Inserting grease nipples into the tufnol blocks is quite a common practice
(I have done it myself) but we found that grease is not really the best
lubricant as it seems to add friction. We have now removed the grease
nipples and flushed out the grease. We are using synthetic engine oil
instead and have a much freer system.
If you opt for this idea you can get away with a fairly small hole. We used
a syringe (tapered end) to force oil into the bearing - works very well.
The only downside is that you need to lubricate more frequently and you
probably need a means of preventing the drips from getting into the carpets.
Carl Pattinson
----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Renshaw <renshaw@ozemail.com.au>
Subject: Tufnol Blocks
> Gidday again,
> My front flight control tufnol block for my flight controls, the one in
the
> footwell, has an offset centreline of the hole such that about 1/3 of the
> way through it wanders. The result is that the metal component slides home
> and has a rattling loose fit with about .3-.5mm gap between it and the
> tufnol, and that it is obviously not correctly bearing throughout the
depth
> of the bearing. I worry this tufnol may wear, albeit slowly, such that
even
> if I take up some of the slack with paint, that in the future it will only
> get worse. Does/did anyone else have the same problem?? I am also
> interested in the past dialogue about inserting grease nipples for future
> lubrication. Is this recommended, or is there a danger of weakening the
> tufnol material and possibly splitting it insitu, with the pressure of a
> thread in it applying a constant pressure ( I suppose a grease nipple
could
> be reduxed into it removing any pressures)
> In anticipation of ideas
> Reg
> Tony Renshaw
> Reg
> Tony Renshaw
> Builder No.236
>
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