lubrication question

R

RcT

Senior Member
I have no lift, just a standard garage, and I'm getting to the point that getting down on all fours with a grease gun is a pain...
If I were to take the A to a reputable modern mechanic, and request a lube job and oil change (taking my oil of choice) and stood by while he hit all gease locations (along with my lubrication chart), most spots could be shot with an air-powered grease gun until the grease is visable at the joint, but there are a few that very little grease or a specialize grease should be used, such as the water pump, rear wheel bearings, etc.
What other advice would one give to a mechanic skilled only at newer cars if I were to request a lube job? Also, I have the original type alemite fittings.
Have any of you done this?
 
Many mechanics now don't know much about greasing a car---most new cars don't have fittings ---the Mercedes I work on stopped having fittings in 1973, most likely the shop doesn't have the proper grease gun adapters either.

you would have to take your grease gun, gear oils,and grease and oil can along with a lube chart---copy from owners man

I use the original grease gun for the waterpump grease (the gun is a pain to use for the other fittings)
and for the other fittings I use a push type that the plunger is in the front and it works with 1 hand --like this one-- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ale...931?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cc6639cb ---you have to look to be sure it has the proper tip for the original fittings, I bought 2 last year at Hershey-1$,and 2$ ea,

I would suspect it would take an hour or more for a "modern" mechanic to do this---in my area it would be 100$ ---just for labor

It is possible to use a needle adapter if it has a small enough point.
 
I don't think a modern mechanic would even know what a grease gun was. Try a local club member or some older person with mechanical knowledge.
Don't miss the grease nipple between the rear radius rod and the backing plate for the rear brake camshaft.
Best of luck.
Les.
 
First i would visit a couple of places and inquire. Most shops won't let you near the shop floor OR under a lift (insurance regs and lawyers). If you find a place i would change ALL the fittings OR buy a set of ramps and a good creeper. Hardest part for me right now (67 and left hip replaced and bad right foot) is the tri-focals I have and trying to look up and see. JMO
Paul in CT
 
A typical response would probably be something like "Ha, ha, ha, ha, you want WHAT?????" LOL! or "Oh sure, we can do that, just go inside the waiting room there and we will have it done in no time at all!" ("Hey boss, this vehicle has funny looking grease fittings". (boss) "That is ok, just give them a shot of grease anyway, no problem!")
 
While I do my own lubes, my normal gas station owner is a Model A owner who does most of the area A's for the normal $20 grease job charge.
I would imagine he does the grease points and knows to avoid the water pump and steering gear fittings.
Why not talk to your regular guy and see if he would do it?
I would provide him an zerk / alemite adapter.
 
A member of our club can't get under his A's so he takes it to a local garage about a mile from me. He watches and claims all are done. He pays $10. I've never had them do mine so I can only take his word for it.
 
This might be a perfect job for a teenage boy who wanted to earn a little extra money. Family? Friends? Neighbors? With some training, a kid could grease and change oil perfectly every time. And, there's bragging rights in saying, "I maintain a 1929 Ford in my spare time. I'm going to get one some day."
 
newshirt said:
This might be a perfect job for a teenage boy who wanted to earn a little extra money. Family? Friends? Neighbors? With some training, a kid could grease and change oil perfectly every time. And, there's bragging rights in saying, "I maintain a 1929 Ford in my spare time. I'm going to get one some day."
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That sounds like the perfect idea. Just hope you can get them off the couch, or computor. It would be a good way to get them interested in antique cars, and hopefully not to make rods out of them.
 
Be sure to alert them about the locations that don't appear on modern cars, distributer, generator and throttle shaft. Also don't let them pump your rear brakes full of grease with the fitting on the rear axle.

Charlie Stephens
 
When some of our club members have ailments that make it difficult to maintain their "A", some of the more active members are proactive in asking if they need any help.

I'm sure it's that way in any club.
 
You need to get yourself a grandson! He's willing and anxious, you can just barely see his smile. The oil ran down his arm and got on his T-shirt. His mom gave me hell. (She learned that from her mom)
 

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Jim, those pictures of your grandson are great. My grandson is 14, doesn't care to get dirty and would rather mess around with his Playstation 3 or some other such thing. I am not a club-oriented person, and don't know anyone with a pit or hoist. Maybe I could teach my wife...
 
Child labor is still alive and well in Canada. Unfortunately, my grandson has not reached his first birthday, yet.

Perhaps, I could borrow Jim's grandson to change my oil, while RcT's grandson and I play Playstation 3 online. :D
 
I bought a pneumatic grease gun and changed out the grease fittings to to the zerk style. Still a challenge for this old man to get under there, but sure makes shooting the grease a whole bunch easier. Now if I could figure out a way to get up once I am down!
 
I hear ya - gittin' old ain't for sissies!

How 'bout the auto shop at your local high school or community college? The instructor might be interested in exposing the class to an historic vehicle. Or you might recruit a student wanting to make a few bucks after class. Either way, you'd probably have to provide the necessary supplies/tools and maybe a little on-the-job training.
 
CHuDWah said:
I hear ya - gittin' old ain't for sissies!

How 'bout the auto shop at your local high school or community college? The instructor might be interested in exposing the class to an historic vehicle. Or you might recruit a student wanting to make a few bucks after class. Either way, you'd probably have to provide the necessary supplies/tools and maybe a little on-the-job training.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea, maybe ten years ago... this is California and the State is broke. According to my grandson, there is no more auto shop, metal shop, wood shop, minimal art and music classes. Wait until the next generation grows to adulthood and no one knows how to fix anything. Anyone remember shop cards we had so we could buy materials for projects? Can't do that anymore, not equal for all kids. Oops, getting vocal here.
 
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