Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all, can I pick your collective brains please? My neighbours, who don’t “do” the internet own a lovely 49 lowlight. They are changing the Propshaft UJ’s for new ones supplied by East Sussex MM. If you fit the grease nipples they provide with the UJ they foul on the Propshaft? Strangely the older nipples were longer but cleared okay? It does appear that the tapping for the nipple in the new UJ is at a steeper angle than the original UJ which probably doesn’t help. Anyone else had this problem and if so how did you cure it? Thanks.

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/rear- ... 15-p831259
Have you tried using the original longer grease nipples?

I have only changed U.J.s on later propshafts. There is a "relief" to accomodate the grease nipple on those. It's therefore essential, when assembling, that the U.J. is positioned with the nipple to line up with that "relief".
Although, not because of the location issue, I have fitted U.J.s where the grease nipple is on one of the bearing cups. Positioning the nipples at 180 degrees to each other, for balance.
There's also inconsistency of the circlip thickness. Too thick and the joint will be tight. I keep various thicknesses to achieve the corret bearing pre load.
As Phil has linked, I always use the longer grease nipple and if I can find them n.o.s. genuine Hardy Spicer items.

Thanks for the replies. Yes, he tried the old grease nipples but because of the greater angle at which they sit at now in the new uj’s they too foul. He re-assembled the uj’s with the nipples in the same place as the originals had them. The uj’s are those as supplied by East Sussex so I would assume these are new copies. I did suggest maybe grease the uj’s then remove the nipples and blank the holes with small bolts that clear. Can the yoke of the Propshaft be “relieved” to clear the nipples or will this upset the balance of the prop?

It already is.
In your picture, look at the yoke, above the nipple. It's different compared to where the nipple is. That should be where the grease nipple is. At least that's where I locate it.

The difference can be seen where that blob of white paint is.

From your pic isn't the relief as explained by olonas in the wrong orientation ?

It appears that the new UJ is 90 degrees out.
Turning the UJ by 90 degrees so as to align the grease nipple with the recess should cause no problems as regards balance.

"From your pic isn't the relief as explained by olonas in the wrong orientation ?"
That was my thinking too, hence my post of the 16th at 10.13am.
However. "He re-assembled the uj’s with the nipples in the same place as the originals had them."
I suspect not?
"recess" is the word I couldn't think of.