[drive surgeon]

tried to grease my whirlaway for the first time in over a year, what a job, managed to get the grease gun over the grease nipple, but only got a bit in when the grease gun locked, then i tried to get the grease gun off the nipple and it was locked on??  dont no if it was pressure keeping it on or what??  i had to unscrew the grease gun with the nipple attached and a spring popped out the back of the nipple. weird?  it must be the spring from inside the nipple. dont know how that popped out, anyway what shall i do?  will it be ok to just buy a new nipple and just screw it back on or what?  i need to get more grease in the drum as the spray bar seems clogged up as its not turning freely!

i usually love "nipples" but not this type!

any help would be great guys.

[keith b]

If the spray bar is not turning freely - it could be a ingress of water into the main rotor bearing! - which could mean that the small ball bearings in the rotor bearing are worn out (uneven).

Have you tried contacting the manufacturers?

Try looking for a hydraulic hose supply company in your area!

`Abbey Hose` (Grays, Essex) near me are really helpful!

[drive surgeon]

i should have greased it before now, it says every 40 hours,  i think a new rotary drum will be expensive! its my own fault tho,

well my friend managed to get the nipple off the grease gun, he said that happens with new nipples!  i managed to get more grease in so i will see what happens.  i got a small rotary washer as well and when i opened that up and cleaned the bearings when i put it back it nearly took off when it was on full bore,  just shows you the difference with clean bearings.

[keith b]

Lets hope it just needs greasing and nothing else!

Does your whirlaway instruction booklet say anything about using a specific type of grease?

[drive surgeon]

no it did not say what grease.

[drivewasher]

There were a few faulty nipples fitted to whurlaawys in that when presurised the tiny ball in them blocks the hole in nipple giving these symptoms.
If you have the originol castors they have a grease nipple on top of them. Try to grease one castor and if grease goes through ok swap the nipple with the one in the main bearing head, then pump plenty grease in until it emerges from around the output shaft.
I grease mine every job!

[drive surgeon]

cheers will check it out!

[keith b]

drive surgeon,

It might be worth looking for specialist greases that are synthetic or water proof, but do try to find ones that are suited to high speed rotation.

type: SLR -77 or TG50 are worth investigating?

[drivewasher]

No problem with that, the grease used for boat trailer wheels is good. But as the grease isn't really for the bearings as water doesn't go through them it's a touch expensive.
The grease is to keep the viton inlet tap O ring lubricated as the constant slight buffering it gets in it's housing tears or wears it quickly, thats why it should be greased daily. I grease mine every job sometimes 3 times a day with standard hmp grease  keeps o ring slippy. Had machine 4 years now only ever changed nozzles and a 2 bars as grit wore through them! (touch wood)

[keith b]

Yer your right drivewasher - regular daily maintenance is a good habit to get into!

[drive surgeon]

will bear this in mind guys