[nohoflyer]

Strangely I can’t find any mention of whether I should fill the nosewheel with grease through the fitting anywhere in the manual.

 

[htx9a]

It seems like a large cavity to fill, but why else would the fitting be there? I also don't see it mentioned in the instructions.

 

[rocketman1988]

It seems like a large cavity to fill, but why else would the fitting be there? I also don't see it mentioned in the instructions.

Bronze bushing and a zerk fitting…fill it up.

 

[Kyle Boatright]

Strangely I can’t find any mention of whether I should fill the nosewheel with grease through the fitting anywhere in the manual.

The zerk fitting on the nosewheel fork? Yes, fill that.

 

[wirejock]

The zerk fitting on the nosewheel fork? Yes, fill that.

Fill it with what? Is there some sort of special aviation bearing grease or can I use the red stuff in my grease gun?

 

[PilotjohnS]

I use Mobil 1 wheel bearing grease. Good stuff

 

[Kyle Boatright]

Fill it with what? Is there some sort of special aviation bearing grease or can I use the red stuff in my grease gun?

Aeroshell works as (probably) would anything from the grease shelf at NAPA.

 

[thodgdon]

Great thread and timely too! Here‘s a theoretical scenario…

Say you attach the grease gun to the Zerk and start pumping. As you squeeze the handle, you see grease start escaping from around the Zerk. You remove the Zerk then clean it and the fork and reinstall and it keeps doing it. So you try to snug up the Zerk and it appears that it’s close to stripping out of the fork. I’m guessing the Zerk is steel and the fork is aluminum.

Is this a case where the entire fork would need to be replaced? Or is it feasible to drill the fork oversize for a fitting and reinstall the Zerk into the fitting? Or an oversize Zerk (lol).

 

[PilotjohnS]

Great thread and timely too! Here‘s a theoretical scenario…

Say you attach the grease gun to the Zerk and start pumping. As you squeeze the handle, you see grease start escaping from around the Zerk. You remove the Zerk then clean it and the fork and reinstall and it keeps doing it. So you try to snug up the Zerk and it appears that it’s close to stripping out of the fork. I’m guessing the Zerk is steel and the fork is aluminum.

Is this a case where the entire fork would need to be replaced? Or is it feasible to drill the fork oversize for a fitting and reinstall the Zerk into the fitting? Or an oversize Zerk (lol).

Are you asking for a friend, or did you do this?
Before things got too far, I would have put thread sealer ( forma gasket #2) on the threads.

 

[gasman]

Here is a situation that the greased area has very little to do, and is checked every time you move the nosewheel as you direct the aircraft in and out of the hangar. The cavity of grease is useless and messy.

Just pull the cotter pin and drop the fork out and clean and grease just the shaft by wiping with boat trailer grease every 4 to 500 hours if your plane is kept inside.

During your annual you should be lifting the nose wheel to check for any play in the gear assembly..... so, just drop it and grease it.

 

[thodgdon]

Are you asking for a friend, or did you do this?
Before things got too far, I would have put thread sealer ( forma gasket #2) on the threads.

Haha yeah that‘s me. Just replaced the front wheel/tube/tire…

 

[thodgdon]

Here is a situation that the greased area has very little to do, and is checked every time you move the nosewheel as you direct the aircraft in and out of the hangar. The cavity of grease is useless and messy.

Just pull the cotter pin and drop the fork out and clean and grease just the shaft by wiping with boat trailer grease every 4 to 500 hours if your plane is kept inside.

During your annual you should be lifting the nose wheel to check for any play in the gear assembly..... so, just drop it and grease it.

Thanks I think I’m going to do this! Plane is from 2008 so the front fork probably deserves to be cleaned out and re-greased.

 

[gasman]

Thanks I think I’m going to do this! Plane is from 2008 so the front fork probably deserves to be cleaned out and re-greased.

Just brush the grease on with an acid brush.... It doesn't need much.