FORCING GREASE IN A ZERK?

[fried1765]

I had a plugged zerk on my GN trailer jack and after fighting with it for a few years I finally tried a Loc-n-lub grease zerk connector. I could put much more pressure in the zerk with the same grease gun. Popped it right open.

I have a Lock-N-Lube, but it is hundreds of miles way.
Guess I better bring it back.
I do want to try everything BEFORE taking the whole assembly apart.

 

[fried1765]

Somewhere in the dark past, seems there was a grease fitting that you could strike with a hammer, thus giving a high pressure momentary shock to clear plugged ports.

I just ordered it on Amazon.
IPA Grease Joint Rejuvenator - patented - made in USA
$38.72 + tax.
A bit pricey for what it is, but I gotta try!
I do NOT want to take that pivot pin assembly apart!

I will plan to use Kroil as the light weight penetrating lubricant.
I love the stuff!

 

[4570Man]

When I bought my backhoe the loader apparently hadn’t be greased in years. It must not have had much use either because there wasn’t any wear to the pins and bushings. There was 2 pins that wouldn’t take grease. I tried soaking them in Kroil and heating them. One took grease and I had to take the other one apart and clean it. I didn’t have my cordless grease gun them but it claims 10,000 psi where most hand pump guns are rated about half that. Rather there’s any truth to that I don’t know.

 

[DJ54]

See if this works. Remove the zerk, and once again remove what grease you can get out. Put a small amount of grease on you finger, and make a dam with the grease where the zerk goes in. 1/2 to 2/3 as high as the hole is fine. Spray some penetrate in the hole, until it runs out, but not enough to wash out the dam. Replace the zerk, then try pumping grease in it. When you meet resistance, keep as much pressure on the handle as you can. Hopefully, you'll slowly feel the liquid penetrate forcing it's way out,, then give way with grease behind it.

Learned this trick from an old heavy truck mechanic, that used this to get grease in king pins, that were frozen up, from lack of grease. I've had about a 95% success rate doing this. Most hand guns develop 12,000 psi, that's a lot of pressure behind a liquid.

If that doesn't work, you can always go to plan B.

 

[BHD]

Somewhere in the dark past, seems there was a grease fitting that you could strike with a hammer, thus giving a high pressure momentary shock to clear plugged ports.

I have one of those tools, and was not impressed with it when I put grease in it, but when I put diesel in it it worked great, the thinner fluid would penetrate the old hardened grease, and wash it out,

I is not 100% but I had a old JD drill that was 65 years old, and had some that would not take grease it with the diesel it opened up 95% of the plugged zerks, some I just had to take it apart and use a drill bit and drill out the grease and dirt that was hardened up in them it was like cement in them,

like said try a few different positions, (my disk one could not grease it unless it lowered all the way, on the lift,),the metal will wear and make a seal so tight of a seal, that it is like trying to grease a blind hole, the grease has to have some place to go,

 

[fried1765]

See if this works. Remove the zerk, and once again remove what grease you can get out. Put a small amount of grease on you finger, and make a dam with the grease where the zerk goes in. 1/2 to 2/3 as high as the hole is fine. Spray some penetrate in the hole, until it runs out, but not enough to wash out the dam. Replace the zerk, then try pumping grease in it. When you meet resistance, keep as much pressure on the handle as you can. Hopefully, you'll slowly feel the liquid penetrate forcing it's way out,, then give way with grease behind it.

Learned this trick from an old heavy truck mechanic, that used this to get grease in king pins, that were frozen up, from lack of grease. I've had about a 95% success rate doing this. Most hand guns develop 12,000 psi, that's a lot of pressure behind a liquid.

If that doesn't work, you can always go to plan B.

Guess I could have tried that BEFORE ordering the IPA Grease Joint Rejuvenator from Amazon.
Think I'll give the tool a try now though, since it is on the way.

 

[oosik]

I have ONE zerk on the grapple that I must raise the grapple so it will accept grease. In the down, resting position - no joy.

 

[fried1765]

I have ONE zerk on the grapple that I must raise the grapple so it will accept grease. In the down, resting position - no joy.

I have tried cycling the forklift cylinder joint, while at the same time attempting to force grease.
No joy!

 

[Coyote machine]

TSC has the rejuvenator tool on the rack of grease tools for about the same ridiculous price as Amazon. I find often that Amazon is more expensive than local cost for same tools, YMMV?
Good luck getting it opened up.
My only thought that hasn't been covered is: if you had your Loc-N-Lube fitting I would try to pressurize the grease to the zerk while using an impact gun to vibrate the pin and see if the combo would eventually force the grease through the 'cemented in' grease.
You could return the rejuvenator to Amazon and buy the Lok-n-lube fitting you may not already have: they now have a long nipple version that reaches where the original short nipple can't reach. Then you'd have both and could keep them in your different locations, and I think you'll find better chance of success with the L-N-Lube tool.:confused3:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have one of those tools, and was not impressed with it when I put grease in it, but when I put diesel in it it worked great, the thinner fluid would penetrate the old hardened grease, and wash it out,

I've put WD40 in mine, and got it to work...

SR