Grease Fitting

N1ST · May 4, 2009

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 · May 4, 2009

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 · May 4, 2009

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.

medicshawn said:
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 · May 4, 2009

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

N1ST · May 4, 2009

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 · May 4, 2009

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 · May 4, 2009

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 · May 4, 2009

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 · May 4, 2009

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.