Grease Fitting

[N1ST]

Folks,

I had a rusted grease fitting on a new tarter gate/farm force rotary mower from TSC . I finally got the thing out, but haven't found a replacement. A m6 is too small, a m8 is too big. Appearently an m7 is rare. A 1/4" is too small and appearenetly a 5/16" is rare. So, what to do? I have tap for a m8 but haven't done this before. Anybody know what size I should drill the hole out with before tapping it?

Thanks.

 

[medicshawn]

You could call them and confirm the size. They have a manual online but it doesn't have a parts breakdown.

Contact Us
By Phone:
1-800-REDGATE

By Mail:
P.O. Box 10
10739 South U.S. 127
Dunnville, KY 42528

Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment - manufacturer of farm and small animal equipment

 

[N1ST]

Thanks for the phone number - it's worth a try. But TSC had 2 versions of the mower on their lot and they had very different A-frame and wheel assemblies. One yellow to match the mower and 1 black but a lot more rugged looking. I wonder if TG would know the difference. Both well rusted despite TG's propaganda about their "quality" finish. Dang, I wish TSC carried KK rotary mowers here in the east.

...still looking for the m8 hole size if anyone knows.... and the sae size of the bit since I don't have metric drill bits.

You could call them and confirm the size. They have a manual online but it doesn't have a parts breakdown.

Contact Us
By Phone:
1-800-REDGATE

By Mail:
P.O. Box 10
10739 South U.S. 127
Dunnville, KY 42528

Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment - manufacturer of farm and small animal equipment

 

[Heavyduty]

Have you tried cleaning up the one you removed? Sometimes you can clean out the inside with a piece of wire.

 

[N1ST]

The one I removed is now too small for the hole. I just took a close look at the hole and zirk again. A 1/4" bit fits in the hole nice and tight. The fitting I removed is the barb (drive shank) type, not threaded. A 1/4" threaded fitting is loose in the hole. I hope I didn't enlarge the hole pulling out the old one.

Will a new 1/4" drive type will fit well?

 

[Skyco]

I absolutely HATE those drive in zerks...my dump trailer has them and some have come out under grease gun pressure. I always redrill and tap the hole to use a threaded one as a replacement.

 

[N1ST]

What size hole / tap / zirk would you put into this 1/4" hole? ...hopefully using parts that I can find at a local auto parts store.

 

[Eagleview]

The easiest way to determine what size drill to use is to put a drill bit shank against and in front of the thread you want to cut . Hold it up to the light , if you can see the full threads top and bottom , you have the correct drill . As zerks are tapered you will be focusing on the center part of the thread as opposed to a bolt which is of uniform size .

 

[N1ST]

Thanks for the advice. It would seem that a 5/16 zirk would be the logical choice if that's available at my auto parts store and if they have a tap for it.

 

[Ivan49]

I can get you the drill size for a 5/16 pipe tap if needed. What ever you do don't drill the hole to big

 

[Skyco]

I usually drill them out for a 1/8" pipe thread fitting. Don't remember what size drill, it is stored with my tap.

Found it- an R drill or .339" a 5/16" with a little "wallering" will work in a pinch

 

[N1ST]

Thanks guys. I'll look for

1/4" barb zirk

or

1/8" ptf zirk + R bit + 1/8" ptf tap

...I think I've got that right.

 

[DieselPower]

The proper drill size for a 1/8" NPT tap is 11/32", 1/4" NPT tap is 7/16".

 

[Soundguy]

If a drive zerk came out.. what about putting inthe correct drive zerk.

you can always 'shrink' the hole 2 ways.

1, take a flat faced hammer and pound on the open hole perfectly square.. the ID of the opening should shrink as you hit it.

2, and can be used in conjunctin with one. 'Stake' the hole.. use a pip punch and make a series of pricks around the hole, just a lil bit back fromthe edge. as you make the prick with the bunch and hammer, you distort the metal where the divot/prick s left.. this ushes metal toward the hole. thus shrinking it.

cant tell you how many loose dive zerks I've 'fixed' by staking them in without pulling them.

once they are out.. i try shrinkingthe hole and a new zerk.. then stake if needed.

soundguy