Grease nipple in steering head?

**marks** · 22nd October 2009, 07:28

I've got the forks out of the WR at the moment (leaky seal) and am replacing a rooted steering head bearing. I've heard of people putting a grease nipple in the head stock? and keeping the whole cavity filled with grease.

Is this a good idea - has anyone done it?
where would you buy grease nipples from? (most places want to sell me 100)

**clint640** · 22nd October 2009, 09:48

Probably not a bad idea for a bike that does a lot of wet work. Make sure there isn't a hole going back into the frame that the grease can escape down.

PM me your address & I'll post you a nipple. I've got a few in a jar somewhere. Straight, 45deg or 90deg? Then you'll need to find the appropriate tap. I think most nipples are NPT.

Mmmm... nipples...
Clint

PS the price is a ride on your new Africa Twin so get another bid in boyo

**cooneyr** · 22nd October 2009, 11:03

Is the wall of the stearing head tube really thick enough to successfully tap for a nipple? It might be better to drill a hole and weld a nut on.

Cheers R

**Waihou Thumper** · 22nd October 2009, 18:16

Originally Posted by clint640

I'll post you a nipple. I've got a few in a jar somewhere.
Mmmm... nipples...
Clint

FaFafafafafafafa..........

**warewolf** · 22nd October 2009, 18:38

I've got a few kicking around somewhere, too. Bought them individually for retro-fitting to various bike bits, but never installed any - just swapped out one on the Trumpy for an angled job to improve access.

Can't remember where I bought them, it were a long time ago in AKL somewhere.

I've read up on the idea of filling the steering head with grease; to me it didn't appeal. You can re-grease the bearings fairly easily just by jacking the front wheel 30mm off the ground, undoing the top triple clamp and letting the forks/stem/lower triple as an assembly drop out that 30mm. Wipe clean, re-grease, re-install.

**soundbeltfarm** · 22nd October 2009, 18:45

i got a box set of them for about 30 bucks.
they bigger than the old girls ones hahaha.
mind me i been drinkn

**Padmei** · 22nd October 2009, 20:27

Originally Posted by soundbeltfarm

i got a box set of them for about 30 bucks.
they bigger than the old girls ones hahaha.
mind me i been drinkn

Prob the best most informative post I've read so far on KB.

**tri boy** · 22nd October 2009, 20:52

We fitted them regularly to trail bikes in Cairns, and the XRL650 also has one fitted. I would say that all steering stem tubes easily handle this mod, and we never had any develop cracks from the procedure.
The only other mod was to cut a small V nick in the bottomsteering bearing seal to relieve water/excess grease pressure that may of affected correct steering drag.
I know of no ill side affects from this procedure. I would use Bel Ray grease, as that is what seemed best. (The blue stuff). MHO

**xr-rider** · 22nd October 2009, 21:02

you can get single ones from super cheap. bout $4 from memory

**pete376403** · 22nd October 2009, 21:36

Or Schrodoco (or what used to be Schrodoco) up top of tory street. They would be able to sell you the correct size tap as well.
If you filled the whole steering head, you'd end up with about half a kilo of grease in there. Do you care about a bit of extra weight up high?

**marks** · 23rd October 2009, 07:43

Thanks for the answers and the generous offers of sending me one of your nipples

I'll pop in to Super Cheap and have a look.

I was surprised at how rusty/rooted the lower bearing was - it was greased 12 months ago and was fine then. looks like a 6 monthly job from now on.

cheers

Mark

**Pampera** · 23rd October 2009, 08:04

Originally Posted by marks

Thanks for the answers and the generous offers of sending me one of your nipples

I'll pop in to Super Cheap and have a look.

Mark

Engineering Supplies in Sydney Street Petone sells GREASE nipples in a wide range of sizes one off and has everything else you need to install. However, if I remember I will bring one of my GREASE nipples (Note to all you wags out there - grease nipple) to Moonshine on Sunday for you.

Michael