Perch Grease

I’m wondering what’s the best way to add a lube/grease point to the perch in Kit 2. Don’t think my original plan of greasing up the pivot once and calling it a day is gonna work too well. Thinking of adding a zerk fitting to the perch to make things easier in the long run.

I fitted a grease nipple on the rear of the bracket so I can grease it every now and then

I drilled a small hole at an angle in to the perch shaft hole and just put steam oil in the perch bracket from the hole in the back for putting the pin in. Also just add a drop of oil to the top of the pin. Only oil once in a long while and no issues after 6 years of running.

Maybe I over-engineered it but I put a grease nipple to the shaft part of the perch bracket, to be able to put the grease gun though the access hole in the rear to grease the vertical part of the pivot and another (angled) grease nipple between the webs of the pivot to be able to grease the load bearing (i.e. horizontal) surface.

In both cases I used a small dremel cutter to put a small groove startibg from the grease hole all around the so to distribute the grease evenly.

Again, might be too much, future will tell, but I was sure I would not keep up mainenance by taking apart the front axle to relube.

Cheers

Elwood

PS when back to the Mac I might be able to upload some pics, if needed, hope my explanation above is halfways clear

elwood-59 wrote:PS when back to the Mac I might be able to upload some pics, if needed, hope my explanation above is halfways clear

Clear as Mud!  

Actually it all made sense. If you don’t mind posting a few photos it would be beneficial, not just to me but to everyone else that could use a guide in their build.

Sorry took some time but here you go:

drilled & tapped two threads into the perch bracket and pivot barely visible at red circle.




Pivot with 45 deg grease nipple



Bracket with nipple



and with grease gun in action:



Yes, too much grease, just wanted to make sure it is evenly all around the circumference.

But unfortunately I do not have a picture of the groove or slots I put into the parts to get a more even distribution of the grease all around.

Hope this is more clear now

Cheers

Elwood

Afternoon all, I am just starting to build the same one and have drilled into the perch at the rear, I am also getting some .5mm PTFE sheet and making a thrust washer to go between the pivot top face and perch in order to reduce the friction and Offer a degree of self lubrication. I will re gap the top ring to allow the same clearance.
Like most I intend to modify items as I go in order to make the experiance as best as possible.
Regards
Tony

On my crane engine I fitted a grease nipple accessed through the rear hole, give it a couple of pumps at the beginning of the season, that's all it needs. I did use a dremmel to make a groove so the grease went everywhere I wanted it to. I did help someone who had an agricultural Burrell that seized up solid after being jet washed clean. Took quite a bit of freeing off so keep it greased!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, looks like the Dremel is the way to go. Don’t need the steering to seize up on me, much easier to do some preventative maintaince now rather than try to repair it later.

Did the unthinkable and modified the perch casting. It wasn’t too bad, but I followed Steve’s advice and I think it’ll work beautifully.

Here’s the follow up photos:




That groove looks deeper in the photo but in persona it looks like a scratch is all. Should be deep enough to allow grease to flow (even though it doesn’t very well ) to the front and keep everything freely.