by Squigie » Tue Aug 06, 2019 11:45 pm
My experience has been the same with the "maintenance free".
They last a lot longer, but tend to progress more quickly from "I wonder if that's a U-joint" to:
"Hey, buddy, do you think you could pick up a U-joint in Heber and bring it to me 14 miles deep on Bob's road, at the top of Alby Basin?... Oh, and please grab a half inch deep-well socket, a 1" deep-well socket, a c-clamp, a big hammer, and enough adult beverages to get through the night. What? What? You can't hear me? Alright. I'll try a text."
No matter how well you think you've cleaned the nipple, debris gets pushed into a traditional U-joint every time you grease it.
I run "maintenance free" / "sealed for life" U-joints now. My life is easier and the U-joints' lives are longer.
At least you only lost a cap. Hopefully, the new one fits tightly enough to not repeat the disappearing act.