Steering Head Zerk Fitting
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,776
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From: North Carolina
Why high temp grease?
The bearing does not even make a full 360 degree rotation and would not exceed ambient temperature.
Many high temp greases are formulated to work at 300, 400 and higher temps. They do NOT lubricate at 35 and 40 degree F very well.
The bearing does not even make a full 360 degree rotation and would not exceed ambient temperature.
Many high temp greases are formulated to work at 300, 400 and higher temps. They do NOT lubricate at 35 and 40 degree F very well.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 11,690
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From: Clearwater, Idaho
Actually, a lot of high temp greases are formulated for temperatures from well below zero to their highest temp rating, as they often must be able to do the same job at very low startup temperatures as they do at regular working temperatures.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
So when you leave your driveway in your disc brake equipped car or truck, the front wheel bearings aren't being lubricated very well?
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: New York
Thanks to all for your help. After trying a right angle grease gun coupler and having it leak badly I changed the zerk fitting to a 45. This helped but I was having to maneuver the grease gun to make a good seal. So at the end of the day I installed a 90 and that works fine. The wrench was in fact a 5/16 however because of the position of the zerk the wrench would not slip on. After experimenting with two other 5/16 wrenches I got one of them to get on. After exchanging the zerk to a 90 I proceeded to pump in about a third of the tube before it started oozing out of the bottom of the steering head and then another 5-6 pumps before it came out of the top.
After doing some research on a very high heat grease I filled the head with the following WD40 grease:
https://www.wd40specialist.com/products/high-temperature-grease/
One question is did I need to see the new grease come out of the top? The new grease clearly came out of the bottom but as I pumped the old grease was squeezing out of the top. I stopped believing that the proper amount of grease was pumped in since a steady stream of the old grease was oozing out of the top.
Once again THANKS TO ALL.
After doing some research on a very high heat grease I filled the head with the following WD40 grease:
https://www.wd40specialist.com/products/high-temperature-grease/
One question is did I need to see the new grease come out of the top? The new grease clearly came out of the bottom but as I pumped the old grease was squeezing out of the top. I stopped believing that the proper amount of grease was pumped in since a steady stream of the old grease was oozing out of the top.
Once again THANKS TO ALL.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,776
Likes: 23,014
From: North Carolina
I work in the bearing industry and have for 40years. Also sell lubricants. One of the biggest mistakes we see is that people assume that if standard grease is good, then High Temp has to be better. WRONG. They are the same only formulated to provide maximum lubricity at different operating temperatures. You need to use the correct grease for your application to assure you get the maximum lubrication year round in all temperatures. Some high temp greases will NOT lubricate in low winter temps. There are those synthetics that have a range of -30f to +400f but they are expensive and not necessary for a neck bearing. I just wanted to point out to the OP to select a grease for his application for best results.
Last edited by Cosmic Razorback; Jun 17, 2017 at 09:17 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
My point is there is nothing High Temp about neck bearings on a motorcycle.
I work in the bearing industry and have for 40years. Also sell lubricants. One of the biggest mistakes we see is that people assume that if standard grease is good, then High Temp has to be better. WRONG. They are the same only formulated to provide maximum lubricity at different operating temperatures. You need to use the correct grease for your application to assure you get the maximum lubrication year round in all temperatures. Some high temp greases will NOT lubricate in low winter temps. There are those synthetics that have a range of -30f to +400f but they are expensive and not necessary for a neck bearing. I just wanted to point out to the OP to select a grease for his application for best results.
Last edited by RK4ME; Jun 17, 2017 at 11:12 AM.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
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From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
High temp might not be bad idea. Riding out west in low elevations , would blow on tank.
If you Google this, will come up with Napa part #.
If you Google this, will come up with Napa part #.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
Any Automotive EP chassis & bearing grease that's rated for use with disc brakes will do. I always have a couple of tubes on hand for use on my machinery and vehicles.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 329
Likes: 18
From: Rhode Island
Well that would explain why every GM car iv owned needed wheel bearings replaced