Front Uni mod?

[dangerous]

Ok so, I have never greased the front uni joint on the 04 V11 corsa... and at 20,000km I am realy wanting to do it.

Bloody Guzzi in all their wisdom have put a steal cover over it so its inpossible to get at (even with wheel out)

Now on my 1100S I could remove the rear brake slave and get in through a wee gap... but the V11 does not have this.

 

So, heres what I was thinking... drilling a hole in the cover in order to get acess to the grease nipple, anyone tried this or have any beter ideas?

[Guest ratchethack]

...drilling a hole in the cover in order to get acess to the grease nipple, anyone tried this or have any beter ideas?

Dangerous, this would seem to be a straightforward solution, but all's not quite as it seems.

 

The zerk fitting in the U-joint cross is angled backward for greasing through the swingarm tunnel. I'd taken the swingarm and "cage" out twice to drill it as you've suggested, not recalling why I never went through with it the first time. Here's why: A hole in the "cage" would be of no value unless the position of the zerk in the cross is changed around to point forward. This is possible to accomplish, and would make the task of greasing simple and easy, but you'd need to dismantle the U-joint and reassemble it with the cross in "backwards" in the trunnions, then drill the "cage" to suit the new angle of the zerk. Once I'd discovered this, I concluded this is too much effort for the value derived, and put 'er back in stock config.

 

Post from May on this here: <a href="http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...mp;#entry120246" target="_blank">http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...mp;#entry120246</a>

[dlaing]

While no cover might make it easier, what gets in the way is the swingarm.

There are a few solutions. I still can't figure out what would work best.

[Skeeve]

While no cover might make it easier, what gets in the way is the swingarm.

There are a few solutions. I still can't figure out what would work best.

 

No steel cover & a sealed rubber boot, like on VW transaxles?

[dangerous]

The zerk fitting in the U-joint cross is angled backward for greasing through the swingarm tunnel.

I have tried and tried to get in there even with the wheel out, just aint going to happen?

[Guest Phil_P]

As ever I don't know if posting about my Sporti has any relevance at all, but here goes;

 

On the Sporti there is a hole in the cage surrounding the front UJ in the top. With the rear wheel unloaded and as low as it will go you can just get a grease gun fitting onto the nipple through the hole, HOWEVER if you pump it 'as is' the grease will leak between fitting and nipple. I have found it is possible to find a leverage point on the frame to allow you to use a long screwdriver as a lever and push the fitting hard onto the nipple, TADA..... no leakage.

 

HTH

[dangerous]

On the Sporti there is a hole in the cage surrounding the front UJ in the top.

yeah man... so why did MG delet that hole in the V11's? bloody vino drinking pizza eaters

[twhitaker]

I bought a swivel fitting for my grease gun from Ace Hardware and it works reaching through the swingarm tunnel after removing the rear wheel.

[Guest ratchethack]

yeah man... so why did MG delet that hole in the V11's? bloody vino drinking pizza eaters

ANSWER:

 

They evidently made a CORPORATE decision -- Hey Luigi, wottya think?

 

Luigi evidently said that accessing the zerk (grease nipple) through the swingarm tunnel was molto bene than the way they'd always done it before.