Grease gun

[Phil C]

I'm looking to get a grease gun for my 1965 BSA B40 - maybe an old secondhand one from ebay? But how do I know what kind of gun will fit the grease nipples on my bike?  Phil (novice)

[ROYC]

I'm looking to get a grease gun for my 1965 BSA B40 - maybe an old secondhand one from ebay? But how do I know what kind of gun will fit the grease nipples on my bike?  Phil (novice)

If it has a nozzle like this , it will fit.

[Phil C]

Thanks, but of course the photos on ebay don't always show that.  Do old Tecalemit ones fit? Or does it depend which model?

[ANDY HIGHAM]

Most of the grease nipples on BSAs are as much use as a chocolate fireguard
The ones in the middle of the hubs when the bearings are at the outer ends of the hubs. Filling the hubs just causes drag. Same goes for headstock grease nipples.
The only useful ones I have ever encountered are on the ends of c15, tiger cub, bantam etc swingarm pivot

[AWJDThumper]

Sadly, I seem to have a large collection of grease guns including old Tecalemit ones - they all have a concave nozzles and so will fit the type of grease nipple fitted to old Brit bikes. If you find the grease is leaking out from the end of the nozzle, the usual trick is to place a suitable piece of cloth between it and the nipple to achieve a better seal.

[AWJDThumper]

Nozzle end of Tecalemit grease gun. Ironically, this is the only one in my collection of grease guns that I never use!

[Phil C]

Are the old (push type) Tecalemit guns likely to work on 1965 B40?

[LJ.]

If you find the grease is leaking out from the end of the nozzle, the usual trick is to place a suitable piece of cloth between it and the nipple to achieve a better seal.

What a good idea! Probably a bit of rubber glove or condom would be better than cloth. I never had much success in refilling the gun that I have in the first photo, any ideas on that?

[JulianS]

The Tecalemit gun will work on the B40 given a good seal but you would probably get more grease into the swinging arm bushes using one of the bigger guns.

[Phil C]

Are there any you'd recommend?

[AWJDThumper]

If you find the grease is leaking out from the end of the nozzle, the usual trick is to place a suitable piece of cloth between it and the nipple to achieve a better seal.

What a good idea! Probably a bit of rubber glove or condom would be better than cloth. I never had much success in refilling the gun that I have in the first photo, any ideas on that?

The rag must be placed over the end of the grease nipple between it and the grease gun - hence, it must be porous to grease

[AWJDThumper]

The B40 doesn't need much grease to be used since it only has to fill a small space at each end of the swinging arm pivot before emerging under the bushes. I recently used one of my small grease guns to lube the swinging arm bearing on the C15 I'm currently restoring. I also have a large grease gun available but I don't think I've ever had to use it on a BSA bike.

[JulianS]

This is the one I use, it 1s unbranded.

The nozzle grips the nipple and it provides copious quantities of grease. I got it when I had a B40, being aware of the need to keep those swinging arm bushes well greased.

[ROYC]

This is the one I use, it 1s unbranded.

The nozzle grips the nipple and it provides copious quantities of grease. I got it when I had a B40, being aware of the need to keep those swinging arm bushes well greased.

I have one of those guns, best if you get the tins of grease with a tin cover with a hole in for filling the gun.
I suppose that the BSA nipples could be changed to the type for this gun.

[A10 JWO]

I have an old one you are welcome to have, quite happy to post to mainland UK. regards Colin