenance item like this should be a breeze. Wonder how many dealers are as anal about making sure the grease is in fact getting where it needs to go!!!!Well, tried once again to get some grease into my A arm bushings...no luck. Guess I'll rely on my dealer to lube these bushings when called for in the maint schedule. I trust him to do it but would feel better if I could do it when I do the oil changes. Kinda bothers me that I bought a Lincoln pistol grip grease gun, 18" extension hose, and a tube of BRP Synthetic grease and can't seem to get a lick of grease into the bushings. Don't mind being out the 75 bucks or so but kinda feel dumb that I can't do this simple task...it's not rocket science...right?
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oldgoat
New member
I have a big lever action grease gun with a 12" flexible extension. Changed out my grease fittings to 90° ones & still have to pull the lever very hard on some fittings as well as pushing hard on the hose & wiggling it a bit. Eventually get grease coming out the ends of the bushings but a lot comes out around the fitting as well.
Don't know why it is so difficult to get the grease in but perseverence pays off in the end. Lots of wiping up to do when finished though.
Can't see your dealer spending the time/effort to do it properly.
Don't know why it is so difficult to get the grease in but perseverence pays off in the end. Lots of wiping up to do when finished though.
Can't see your dealer spending the time/effort to do it properly.
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Maybe I just need to keep after it. I did notice some of the tan colored synthetic grease had pushed out one end of the left rear lower bushing. However seems like I'm wasting an awful lot of the somewhat expensive grease since most of it just piles up on the fitting.
The fittings on my 2012 RT are 45 degree and I'm using a pistol grip gun. Perhaps I need a bigger lever action gun. I'll try again the next time I raise my Spyder for cleaning. Thanks for the info.
I'm beginning to think that I am grease gun stupid as well. However, I've greased ball joints, tie rod ends, drive shaft U joints, etc. when I was a young pup back when cars had to be greased. I never had as much difficulty getting grease where it was supposed to go then as I am now with these #%&@ A arm bushings. I'm stubborn as :cus: so I'll keep at it until I either go broke buying "stuff" and grease or I get these little :cus: greased!
The grease gun head should fit snugly to the male fitting. If grease come out off the fitting, means improper fit. Old grease should come out and wait until the new start coming out. This will indicate you did a good job.:yes: If the grease will not come out, one possible cause is dried grease.:banghead:
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