Grease Fitting Extenders?

[TerryR]

My BearCat 73454 PTO chipper has two grease fitting that are difficult to impossible to reach, so I'm thinking of adding extensions to bring the fittings out where they are easier to reach.

One is under the belt guard, which is a pain to get off. I'm thinking that a simple pipe extension running up through a hole in the sheet metal to bring the fitting into daylight would do the trick. But I've not been able to locate extension pipes. Maybe I don't know what they are called?

The other was provided with a right angle fitting and a hole in the frame that is supposed to let you grease it. But I've never been able to get a grease gun on it through the hole, and now in a misguided attempt to adjust it I've let it fall off. I can't re-install it because I can't reach my hand in behind the belt pulley, and getting the pulley off looks like a terrible task, and wouldn't fix the issue anyway. So I'm thinking an 8-inch or so extension hose to bring it out beyond the belt guard would do the trick. I see a number of online sources for such hoses.

The fitting that came off is threaded and looks to me like it might be 1/8" threads. Any reason to think it might be something else? Can I measure it to be sure?

Anyone have any experience adding such things? Can you suggest sources of supply (online -- unless Lowes "hardware" carries it I won't find it in the county).

 

[Stimw]

Just buy a grease gun hose at auto parts store.
They are standard pipe thread, just get a pipe union for the zerk.

 

[i7win7]

I'm only familiar with 3 types of grease zerks. S.A.E. in 1/4" or 3/8" pipe thread, Metric and pressed in fittings. If SAE, pipe nipples and a pipe coupler should let you remote it. A small hose extension for a grease gun and a couple/zerk fitting may also work. I use Lock n Lube fittings on my grease guns and made a short extension hose for hard to reach fittings on my SSQA mount (the locking pins).

 

[defranks]

I used to own a Vermeer chipper, and it used plastic grease lines to route from the grease fitting to the bearings. They had to be replaced every few years as they split, but your local Vermeer dealer should be able to help you get them.

And I just did a quick search and see that Locknlube offers extension kits in various lengths for just a few bucks:

Grease Fitting Relocation Kit | LockNLube - LOCKNLUBE

 

[Peter 315]

You can try this place I don't know how much money you want to spend......Remote Lube Fitting Systems | Remote Grease Fitting | Grease Header Block

 

[PILOON]

On my CUT the front axle pivot was very inaccessible without lying on the ground.
Being as that my zerk was the 1/8 NPT I used an elbow and some 1/8" pipe to relocate along the side for real easy access.

 

[oosik]

I must be lucky. Only fitting that is "difficult" - front axle pivot. I pull my tractor out of the carport - onto the lawn. So when I wiggle, wriggle under to get that zerk - it's on nice green grass. However, I do have a needle fitting & small diameter pipe fitting should I ever need them.

Needle fitting is nice if you have a plugged/stuck zerk.

 

[shaeff]

I've been planning the same deal with my flail mower and the front axle pivot on my MF. I'm planning to use steel brake lines. At my old job, we had huge air handlers that used steel brake line like tubing to grease the remotely located bearings in the fans and motors. Sure beats climbing inside!

Worst case, if you can't find any fittings that will thread into the brake lines, you could silver solder or maybe braze the tubing to the drilled out zerk? Just throwing around ideas here, as I've yet to do this.

 

[LouNY]

On a seldom greased fitting the smaller the tubing used the better, one reason for grease fittings not taking grease is that the lights have dissipated out of the grease.

 

[TerryR]

Thanks everyone, for the helpful replies. I think I'm on my way to getting it fixed.

 

[Texasmark]

I have 4 or 5 grease guns and most have #2 Red grease. Some are on a fixed 6" pipe, some on a 10" flexible hose, and one is a combination of both with the pipe adjacent to the zerk end. All get used one way or another and have evolved over time.

 

[DJ54]

Years ago, I made an extension for ny grease gun at work, to grease rollers on a retracting bottom, on a dresser scraper we had rented. The rollers were about 18"- 24" back under the bowl. It was just a 4' stick of 1/8" pipe Dad had laying around. An extra end screwed on the pipe, and as mentioned, a union w/grease fiting on the outward end. Clipped the gun on, and held it where the gun snapped on that fitting, just for those 2 fittings. Still had to lay on the ground to grease them, but back out of harms way, as you had to raise the bowl to grease them.

Might be easier to make something like that, instead of extensionson the machine. I'm not sure what vibration would do to a pipe extension over a period of time, but I'd probably go with a grease gun hose, if that's how you're going to do it.

 

[mred2]

A lot of very large equipment uses remote fitting. Most of the lines are metal with hoses at the points of movement. Some even have automatic systems $$$$$ to grease them. However, operators still forget the replace the grease in the unit. So we still get a lot of repairs due to not greasing.

 

[PILOON]

On, one reason for grease fittings not taking grease is that the lights have dissipated out of the grease.

Reminds me of an electric grease gun that a buddy 'sold' to me ($25), well I discovered why so cheap.
I literally needed to pry the dry grease with a chisel it was so dry and hard.
After an hour's work I had me a nice electric greaser.
OH, and he had purchased a new battery for it.
That was my 'good deal of the day'.