Rear suspension greasing. 1951 MKV

[Pallijen15]

Hi, I've just been greasing my rear suspension item number 32 and 47 in plate 20. I've managed to get some grease in but not witnessing loads of good new grease coming out so I think the old grease is blocking it. Can someone please give me some tips on pushing this old stuff through please. I'm thinking of buying an air grease gun. Any tips on this. Also, items 21 on plate 20. Are these grease nipples. I pushed a fine wire right in and there was no ball and springs in there. Any help gratefully accepted. Thanks, Paul J

[EW-Ron]

I'm no authority on the Mk V by any stretch, but I have met old grease on other machinery.
Old type greases often seem to have consisted of something almost clay-like, with oil intermingled.
When the oil departs or dries out, the claylike material can be difficult to shift, by any means !

Common grease guns can exert considerable pressure, so if it moves not it is not good
I have seen on front fork spindles etc the only cure for this is disassembly and regreasing afresh.
You often see dry patches too, which bodes not well, the grease nipple not greasing everywhere.
How does the grease know to go both left AND right !!

P.S. My fav-o-rite foible of the british motorcycle industry was the single grease nipple in the
centre of a massive wheel hub.  Where is the grease supposed to go - the bearings are miles away !

[Pallijen15]

Hi Ron, I've read about certain types of fluids that can break the hard stuff down and high pressure air grease guns that can force this stuff out if it's not too far gone. I may dismantle it for cleaning. I have seven different vintage British motorcycles but I find the instruction books to Douglas are not very good in comparison with other marques. Have you any advice on grease guns, manuals etc?

[EW-Ron]

Nope.
I find dismantling and re-greasing about the only sure fire remedy.
The Manuals spell this out, if you read closely between the lines.
And, conveniently, I've met very few british motorcycle items that are sealed for life.

But I've not met a MkV personally, so YMMV. ?
Cheers.

[EW-Ron]

It doesn't take much searching to find a Maintenance Manual.
It lists quite a number of places that require a regular drop of OIL.

Didn't examine it closely about greasing requirements.
I find those silly little 1940s and 1950s 'grease nipples' inadequate.
A later type nipple with ball and spring are way more effective, if not concours.

https://www.rpw.it/Files/Douglas_1948-1954_Maintenance_Manual.pdf

Hopethishelps.  Tell us how it goes. ?

[Pallijen15]

Thanks Ron, just managed to get time to look at this. Excellent stuff. I'll print this off. Much appreciated