Grease Fittings Don't work

[bobframe]

I have noticed that occasionally I find that a grease fitting seems inoperable...regardless of how hard I work the grease gun, the fitting doesn't seem to accept any grease.

What's going on? And what should I do about it?

Many thanks for your help.

Bob

 

[rsewill]

I have noticed that occasionally I find that a grease fitting seems inoperable...regardless of how hard I work the grease gun, the fitting doesn't seem to accept any grease.

What's going on? And what should I do about it?

Many thanks for your help.

Bob

Could be zerk failure but also crud buildup. You might try a propane torch (if it is safe) to heat the area behind the zerk to soften the crud and old grease. And you can first unscrew the zerk and the the crud and old grease may just run out once heated.

 

[doall]

and sometimes you can just tap on the ball in the alamite and free it up.

 

[kco]

Another possibility is the shaft being greased may be too tight against the bushing where the grease enters. I find my front axle centre pivot accepts grease easier if I take the weight off the front wheels by raising them with the loader.

 

[Raspy]

Take the zerk out and pump some grease through it to make sure it works. Clean out the hole it screws into with a drill bit or a screw driver or a piece of wire and blast it out with WD40 the best you can. With the hole full of solvent, screw the fitting back in and try the grease gun again. While you have pressure on the zerk with the grease gun, move the mechanism to help the grease get through.

The solvent can get through stuff the grease cannot and it will clear the way for the grease. You can also disassemble the thing you're working on by pulling a pin or something and than cleaning the grease passages. Or clean out the pipe between the zerk and the gun, fill it with solvent and try pumping that in.

With some persistence, it will break clear and begin to accept the grease.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've found an old-time tool will clear even stubborn ones.

I is a small cylinder that can be loaded with grease of solvent, held in place and then the plunger is smack with a ball-peen hammer.

Heat will also work sometimes...

 

[MHarryE]

Is it just sometimes, meaning that next time you try greasing the same zero it takes grease? If so, the person who said to unload the joint being greased has the solution. I have several on my pieces of equipment that won't take grease in certain positions, but shift how the loader is sitting or extend the stick on my excavator differently and it is fine.

 

[Soundguy]

if nothing else works.. like heat or a tool.. exercise the joint or move to a new position...

 

[whistlepig]

All grease fittings are not created equal. The grease fittings on my Kubota tractor and Land Pride rotary cutter work like they are supposed to. The grease fittings on my Woods RFM are junk.

 

[pacerron]

I have noticed that occasionally I find that a grease fitting seems inoperable...regardless of how hard I work the grease gun, the fitting doesn't seem to accept any grease.

What's going on? And what should I do about it?

Many thanks for your help.

Bob

Are you seeing grease coming out of the gun then and covering the outside of the zerk or popping the end of the grease gun off the zerk when you pump?
If no grease is coming out anywhere when you pump you may just have an airlock in the gun. It sometimes corrects itself with a few more pumps or you may have to retract the plunger handle and push it in again. Some guns have a screw on top to release the air blockage.
I'm sure you know this but your question didn't say it was always the same zerk and happened everytime on the same zerk or that grease oozed out all over the top of the zerk.