plugged grease nipple

[Robert Howland]

I own a B275 international. The grease nipples for the front axles are plugged. I installed new nipples but apparently the grease has hardened in the shafts.
Is there any way to free these up short of disassembling the complete front end? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[George2615]

Remove the nipples and try to pick out some of the hardened grease from the holes. Reinstall nipples and jack up axle to take weight off the pivot area and try pumping grease in. Turning the steering wheel also helps sometimes. As a last resort apply heat to the area to soften the hardened grease. In the future, grease more often to prevent grease from hardening. These procedures have worked for me.

 

[CobyRupert]

George has some good tips, so I hope you don't mind the thread hijack, but:

Nipples...zerks... or fittings? .

I always called them grease fittings. ,
Are these regional terms? What do you call them and where are you from?

btw:
"The Nipple Zerks" sounds like a good name for a rock band....(or maybe The "Zerky Nipples" ?)

 

[Ford850]

I've had luck softening dried grease by removing the zerk and loosening some of the grease with a fine wire. Then I add some penetrating oil to rejuvenate the dried grease.
CobyRupert - I think a compromise would be to combine some of your terms to create "Nerplings".

 

[Toyboy]

As long as you don't call them "zerts"

 

[oosik]

There is one zerk on my FEL that ALWAYS acts plugged and I grease frequently. My solution - "flex" the FEL & grapple into an alternate position and the zerk accepts grease just fine. Apparently, the "at home" position closes off any channel that might be open to that one zerk.

If the zerk is plugged - remove, soak in solvent, heat with my heat gun and if that fails - replace the darn thing.

Cows have nipples - tractors have zerks :laughing::laughing:.

 

[BKBoiss]

All good points. I've had really good luck removing the grease nipple heating directly into the hole with a propane torch and then putting the nipple back in and pumping grease in while it's still warm. I've also opened the grease gun and added a cupful of diesel on top of the grease so instead of pumping grease to start with you have a very easy pumping bit of diesel which seems to help soften the hardened grease. I imagine you could get the same or better results if you used penetrating oil in the gun instead.
BTW unless the nipple is like brand new condition if I'm going to the trouble of taking it out I replace it with a new one.

 

[Robert Howland]

Thanks for all the tips. I didn't think I would create a lot of controversy over the use of "nipples". I don't use the tractor during the winter so I guess the grease hardens. From now on I'll at least start it up and move the steering and add grease.

 

[Harry Palmer]

You might see if you can use a different type of grease which would be less likely to solidify.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I've had luck softening dried grease by removing the zerk and loosening some of the grease with a fine wire. Then I add some penetrating oil to rejuvenate the dried grease.
CobyRupert - I think a compromise would be to combine some of your terms to create "Nerplings".

Ha! I'm going to call them 'nerplings' from now on. :drink: