Greasing wet bolts fittings

[mach111]

Installed new wet bolt kit being sure to place bolts in correct position for grease to flow on Monty this week. I cannot get fittings to accept grease. Share with me your procedure to grease your unit.

Love this site for we are new Monty owners. Enjoy reading about owners experiences and the info shared with others.

[jimcol]

You are not the first person to have that trouble. We have learned from others that one should test the wet bolts before installing to insure they will take grease. Some were found to not be tapped completely. Others have found that by taking the weight off the bolts they will take grease. Since yours are already installed I'd get the jack out and try that first. Good Luck, Jim

[steelpony5555]

I am having the same problem with 3 of my bolts. First did you make sure grease flowed thru before you even put them on the trailer. By correct position I reckon you know which way is up. What I figured is I would run it down the road for a trip and then try to grease em. Hoping things would loosen them up a little. If not guess I will jack it up and try. and last but not least I will pull them to see what's goin on. It does take some effort to get the grease in and the nipple has to be on the fitting squarely ot it squishes out. Does seem that once you get it to flow it goes easier. I'm learning too so any tips are appreciated.

[NCFischers]

I agree with Jim. Try taking the weight off the shackle. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Jim

[mach111]

Thanks for the timely responses. Glad to hear some others are crossing the same bridge so to speak.

I gave each bolt a good shot of grease BEFORE installing and grease did flow good. Now instructions said to be sure outlets are installed downward. OK, some bolts are already installed on shackles therefore some are not pointing in correct directions. Yep did the jack thing raising and lowering to see if grease would flow. Has anyone loosen the end bolts to allow some space for grease to flow? Glad I hand greased each bushing and bolt before install. This way bushing is not completely dry.

Does grease actually flow from the end of the bushings?

Hard to believe Dexter used PLASTIC bushings. I was surprised that the plastic bushings were in good shape for a 2009 model.

Yes I will continue to try the suggestions offered later for we are expecting snow on Sat. Will keep posting updates.

Hey, waiting until wet bolt install so I can get those wonderful GY Mara BOMBS off. Do not trust those tires.

[NCFischers]

When I did my wet bolts, I set the outlets at 6 & 9 o'clock. facing down would put more pressure at the openings.

[swanny]

quote:Originally posted by NCFischers

When I did my wet bolts, I set the outlets at 6 & 9 o'clock. facing down would put more pressure at the openings.

Yes sir, you hit the mail on the head. The hole in the bolts should be in the 3 o'clock position for the front bolts and the 9 o'clock position for the rear bolts.

kevin

[dieselguy]

Previous post all have good advice. I wouldn't back off any on the nuts holding the bolts in the shackles. Trying to overpower and turn the serrated head of the bolts to better position the holes isn't a good idea either. As long as you get grease out one or the other end of the bushing ... that's as good as it's going to get. Unless the manufacturer of the wet bolts spiral grooved each one 360 degrees (they didn't for cost reasoning) you're not going to get new grease on every bit of each bolt. But ... wet bolts are way better than the plastic bushings.

[Recumbent]

I have read where someone while doing the installation reamed out the hole surface on the wet bolt kind of like counter-sinking so grase would come out in a larger area making the likelyhood of blockage less likely. When I installed on a previous Monty the holes were put in at either the 3/9 o'clock position, but still had some that took grease very slowly only under significant pumping force.

[8e3k0]

If you do not taper the exit hole on the bolt as to where the grease leaves this bolt and spreads to the bushing the following will take place. As you push the wet bolt into the bushing the exit hole being sharp, picks up the brass and plugs the grease exit hole and makes it very difficult to allow the grease to extude into the bushing.
So before inserting the wet bolts, simply take a 1/4 inch bit and drill/chamfer that sharp exit hole on the bolt. The tapered hole will not grab any brass material as the bolt is inserted into the wet bolt bushing. Been there and done this many times and guranteed it will work. Yes, the 3 or 9 oclock positions are best for ease of greasing.

[mach111]

Thanks for all the responses. I am going to do the 3 and 9 position. Makes sense to me.

Since I am this close I am going to remove the bolts and do the reaming out. I think this idea will pay dividends down the road. I believe in doing the job right the first time and this is why I like to do things myself.

Nothing like being up to ones elbows in grease. This is a man thing.

[mach111]

quote:Originally posted by 8e3k0

If you do not taper the exit hole on the bolt as to where the grease leaves this bolt and spreads to the bushing the following will take place. As you push the wet bolt into the bushing the exit hole being sharp, picks up the brass and plugs the grease exit hole and makes it very difficult to allow the grease to extude into the bushing.
So before inserting the wet bolts, simply take a 1/4 inch bit and drill/chamfer that sharp exit hole on the bolt. The tapered hole will not grab any brass material as the bolt is inserted into the wet bolt bushing. Been there and done this many times and guranteed it will work. Yes, the 3 or 9 oclock positions are best for ease of greasing.

Bingo, guys, this gentleman has hit the nail on the head.
I have finished the wet bolt install on our monty and this is an update to say these suggestions will solve any problems you may have with your application.

1. You will need a good quality high pressure grease gun.
2. Put the bolts in a drill press and use 1/4 inch bit and just barely drill the exit hole. Yes, from experience this task will allow the grease to flow more freely to the bushings.
4. Be positive of 3 or 9 o'clock bolt position.
5. I do believe having the weight off the springs allows for better grease application. All of the grease jerks accepted grease. I placed the jerks on the backside so I could access them better since I have the MorHyde LRE Suspension.

A big thank you guys for your input and I hope this will help others in the future.