The PO of my 14 fitted grease nipples to the head bearings and swing arm, one of the first things I did after picking the bike up 6-7 years ago was to pump both full of grease.
What I didn't realise was the heat from the engine would melt the grease in the head bearing (despite being a high melting point grease) which then eventually runs down the left hand fork leg.
Couple of questions...
Is there a 'very high' melting point grease rather then the merely 'high' melting point I've used?
Does all the grease run out of the bearing normally, or is there so little in the bearing that when it does it's not noticed?
I'm wondering if there's a seal on the lower bearing that's failed, I believe there's seals on the swing arm that can fail if too much grease is pumped in?
Is the head bearing (and swing arm for that matter) a sealed tube, or could I fill the frame tubes with grease if I keep pumping more in?
On the positive side the grease that's coming out is spotlessly clean, and looks to be providing good lubrication, in a total loss sort of way.
Just need to give it a wipe each ride before it gets on to the brakes!
I'm not a doctor, but I'd say it's running down the fork leg cause it's too full. I've not heard of this ailment to date. Sounds like one for Super Andre! :onya: (He's very good at these things) :clapping:
I wouldn't have thought the headstock could get hot enough to melt grease. Are you sure the grease is not separating?
Very High Temp grease can work forever at 180c. Ultra High at 200 and still be ok at 300. Cant imagine head ever getting near that. I once thought of fitting grease nipples, lots of my older bikes had them.
Sounds to me that the seals are fooked, the grease your putting in is coming straight back out. Head stem does not get hot at all.
Steering tube is a hollow steel tube. you only need to pack the bearings when installing new ones.
I'd be stripping it down if it was mine and replacing seals and bearings.
Hope yours don't come out looking like mine did. I couldn't move the bars left to right after coming home from a wet ride and parking it in the shed and checking it the next day. All new bearings and seals now, with std high temp grease, no leaks and steers at the speed of thought...
Quote from: mjgt on Tuesday, 01 September 2020, 07:08 PM
I wouldn't have thought the headstock could get hot enough to melt grease. Are you sure the grease is not separating?
It does get pretty warm under there, particularly when you stop, not sure if it's separating, it just looks like clean oil - I assumed because it's melted.
Quote from: KiwiCol on Tuesday, 01 September 2020, 07:03 PM
I'm not a doctor, but I'd say it's running down the fork leg cause it's too full. I've not heard of this ailment to date. Sounds like one for Super Andre! :onya: (He's very good at these things) :clapping:
Yes, the problem with grease nipples is when to stop pumping grease in, I did it till it appeared at the bearings, and I did wonder if I was filling the frame with grease :doh:
Thanks for posting the pics Eric, I'm not sure of the seal condition, but as I said earlier, the stuff coming out is nice and clean, and always has been, bearings feel fine, no play or notchyness.
I'll only disagree with one thing Eric said.
Once a year or so I drop the yokes out & repack the bearings with fresh grease. You get a lot of condensation around the headtube due to the engine's heat & some of the water runs down & makes the lower bearing rusty. They last a lot longer with the grease renewed, I also always over pack above the lower bearing to keep the water away. It's worked so far to make the last a lot longer.
Hooli's 1 year of riding is equivalent to 5 years for regular riders . . .
I've only done 21k miles in the last 12 months :whistling: