Grease Ports

I've had an issue recently with a sticking rear derailler pivot and I wonder if it would be possible (or event sensible?) to add a grease port to the derailler body to allow it to be flushed out with clean grease?

Suntour did it with some of their stuff and Speedplay do it with their pedals.

http://equusbicycle.com/bike/suntour/catalog92/pdf/Suntour1992%20-%200006.pdf

What do the engineer types (I'm looking at you, tester) think about this? I know, I know, if there was any point, Shimano would've done it already but even their testing isn't as evil as mine.

One under each thumb, basically ^^^

one under each thumb, basically ^^^

that could be the answer to so many propositions

I try to make it interesting for you guys.

I have done it it on a shimano XT rear mech by drilling a tiny hole, and then covering it with a drop of silicone mastic after pumping it full of grease. Peel off the mastic occasionally and pump more grease in, (the old grease comes out, and continues for a while) then recover with more silicone.
I have done the same to the jockey wheel bearing covers, and the pedal spindles.
Works fine, the mech has been in constant use since about 1995.

That sounds great. What about drilling a tiny hole and then threading it and using a small allen key end thread to fill the hole? Anyone have drill and tap/die set that could actually do it?

There isn't enough metal for a thread, it is really thin

I see. What about a rubber plug of some sort? Still too thin?

I tried a lot of things, mastic was the best solution, but in reality it isn't even necessary to seal it at all, once you have filled the thing with grease it seals itself. Nothing else is going to get in.

Good point, well made :)

Even so I bet I can somehow finish a training week with it full of small rocks, metal filings and at least one kind of living animal.

So, anyone have a drill?

a tiny drill bit, btw. 1mm.
Keeps all the recognisable animals and most of the rocks out. And when the little ones get in you can pump them right back out with the grease gun.

I've got a grease port

I fill grease ports.