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

[DJ54]

A trick I learned from an older mechanic, to get king pins in large trucks to take grease, was to dig out what you can, then fill the hole with penetrating oil. Screw the zerk back in, then put the grease gun to it. If you have a good gun, your exerting 6,000 psi on that fluid. It will usually find a way out, and the grease behind it. I'd say I've had a 90% success rate doing this.

On like the king pins, with a horizontal hole, you can make a half dam, or more.... Just smear a small dab in the hole, spray in the penetrate, then in quickly with the zerk.

Back in the day, when we restored hit & miss engines, we've jacked pistons out, using a grease gun. We'd take the head off, and make sure the valves were seating good, then make a makeshift headgasket, and torque it down.

Brazed a pipe sleeve to a junk plug that would fit, and neck it down for a 1/8" zerk, then pump the grease to it. 6,000 psi across the face of a 4" piston creates a lot of force..!! And all equal.

Of course this was back in the day of the bulk fill guns, and you could buy half buckets of grease at farm sales for a buck..., LOL...

 

[beeforty]

I've used Kroil before to loosen up stuff, but with grease it is usually all the oil has left the grease and you are left with a wax-like paste that doesn't budge. Once you disolve it grease plenty good and god back after you have used your machine some because now you want to flush out the penetrant so you don't have worry about thinning out your new grease Worst case is you have to disassemble and scrub to remove the caking if a lot of dirt or rust has gotten in

 

[Johnny Glenn]

Thanks everyone for the tips - I had some luck on a few of them by letting diesel soak in overnight. Those top stabilizer zerks are tuff to get to. Wonder why there's no fittings for the bottom support/pin on stabilizers? Thanks again!

 

[taborekle]

I see Northern Tool supply has a 'kit' of 100 zircs for $20. Rather then spend time on trying to get a stuck zirc to work, just pitch the darn thing, screw in a new one and be done with it.

 

[ptexer]

I have one of the tools mentioned in the post. I am ont that impressed with it. I thinks it is ok for clearing zerks. I have not had any luck when there is hardened grease. I think heat or taking apart and cleaning best opton. I would try to move part to remove pressure from the pin.

 

[beeforty]

Here are a couple of tools available from MATCO, never tried them:
Vehicle Service, Miscellaneous Vehicle Service, Grease Gun Accessories | Matco Tools Online Tool Catalog

ZERK GREASE FITTING TOOL
匹lears grease from angled and straight fittings

Part#: GGA2 Price: $13.70

GREASE JOINT REVITALIZER
桧pens clogged grease joints and fittings, flexible hose can be attached to reach fittings in tight spots, and works on most standard automotive (Zerk) grease fittings.
俵sed separately from a grease gun

Part#: GFC2 Price: $66.25

 

[PILOON]

Shucks guys, for the price of zerks, trash them and install new ones!

Come on, every guy needs a reserve of misc zerks on hand. Much cheaper than replacing pins and sleeves.

To me, stocking zerks is like having oil, greese, hydraulic fluid and spare filters on the shelf.

 

[jinman]

Shucks guys, for the price of zerks, trash them and install new ones!

Come on, every guy needs a reserve of misc zerks on hand. Much cheaper than replacing pins and sleeves.

To me, stocking zerks is like having oil, greese, hydraulic fluid and spare filters on the shelf.

Zerks are rarely the problem. It's the hardened grease below the zerk that is a combination of grease, dirt, and metal. I have removed many zerks to clean out hardened grease below them. I always chuck-up the zerk in the grease gun and test it to make sure it is working. I don't think I've ever had one that did not work. They might get trash in them and not function well as a check valve, but most all zerks I've found will pass grease just fine.

 

[SPYDERLK]

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

Shucks guys, for the price of zerks, trash them and install new ones!

Come on, every guy needs a reserve of misc zerks on hand. Much cheaper than replacing pins and sleeves.

To me, stocking zerks is like having oil, greese, hydraulic fluid and spare filters on the shelf.

The zerks are not the problem here. It is dried up grease and wear debris clogging the hole. Penetrating oil, heat, physical disturbance, pressure on oil soak .... Great ideas.
larry

 

[spruce Deere]

Well, lack of maintenance/grease from previous owner is why there is old, dried out grease there in the first place, not a bad zerk. Best to remove grease zerk and manually clean hardened crud out of the hole and zerk itself.

Jinman, has described the good way to clear things up. I have done the exact steps with out having to replace zerks, but have had bad zerks on rare occations.

I also keep a good supply of assorted metric-standard size zerks. WAY cheaper-easier than pins, bushings to replace.

Ounce of prevention