Grease Fitting Good..but won't take any Grease?!

[Johnny Glenn]

Thanks for looking in - I've recently purchased an older machine, 88 Ford 555B, and going through it w/ fluids etc - I can't get about 6 fittings to take any grease. The fittings are good, I've taken them out and tried to clean the area behind the fittings but no luck as of yet. What's the trick? Thanks

 

[jinman]

Where are the fittings? Heat may be an option to soften old grease, but on my front axle pivot, I had to remove the fitting that the zerks screwed into. There was an inch long channel full of hardened grease. A drill bit cleared it out. Every zerk may be different, but on my backhoe, it was the front axle and driveline zerks that were the bears. Outriggers can be tough too. It seems people don't grease them much.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

They make a tool for that.....here's the Snap on version to give you an idea....their's is pricey but has a pretty good description

Snap-on Tools

The cheaper versions are still around $35

 

[Jeff Lary]

Hi well in the past i have seen this and it is usually caused by old hard greese, Try moving the joint that you are trying to greese while keeping pressure on the greese gun.You need someone to run the hydrolic system if the place you want to greese is moved by hydrolic means. You of course must be careful not to get hurt by the moving connection point i cannot sterss this enough !!! Or If you can isolate the part form the tractor try using heat, start with a propane torch, of course be careful not to catch anything on fire. If you could get the peice apart cleaning out the greese passage would work best. Try these but be careful.Good luck ,Jeff

 

[Johnny Glenn]

Thanks for the advice - My problem areas are the front axle and the outriggers! I tried some heat on one of the front axle points but no luck. I shot some diesel in a few to let soak overnight but I'll try these suggestions tomorrow - thanks again.

 

[PILOON]

Tapping gently on the little ball in the end of the zerk also often cures the problem.
Heat is good also.
Last is to change the zerk.

 

[3930dave]

I've had some luck using penetrating oil, keeping the zerk wet, and letting it sit a day or 2. Tends to migrate well, better than most pure solvents.

I use ReleasAll, a Canadian product. It's much heavier than WD40, and works better for most of what I want to do - this type of problem included.

Best luck. D.

 

[woodchuckie]

If my fel is all the way down a few of my zerks won't take grease because of the pressure on the pin won't let it in.

 

[wdchyd]

They make a tool for that.....here's the Snap on version to give you an idea....their's is pricey but has a pretty good description

Snap-on Tools

The cheaper versions are still around $35

Yep, similar to this one......
IPA Grease Fitting Cleaner | Hoses, Valves & Fittings | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[kjung17]

As a proud owner of the snap-on rejuvenator, I recommend removing the zerk and using a drill bit to remove the old, hard grease (as mentioned above). If it still doesn't take grease, you'll have to remove the pin and clean it up.