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I still have the original grease nipples on my car, will a modern clip on gun work on them or is it best to get an original Enots push on one?
I see they are quite common on Ebay for about the same price as a cheap modern gun although inevitably you take a gamble on what condition they are in.
I've used my Dad's up to now, but planning to bring the car over to France for Montlhéry so need my own kit!
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,048 Threads: 108
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Location: Cheshire
A gun with a clip on end does not work properly with the original Enots type nipple as a good seal is required to force the grease home. On my car there were a mixture of nipple types, so I was originally juggling guns whenever I went under the car. Now I have changed them all to the later clip on type, and replaced those that were worn to ensure a good seal - as you know, it is imprtant that the grease gets to where it is needed.
Not sure what others think? I was initially reluctant to remove the old Enots type - I suppose I could have replaced them all with original Enots nipples if I could have found them? Enots guns seem readily available. Often the gun nozzles can be swapped.
Colin
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Location: Darkest Bedfordshire
No good asking me, I invariably end up with more grease on the floor than in the joint!
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 2,400 Threads: 33
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Location: Deepest Frogland 30960
Car type: 1933 RP Standard Saloon
I have changed all mine to the later type but beware, as some of them don't work. The sealing ball can be stuck and prevent the flow of grease. You do get plenty of pressure with a "clip-on" grease gun, so much that it blows the plugs off my semi girling king pins...
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 220 Threads: 19
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I seem to recall many years ago being advised to put something like a piece of ladies nylon stocking on the nipple before engaging the grease gun. The theory being to produce a seal . Has anyone heard of this and was it successful . I could never get the wife's tights off her to try it out.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 260 Threads: 1
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Up here in the North, nylon stockings were rare when I was a lad. Perhaps that is why i have used almost any sort of thin cloth as a seal with the Austin grease gun. It requires a little more effort to force the grease through the weave if you use flanellette but, unless your nipples have suffered major abuse, something like polycotton works well.
Regards,
Stuart
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 2,748 Threads: 31
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Location: Auckland, NZ
Reminds of the old joke about the emergency overnight stayer (male) for whom the only available bed was with the attractive daughter. The agreed rule was that they keep the sheet between.
Nevertheless a baby arrived. It was uncommonly pale. When others commented the response was “You would be pale too if strained through a sheet?”
(All grease nipples tend to leak when damaged but the soft brass originals are especially prone. But they do look good on a restored car. The needlepoint grease gun often got around the problem with later nipples, but the hole in brass nipples is usually too small. I dunno if needle fittings are still available or legal . Grease injection into fingers etc was a real and very serious danger and common when all cars were regularly greased.)
