Grease in timing cover for dynamo chain ?

[Stephen Foster]

Im just about to fit the timing cover & am a bit unsure about 3 things ?
 1/ How tight should the dynamo drive chain be ?

2/ Ought the section be packed with grease ?

3/ Which type or brand of grease ?

Thanks in advance ,

Steve ...

[stu.andrews]

Allow about 1/4 inch play on the chain but be careful as, when you tighten the dynamo clamp, the chain will tighten. Also press the dynamo hard against the inner cover to allow the cork to seal. Yes, pack the volume with grease but not too much. A light grease that will become semi fluid when hot is ideal.

[Billybream]

Hi Steve. Stu,s reply is spot on, not to much written on grease and quantity, the 1/4" play should be in the middle of the chain, and recheck after tightening, as a slack chain can easily damage the casing.

[iansoady]

I must say I've always wondered why so much grease is specified as once the chain carves a path through it I can't see how the rest can lubricate anything?

[a10 gf]

much grease is specified as once the chain carves a path through it

Yes, I have seen this. I believe a good dose of drivechain lubricant (from spraycan) is better. Will penetrate and stick, and stay on\in the chain.

[Toby]

I always apply a lot of grease together with some heavy Engine Oil, this is so the lower run of the chain dips into the mix also the grease being flung around creates an inner seal as well as dripping onto the chain. I do the same with gearboxes and it works quite well.

[A10Boy]

The thing is most people use a high melting point grease, that is the one that carves a path and then doesn't lub the chain. As has been said, use a low melting point grease then it will soften and slide down to the drive wheel and chain.

Better still, clean it out and fit a belt kit. I have fitted the 15mm wide one from Dynamo regs and it works a treat.

[Goldy]

As the chain is totally enclosed it is in the perfect situation, so as has been said, once lightly lubricated that's it.

[KiwiGF]

Sorry probably  being dum here but I had a look in super crap and ripco and did not find a low melting point grease it seems a low melting point is not something that they advertise as a "good" feature?

As Im finally getting close to putting my engine back together this is something I also would like to get right eg what grease to use.

[BSA_54A10]

Google "liquid grease" .
most of them are fairly well the same.
Find your favourite brand then ask them where it is stocked.
Usually it will be a specialist bearing shop as it is usually used to lubricate bearings.
I am currently running Castrol in the M20 but prior to that it was Penrite.
In both cases it had to be ordered in.

[iansoady]

It's used in some Land Rover front swivel joints so available from LR specialists.

I still can't see why you need so much for a tiny little chain in a perfect environment with hardly any load on it.

[Goldy]

BSA service sheet number 208 says apply 1/4 lbs of light grease. BSA obviously were not particularly bothered about the type of grease used, so I don't think that you need to be.

[Topdad]

Hi Stephen, i've used both chain and belt systems. like the belt but never had any problems with the chain only changed when dynamo uprated to 12v and wanted a higher ratio. Although I know realise from the sensible comments about HMP grease ,which i used , wasn't the best, regards BobH

[KiwiGF]

Hi good point ref the land rover grease I actually have some as I have a 96 discovery in need of some tlc, it's sort of a mix of oil and grease said to be 1000 grade by some, it lubes the front cv joints and" king pins"

Called One shot swivel grease (cos it cannt be drained out of the swivel once you replace your sae90 with it) you can buy it expensively from land rover dealers or aftermarket equivalent is available I bought mine from the uk from "Paddock Spares" a uk based land rover parts specialist and it's cheaper to get it from them and freight it to nz than buy it locally- which is plain silly!

[bsa-bill]

Lots of machinery these days use a liquid grease/lubricant, I'm not too sure how you would keep it in place until you got the outer case on, lay the bike on it's side I suppose but then I'd have to wait for a mate to come along to get it back up again