Lubing the A Arm Bushings

[capt.jim]

I greased all 8 of my ST bushings the day before heading to Daytona, they are really easy to get to now, hopefully the RT's are too. I had the same problems on my GS as everyone else. Even after changing the zerk fittings, which was a pain in itself, half wouldn't take the grease, just piled up on the outside. It was ugly.

 

[SpyRyd]

Thanks again Ron. The Lincoln pistol grip grease gun I use looks like the one pictured. I don't use an adapter since the 45 degree fittings on my 2012 RT makes connecting the "standard" head fairly easy. I'm thinking about trying the hard pipe vs. the flexible hose on the gun so perhaps to be able to put more pressure on the head to zerk connection. Thinking doing this will help get more grease into the bushing and less of a glob on the zerk fitting. Anyway, I'm gonna keep trying to get these bushings properly lubed.

Well today I once again took on the daunting task of lubing the A arm bushings on my 2012 RT Ltd. I mentioned in a previous post (quoted above) that I was going to try using the metal "hose" that came with my Lincoln pistol grip grease gun the next time I put my Spyder up on jack stands for cleaning, which was today. I attached the metal "hose", with the head installed, on the end of the rubber hose. Unfortunately I couldn't get the head on the upper A arm zerk fittings. However I was able to attach it to the lower zerk fittings. I was able to put more pressure on the connection but still little to no grease went past the zerk fitting. After attempting to grease each lower bushing, I crawled under the Spyder to see if I could see where any of the tan colored XPS synthetic grease had exited the ends of the bushing. I did see a little bit of the tan grease on one end of each of the lower bushings. However, I'm still not confident that the lower bushings are greased as they should be. Of course the top bushings were not touched today because I couldn't get the grease gun head on those fittings using the metal 'hose' setup. Also I think I've about exhausted my $25.00 tube of XPS synthetic grease. Too bad most of it wound up in cleanup rags in the trash vs. the bushings where it belongs! No more attempts until I return from Spyderfest. Gonna talk with the Pitt Crew about this during my appointment the afternoon of Apr 24th.

 

[Mickay]

Hi, everyone

I have problem to grease this fitting the two at the back on the upper A-arm, It would not go in made very hard with the grease gun. I remove the fitting and i could see the bushing by the hole and i think the fitting it's to much inside. When they are screw at the max the zerk touch the bushing and block grease. So i screw back the zerk and i unscrew a little bit and what a surprise my grease gun come very easy and grease come out from the bushing. I think they screw the zerk to much.

Hope it's could help someone.

 

[NancysToy]

Hi, everyone

I have problem to grease this fitting the two at the back on the upper A-arm, It would not go in made very hard with the grease gun. I remove the fitting and i could see the bushing by the hole and i think the fitting it's to much inside. When they are screw at the max the zerk touch the bushing and block grease. So i screw back the zerk and i unscrew a little bit and what a surprise my grease gun come very easy and grease come out from the bushing. I think they screw the zerk to much.

Hope it's could help someone.

Interesting! I would have never suspected that as a cause.

 

[Rando]

Interesting! I would have never suspected that as a cause.

So, would removing the grease fitting and grinding them down a bit fix the problem? If this is a confirmed problem, BRP should be responsible for fixing it via a Safety Notice/Campaign.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Grease guns can be fickle at times. In theory you just snap the the nozzle on to the fitting, gold the gun straight on the fitting and pump the lever a couple times then disconnect the nozzle sand your done.

Then "Murphy" shows up to take his revenge by turning simple into a "why did I my limited experience taught me a few tricks or things to look for when things don't go your way.

If you're getting grease on the outside but nothing inside, look at the nozzle coupler jaws for being serviceable. Then look at the angle of the coupler the straighter the better your chances. If that don't do it, look at the grease zero fitting being bad. Just replace it! If'n it still won't take grease try putting pressure on the gun pump lever or have your muscle bound next door neighbor on the gun lever and you on the hammer. Bang the assembly and see if that frees up the joint to take grease.

Most grease lever action types are considered to be low pressure, 3,000 psi. Then you have medium pressure @ 4,000 psi. Followed on by high pressure & 9,000 psi. That's the air operated gizmo pump used by your car/truck or heavy equipment service dude.

When things are going right you should be able to sense by feel when your grease tool is working correctly. If it goes real easy and you get a big gob outside the fitting it taint working, Magee!

Like one poster said wipe the fitting off before you couple up, and after you decouple. As sure as you don't your beloved is going to walk out in the Spyder hole and step in it or get on her sneaks and the new carpet. Then she plays lawn mower and you're the grass! Worse thing is you get it on a tire then sling the gob on the Spyder or one of your favorite biking shirts and begin to look like a trashy chain driven rider or one of those leaky things.

did you notice the lack of brand names?