Bicycle Mechanics - Zerk fitting in a bottom brackette?

I was looking over some web sites about nervex lugs (I think they're good looking) and ran across a bottom brackette that had a zerk fitting in it.

I'm wondering if this is a good idea in a long term idea or if anyone has experience with this.

Old English 3 speed have an oiler in the bottom bracket and all you have to do is put a few drops in there every few weeks to keep the bearings lubed. I have a quite a few 3-speeds with out the bottom bracket oiler and would also like to know if it is possible to add this feature. I know from experience with front hubs that have the oiler feature when I open them up the bearings look fine.

The grease fitting in the bottom bracket is a good idea if you use oil in the bottom bracket. It will sit in the bottom of the shell/cups and lube the bearings as they rotate. If you use grease in the bottom bracket a grease fitting is pretty much worthless. Injected grease will not make it to the bearings, will go up the stays and seattube and accumulate around the bb axle and spin worthlessly.

Originally posted by don d.
The grease fitting in the bottom bracket is a good idea if you use oil in the bottom bracket. It will sit in the bottom of the shell/cups and lube the bearings as they rotate. If you use grease in the bottom bracket a grease fitting is pretty much worthless. Injected grease will not make it to the bearings, will go up the stays and seattube and accumulate around the bb axle and spin worthlessly.

This bottom brackette on my older bike is sealed - no exist on any direction.


Do people use oil vs. grease much?

People used to use oil in bearings all the time. One of the advantages of oil over grease is the lower rolling resistance. Many manufacturers used to put a hole in their hubs with a cir-clip seal so that you could oil your hub bearings. It was not unusual before a race to readjust your bearings on the edge of loose and then oil them with light oil for the lowest possible rolling resistance. The downside is that oil tends to get everywhere and requires more attention to cleaning. Grease is actually just a vehicle to carry the oil, which is released by heat and friction. It really comes into it's own in an application like the headset.

Thanks Don,

It makes sense now!