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MG TD TF 1500 - Dynamo greasing

Hi,
The workshop manual, section P9 says "the bearing lubrication cap must be removed and replenished with grease"
What does repleninsh mean ? Shall I remove the felt pad and the spring from the cap and fill up the cap or shall I fill up the hole in the dynamo ?

Laurent.
LC Laurent31

The rear bushing actually needs oil, not grease. The grease mentioned in the owner's manual was a melting grease, which you aren't likely to find these days. The bushing itself is Oilite, which is a porous bronze. The grease would heat up and melt into the bushing, which would then self-lubricate. I use a 600W oil on mine which seems to work well enough. A modern grease will not get through the bushing, and would need to be applied directly to the ID of the bushing, which means removing the rear plate at regular intervals.
Steve Simmons

Good to know Steve.
Christopher Couper

I was using grease but I guess I should be using oil instead.

I've read in the archives that people have used 20w-50 oil. RedLine MT-90 GL4 might be good too for the bronze bushing for protection. My question is do you just soak the felt in oil and add some oil in the hole the brass plug screws into? If so how much? How often does it need to be replenished with oil?

Frank
TF1414
Frank Cronin

Well, in the old days you sort of replenished when the grease disappeared (the factory had a mileage recommendation). With oil there is no factory data. I just pour some in the hole every once in a while, whether it has been a lot of miles or not. A good rule of thumb might be whenever you grease the chassis. That's normally when I do the generator, distributor, etc as well.
Steve Simmons

Perfect. Thank you Steve!

Frank
TF1414

Frank Cronin

In an article on the Bug Eye which has the same genny it was recommended when the bush was replaced that a small hole be drilled to allow the lubricant to more easily reach the armature shaft. Is this necessary? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Note that in section N5, the WSM says to immerse the new beaing bush in SAE20W for 24 hours.
So the original bush is really porous. Good remark from Peter. Is there a hole in the bush ? The felt is only rubbing the outside of the bush or the shaft itself ?

Laurent.
LC Laurent31

I put a hole in the new bush directly under the felt, I heat up a little 140 gear oil and soak the felt in it overnight. Before replacing the felt, I put a couple drops of oil on the bush, screw the felt back in and I have had no detectable wear on bushing or shaft. Whatever works. PJ
PJ Jennings

One of the most important points is that the fan belt is not too tight.

The late Dave DuBois wrote a great article on the subject.

On early 60s Lucas generators there was a hole in the rear of the end where one squirted a little oil occasionally.

One can avoid soaking the bush in oil if you fill it with oil and squeeze between 2 thumbs until oil oozes out the "pores" in the bush. Have done the same for the bush in the rear of the crankshaft.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

No hole is necessary. The bushing is porous, and will naturally meter the flow of oil. If you drill a hole, the oil can escape much faster, being held back only by the tolerance of the bushing to shaft interface. On later generators which are oiled from the rear, there is a felt piece backed by a metal plate up against the back of the bushing.
Steve Simmons

What do you think of chainsaw oil for Dynamo bush ? It is very thick.

Laurent.
LC Laurent31

Critical to not over lubricate or use too light a oil if oil wicks onto the armature and bushes you will have issues.

Graeme
G Evans

This thread was discussed between 04/10/2020 and 14/10/2020

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