My bridge swivel leaks on low pressure but not on high pressure. It comes out of the hole opposite of the grease fitting. Not sure what you call the little hole. I tried putting grease in the swivel but it still leaks presoak. It's on a M5. Do I have to change it and what caused it? I grease my machine every month.
Bridge swivel leaking.
- Thread starter APW
- Start date
pcb
Leprechaun Car Wash
When I had a Laser 4000 I had to replace it every 6 months or so. You can try rebuilding it, but I never had much success with it.
Jeff_L
Well-known member
I used to have the same issue with my old automatic. That's how I knew it was time to replace the swivel. High pressure seals it up. I'm not much of a swivel rebuilder, so I always bought new ones.
I used to replace it every six months in my washworld too. Tried rebuilding it a few times too, wasn't worth it. This was with greasing it once a month. We discovered the secret is to grease the swivel twice a week. I haven't changed one since I started doing that. I've been on the same swivel for over 2 years now.
Is it a super swivel? Because if it is the hole opposite of the grease fitting there should be a bolt that screws into that hole. When greasing, that hole is used to allow grease to escape and push water out of your bearings. After greasing you replace that bolt. Maybe yours fell/worked itself out or the bolt was never put back in.
In addition to, I know on the super swivels that same hole is used to load the bearings into the swivel. Side note when greasing you never completely remove that bolt because if the swivel isn't under a load the bearings can come out with the grease.
pgrzes
Active member
I have only had to replace swivel once in 2 years. The original was a double bearing and lasted longer then the single row swivel. I dont regularly grease these but make sure they have grease. If the bolt or grease zerk was missing it is likely the balls came out of the swivel rendering it useless!!! Dont go on the cheap and buy single row bearing get the double bearing!! i did it once!!
Is this the double bearing swivel you would switch to?
https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1713-super-swivels-double-bearing-swivels-1-f-x-f-inline.aspx
https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1713-super-swivels-double-bearing-swivels-1-f-x-f-inline.aspx
Yes you can use that but you will need an height adapter because the OEM swivels are taller. That height is needed because the O.D. of the stainless steel boom pipe is machined to just clear the top of the pivot bearing on top of the trolley frame. It is also imperative that when changing that swivel to make sure you loosen the set screws on the pivot bearing and as you start unthreading that the pipe slides through the pivot bearing. If it is seized in the bearing you will press the arch tube out the bottom of the gearbox. I know this first hand.
I would inspect the pivot bearing at this point also. if it is sloppy it will cause unnecessary side load on the swivel and shorten its lifespan.
If the swivel you have is OEM it should have a grease exit port on the opposite side of the grease fitting. I saved that and use it when I grease the ones from KR. Remove one grease fitting and install this when greasing. Do not just remove grease fitting from one side and grease from the other. You will force bearings out that hole, shortening its lifespan. I know this first hand.
Just trying to save you from going thru the school of hard knocks like I did.
I would inspect the pivot bearing at this point also. if it is sloppy it will cause unnecessary side load on the swivel and shorten its lifespan.
If the swivel you have is OEM it should have a grease exit port on the opposite side of the grease fitting. I saved that and use it when I grease the ones from KR. Remove one grease fitting and install this when greasing. Do not just remove grease fitting from one side and grease from the other. You will force bearings out that hole, shortening its lifespan. I know this first hand.
Just trying to save you from going thru the school of hard knocks like I did.
I changed the swivel with no problem. I ran a car through and watched the swivel as the presoak was applied. A little bit of presoak still came out of the hole opposite the grease fitting. After I installed it I pumped grease into the new bearing very gently till it barely came out the hole. Am I doing it wrong? Or is it normal for a little presoak to come out of the hole. Nothing came out on the rest of the passes after the presoak.
Ideally you shouldn't have any water in there. I re-grease mine every 30 days and now and then I will push a few drops of water out. I have found if you service these regularly with a good quality water resistant grease you will keep the moisture out and will prolong life. Like another poster said I've had mine go over 2 years with no problems. Same with the rest of the bearings on the bridge. Mine are 6 years old and have never replaced one. With saying that I probably screwed myself 
