Oil & Fuel Was reading a thread about greasing the zerk fittings so I pulled out the grease gun

[KanakaRick]

and started greasing the fittings on my DK50. I noticed one fitting missing and a few of them weren't taking grease. So I went to grab my socket to unscrew the fittings so I could match them at the auto parts store, and low and behold, I cannot get the socket to reach the fitting. The socket fits in the hole, but the grease fitting seems to be recessed where a normal socket won't unscrew it. What is the trick? When I get the fittings unscrewed, I assume I can just go to the auto parts store and get metric zerks, right? Or do I need something special?

 

[rd_macgregor]

Unless they have changed since I bought my DK45 ten years ago, the Kioti zerks are BSP (or maybe that's BSP-Tapered?). "Standard" North American zerks just wouldn't thread right, so I finally gave up and bought a bunch from my dealer to hold in reserve.

 

[KanakaRick]

What do you use to remove them? Is it a special tool?

 

[Rustyiron]

If it's brand new, they may have paint on them. A flat screw driver will chip it right off. A "nut driver" might fit in there, or can you swing/rotate "something" for better access?

 

[KanakaRick]

It's not anything near new. I peeked inside and it looks like the actual zerk is in a cone shaped area. I tried to get my normal 10mm socket in there and it didn't even feel it. I tried a bunch of other sockets too, and none actually "felt" the edges of the zerk

 

[Looking4new]

Did you try 'deep' sockets?

 

[KanakaRick]

Actually, I called the dealer and he said they use "thin wall sockets". I guess my sockets were too thick. Now I have to find "thin wall" sockets.

 

[1stDeuce]

BSPT is the same as 1/4-28 tapered thread. Napa has them as "1/4-28 tapered". OReilly's and Autozone only carry 1/4-28 straight thread, and they'll strip right out.

Sometimes you can get a 12pt socket to fit where a 6pt socket won't...

Also, for fittings that won't take grease but aren't severely rusty, I find that if I use a semi-sharp object to poke the tiny little ball in the center, it often will work fine. Paint and light rust both seem to make them stick, particularly on new equipment. Saves you from having to replace so many fittings.

Hmm, 10mm socket?? Most of the 1/4-28 fittings I've seen are 5/16" (same as 8mm). Either yours are larger, or there's a good reason your socket isn't fitting... ??

 

[KanakaRick]

And I assume you use "thin wall sockets"?

 

[rd_macgregor]

The original zerks on my DK45 were brass, whereas the replacements from an auto or tractor parts shop are likely to be steel. Don't force the wrong size steel fitting into the zerk hole...you are better stripping a brass zerk than the threads in the tractor FEL steel.