Grease fitting not taking, shaft frozen

[queen of spades]

A machine I bought has a few zerk fittings that wouldn't take oil. I replaced the fittings, but still no grease going into the shaft. Solid dirt was packed where the grease normally goes. The shaft is attached to a frame and is not a bolt & replace part.

I cleaned the packed dirt from the fitting, but grease still wouldn't work itself in. Same gun pumps grease without a hitch in other fittings on the tractor. The part I'm working on is known to seize without frequent lubrication.

Does anyone make high-pressure grease guns for situations like this?

Or has anyone tried to rig up a hydraulic line to force fluid into Zerk openings?

 

[J_J]

A machine I bought has a few zerk fittings that wouldn't take oil. I replaced the fittings, but still no grease going into the shaft. Solid dirt was packed where the grease normally goes. The shaft is attached to a frame and is not a bolt & replace part.

I cleaned the packed dirt from the fitting, but grease still wouldn't work itself in. Same gun pumps grease without a hitch in other fittings on the tractor. The part I'm working on is known to seize without frequent lubrication.

Does anyone make high-pressure grease guns for situations like this?

Or has anyone tried to rig up a hydraulic line to force fluid into Zerk openings?

I believe that HF makes a device for injecting oil into grease fittings to break them free. It looks like a tube with a plunger inside. You pull the plunger back and fill the center with oil. and strike the end with a hammer, and it is supposed to open up the grease fittings. I would only try this on the straight grease fittings. If you try this on a 90 degree fitting, you will just break the grease fitting off. This is a type of hydraulic action. You cause a force on one end and a force is applied on the other end.




http://www.wrighttoolcompany.com/st...ce.tpl&product_id=656&category_id=79&vmcchk=1

 

[queen of spades]

I would only try this on the straight grease fittings. If you try this on a 90 degree fitting, you will just break the grease fitting off.

They are all 90 degree fittings, but I'll remember this for the future!

Would I destroy anything by putting pressure from my loader hydraulics into the fitting hole (assuming I can make an adapter)?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Would I destroy anything by putting pressure from my loader hydraulics into the fitting hole (assuming I can make an adapter)?

Very likely. It's the difference between a split second of high pressure from a hammer blow vs. a few seconds of pressure from a hydraulic line.

I wonder if there's a solvent or penetrating oil like PB blaster that would be a better bet for you.

 

[Skyco]

Or has anyone tried to rig up a hydraulic line to force fluid into Zerk openings?

Yup- used a portapower pump to force thin oil through-

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/119945-bx24-bh-pivots-very-hard.html#post1384936

 

[dodge man]

I have a grease gun where you can change the pivot point and it has alot more pressure. I don't know if it would have enough for what you need, but it does have quite a bit more power that way.

 

[queen of spades]

I wonder if there's a solvent or penetrating oil like PB blaster that would be a better bet for you.

I read about Kroil so I will buy some and try. The shaft I'm trying to free up is about 10" long and an 1" diameter. The single grease fitting is square in the middle.

 

[J_J]

There is another trick you might use. As you are trying to insert grease into the fitting, turn the part the grease is supposed to help. If it is a spindle, turn the spindle as you pump. Move the parts around as necessary.

 

[queen of spades]

The shaft is frozen, and is part of the suspension. It attaches tracks to the machine body by way of a torsion bar. The shaft goes from the torsion part to the track rail. The tracks slide onto the shaft - no access to the shaft other than the grease fitting.

 

[queen of spades]

Yup- used a portapower pump to force thin oil through-

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/119945-bx24-bh-pivots-very-hard.html#post1384936

Will any parts store have high pressure lines like you used?