Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Gerry Vicha on May 21, 2012, 09:14:23 pm

Title: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: Gerry Vicha on May 21, 2012, 09:14:23 pm
The short drive shaft between the engine and the transmission has two U-joints, each u-joit has two grease fittings located in the center cross-member, opposed to each other. My question is do I need to grease both zirk fittings on each center piece or does one fitting on each fill all four caps? ???
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: John Haygarth on May 22, 2012, 02:33:23 am
Grease each fitting and the one on spline(shaft)
John
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: Dave M (RIP) on May 22, 2012, 09:55:43 am
The purpose of two zerk fittings on the U Joint, is for ease of having one within access range, both zerks feed the same chamber inside the cross equal.  But, you can grease as you like, what ever makes you the happiest.
Dave M
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: Chuck Pearson on May 22, 2012, 08:11:49 pm
While we're on the subject I'd like to ask about greasing the spline in the driveshaft.  After many pumps I've yet to see any grease come out of it.  Are you supposed to keep pumping grease in until you see it escape or does it only take a few shots? 

Thanks, Chuck
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: John Haygarth on May 22, 2012, 08:26:59 pm
IMHO I would keep pumping as the spline slides in a closed unit so when the grease oozes out from the female  "pipe" you know it is full, or at least sufficient there to last a long time. It cannot go anywhere else and do damage or?
John h
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: amos.harrison on May 22, 2012, 09:18:12 pm
Fill the U-joints until new grease oozes from each cup.  Often it requires using both fittings to do it.  Otherwise grease just keeps coming from a couple cups.  Yes, there is a lot of space to fill in the slip joint cavity.  It requires a lot of grease, especially if it hasn't regularly been filled.
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: Chuck Pearson on May 23, 2012, 12:13:27 am
Thanks for the info, think I'm going to invest in an air driven grease gun.  They're a pleasure to use anyway.  I'd like to switch over to a synthetic grease for all chassis and rotating joints, can anyone recommend an appropriate brand and spec?  Is it necessary to purge all old grease out when switching to syn? 

Chuck
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: PatC on May 23, 2012, 12:38:40 am
Thanks for the info, think I'm going to invest in an air driven grease gun.  They're a pleasure to use anyway.
Lincoln makes a couple very nice cordless grease guns.  PowerLuber -- Lincoln Industrial (http://www.powerluber.com/).  That 18-Volt Lithium-Ion PowerLuber would be really nice.  I have used the 14.4 volt and the battery lasted forever!!!

And I'd stick with the Foretravel specified grease.  You probably going to need a couple different types anyway.  Make sure you get the clay for the brakes!!!
Title: Re: Drive shaft Lubrication
Post by: amos.harrison on May 23, 2012, 01:53:57 pm
I use Valvoline SynPower grease.  There are no compatibility problems between dinosaur and synthetic greases.