Thread: Swivel Pin Lubrication.

Originally Posted by Timj

Hi Judo,

On Series Landrovers (leaf sprung is what we are talking about, not series of Discos) the oil in the swivel housing makes it's way through into the bearings and lubricates them. I believe on Discos and Defenders that there is a seal that stops this from happening but I may be wrong about that. On a Series you grease the bearings so they have lubrication when first fitted until the oil works it's way through.

Cheers,

TimJ.

Oh that makes more sense, thanks. Forgot I was in the Series Landy area.... of which I know very little about!

Slack day at work, so I'm reading everything there is to read. *clicks new posts*

I lube all Disco, RRC, Defender, County, Series swivel housings with straight Moreys oil. Its thick like honey and is capable of handling extreme pressure as well as not leaking as easy. It also doesnt emulisfy with water as reeadily as gearoil.

Well, after patching the surface my swivel pins with Araldite & sanding it smooth, I filled them with oil & waited for the Dirty Brown Smell.

I now know what prompted Bernard Law Montgomery to say after he got his arse kicked at Arnhem in 1944: "Well the operation was a partial success."

One swivel worked beautifully, one leaked like a sieve so I bit the bullet & bought 2 new kits. Not TOO bad when all the bits, bearings, gaskets & seals were included.

Two points:
1. The kit came with a bladder full of grease to use as lubrication implying that technology has overtaken what happened 50 years ago!

2. I found a thrust washer & o-ring for the top bearing that were missing when I dismantled. How do I know whether to use them?

Yes ! know! The o-ring is on the wrong pin!

Due to gravity, it's only needed on the lower pin where there is a groove for it.
But the thrust washer? Why include it if a new housing is included? Surely it would be up-graded to the later specs?