Tryon shackles grease or oil?

[Guest longman]

Hi all,

I'm just about to start reassembly of the frontend of my Whippet Coupe. It has tryon shackles. I'm curious who uses what for lubrication. Tryon state never ever use hard grease, only use 600W oil.

I have spoken to many Whippet owners in my club who all use grease, stating "I only drive it very little, so the wear will be kept to a minimum".

Obviously Tryon designed the system to use oil, so I'm a bit wary straying from the recommendation. The car I have had grease in it and there was a lot of bottom edge wear to the shackles and indeed one of the pins has snapped off. I don't want this to happen again.

Who has tryon shackles and what do you use? If you use oil, do they leak?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but considering these are all that hold the suspension/wheels on, seems crucial to me to get it right.

[Guest martylum]

Long-I have a 30 Desoto equipped with Tryon spring shackles and it is true my lube chart also recommends using oil rather than grease. I've only driven it 4,500 miles since restoring 20 years ago and the shackle pins seem to be holding up very nicely. I regularly apply new grease at the fittings every 50-1,000 miles.

If you start off with new or very good used pins I think you'll be fine with grease for the small number of miles you are likely to drive your Whippet.

I did have a machinist make new pins for another early Chrysler car whose pins were badly worn. Read your shop manual carefully and be sure you have proper tension adjustment on your shackle plate bolts.

Martin Lum

1930 Desoto

[Rusty_OToole]

Why not use the proper lube? Oil guns and 600W are not hard to get. The first at old car swap meets or Ebay, the second from antique car and oil specialists.

The hard part is remembering to lube everything every 1000 miles.

[Guest longman]

I have an original gun with bayonet fittings, so just need to find some 600W oil. I'm sure it's probably still available retail under a different name.

Thanks for the input.

[Owen_Dyneto]

If you can't get your local auto supply shop to order 600W, the folks that service the Model T and Model A hobby all offer it, folks like Snyders, etc.

[dl456]

Longman,

if your shackles are properly rebuilt, you should have no problems using your standard chassis grease.

As Marty mentioned above,be sure you have the proper tension adjustment on these type shackles.

Dennis

[Guest martylum]

On the question of oil vs grease-if the shackle tapered end pins are somewhat worn they might not seal well at the plates in which case oil will leak away quickly whereas grease will stay in the hollow pins and still be available. The other factor is having an application gun for injecting 600 w oil vs the convenience of using your regular grease gun.

I grease my shackles and all the other grease fittings at regular recommended 500 mile intervals which means about 1 X a year unless I do several tours.

Marty Lum

30 Desoto roadster

[Guest longman]

Good points have been raised by all. I'll check out the pieces when I assemble and make a decision then. I've got a big bucket full of shackles and I have zero a full set with zero wear.

[Owen_Dyneto]

I'm not familiar with Tryon shackles but for many years Packard recommended heavy oil (and not grease) in king pins, universal joints, drag link ends, etc. Up until 1936 the balance of the suspension on senior cars was lubricated with the Bijur which also used oil (about SAE 50). I've seen cases in these cars where old grease solidified in the passages and prevented new grease or oil from completing the lubrication path, for example in front king pins where oil could gradually run down the passage from the top bearing to the bottom but grease, not having flow properties, could not. Ditto for the shackles where the bolts and shackle plates were all drilled for oil routing.

Here's the pressure oiler I use, it's a Lincoln.

[roysboystoys]

I came across a McGraw traing manual from the early 1920's

and it is on lubrication.Amazing that they dedicted a complete

course on it , but the book is full of illustrations and text that covers every

piece of a car that needs mantenence. There are a lot !

The lube man was a specialist in the 20's , and I can see why after reading this.

I was an auto mechanic for 47 years and I learned many things I didn't

know. I have no 1920's cars and I would like to sell this to someone

who would enjoy it.

Send me a PM if interested.

Thanks Roy

[Rusty_OToole]

Read an article years ago on lubrication in a magazine of about 1920. It stated more and more car makers were using heavy oil because it lubricates better, extends the life of parts by 300% to 400%.

Don't know why they specified heavy oil but must have had a reason. I find on old cars, and a lot of other things, it pays to go by factory recommendation. They did a lot of research and testing to figure these things out.

[Guest rsd9699]

After nearly 100 years - todays metals and lubs should be light years ahead of the original stuff. But then - where are you going to find a Whippet expert today?

Ron

[paulg]

Longman:

I know it's been a long time since this post, but I'm restoring a '29 Desoto, and am looking for a rear Tryon shackle (4 1/2").  You mentioned having a bucket full (?!).

Paul

[ArticiferTom]

It is not just the taper pin but you must have good felt seals in the ends or oil will run right out and not wick to wear surface .