What I would do differently:

While this worked exceptionally well for now and I am able to apply grease as desired, I am still left with cutting and rewelding the end if the spring fatigues more and needs either more washers added or just replaced entirely.

Were I to do this again (and I think I will because a group member has been dealing with his shot idler arm for many years now), I would do the following:

1. Cut the end off
2. Cut a piece of externally threaded pipe of the correct inside dimension to a length 1/8" shorter than the remaining bit of cap
3. Slide threaded pipe over cap and weld in place at each end
4. Get a threaded cap which can screw on to the above pipe, drill and tap it for a zerk
5. Insert appropriate number of washers as spacers and screw on threaded cap
6. Fill with grease

That would allow for now only periodic greasing; but also adding more spacers or replacing the spring as needed. I don't know that it needs to be done as you shouldn't need to add spacer very often; but its one of those "might as well do it while I'm here" kinds of things. Hopefully others can use all of the above for their own rides in the future. Aftermarket pieces are currently available; but that will not always be true. Plus, they cost money and this was practically free... and its just fun to do easy little fab projects from time to time <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />