Swivel gaiter kits; rubber or leather?

[Theshed]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but what am I doing wrong ?
The destructions say rub Petroleum Jelly into both sides of the gaitor until they turn a light brown colour.
I am half way through a pot of Pj on one gaitor, my fingers are numb and they are nowhere near turning brown !
Is there a better way ?

[diffwhine]

If they are not a lighter brown to start with, they won't turn brown! As long as the leather is fully saturated, that's all you need.

[Wittsend]

There are (of course) 2 colour versions of gaiters.

Brown - tend to be of thicker leather.

and

Grey - more like suede leather.

As posted - you just treat the leather (both sides) to copious amounts of petroleum jelly.


 

[Theshed]

They are the grey, suede type. The instructions do say they should turn brown. If there is no colour change, how should they feel ?
Or is there an alternative, like light oil ?

[Theshed]

Not sure of the practicalities, but could I warm up the Pj and soak the gaitors ?

[Wittsend]

Petroleum jelly is fine.

Best to apply it way before you plan to fit the gaiters.
This gives time for the PJ to really soak into the leather.
You can do this in the warm, and even warm up the PJ.
Repeat the treatment.
The leather will darken, then you'll know the PJ has soaked in.

You can keep the treated gaiters in a plastic bag until needed.

I would then give a final PJ treatment just before fitting.

I would imagine the instructions are the LR generic instructions for fitting the gaiters and I suspect the likes of Britpart et al. have just copied out the original instructions having never bothered to read them 

[Theshed]

Yes, they are Britpart.
Is it drain, strip, clean, rebuild and fill with EP 90 or is there anything else I could or should be doing whilst there ?

[geoff]

Probably been 20 years since I last fitted gaiters        but I do seem to recall I fitted them in situ with just the wheel removed and vehicle jacked up a bit. having a low stool to sit on is useful a it is fiddly. No need to strip the assemblis unless they require remedial works.

Leather - all you want is it to be impregnated to be waterproof. At the time PJ wasn't easy to get so I rubed into both sides of the leather HMP grease, also put a good thickness of grease on the inside once assembled as it cannot hurt.

Hardest part is stitching the leather, helps to use two needles in tandem but can be done with just one it just takes longer   

[Wittsend]

You could consider this modification to better lubricate the top swivel pin in the Rialto bush.







Except that I don't use grease nipples - just blanking screws.
You can just top up at maintenance intervals.

[GlenAnderson]

The grey leather won't go brown. It's just a case of the original instructions not being updated. As long as you've rubbed both sides well with a generous amount of Vaseline you'll be fine. Mine look like this:

You cannot view this attachment.

[Theshed]

You could consider this modification to better lubricate the top swivel pin in the Rialto bush.







Except that I don't use grease nipples - just blanking screws.
You can just top up at maintenance intervals.

I did see this on the forum and it is a great idea but not sure it something I am equipped to do.
I assume topping up with EP90 is just as good, if not so easy ?

[Theshed]

The grey leather won't go brown. It's just a case of the original instructions not being updated. As long as you've rubbed both sides well with a generous amount of Vaseline you'll be fine. Mine look like this:

You cannot view this attachment.

Good to see photo' confirming.
Thanks.

[Wittsend]

Routine maintenance dictates that you should drain off the swivel oil at regular intervals - 1 pint of EP90.

The filler plug id at the rear of the swivel housing.
The drain plug is shown by the green arrow.



The problem can be that EP90 doesn't get splashed around enough inside the housing to lubricate the top swivel pin.
This mod alleviates this problem, which is exacerbated if you have FWH where there's no splashing of the oil.

[Wittsend]

.... and to complete the picture here is a pic of brown swivel gaiters:-




Oh ... and I now use large cable ties to hold the gaiter to the axle. I find it easier to "manipulate into position than the large Jubilee clip.

 

[w3526602]

Hi Alan,

I don't like swivel gaiters .... ugly and fiddly ....

... but each to his own.

Did Rovers ever fit them from new, and if so when/why?

I can accept that Minis, etc, needed gaiters, but Mini gaiters, were more akin to "Surgical Rubberwear" .... moulded to fit, and turned with the halfshaft..

If LR gaiters had rubber moulded bellows, that turned with the half shaft, I might feel differently. But I accept that it will never happen.

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