Grease zerk caps

[lilranch2001]

Has anyone ever tried grease zerk caps?
I found them in the graingers catalog today and wondered if they work well or if just a waste of time on tractors.

I get a lot of mud all over the zerks on my front end and FEL and just thought they may help

 

[KennyV]

Use them or not ...
You should wipe a Zerk before applying new grease so it should not matter.The down side of using caps is that some locations it is easy to loose the cap so you will always be needing replacements, and most likely end up wit some with some without.

There is a check ball at the tip so nothing will get in... don't bother, just wipe then grease. KennyV

 

[AlanB]

They are nice in some locations on my backhoe and tractor where the zerk fits into a "well" and I just reach in and pry the cap out along with most of the dirt. You still have to clean them, but it is definitely simpler.

They were stupid expensive from Napa, but I probably have 6 or so on a couple of selected fittings.

 

[horse7]

I use them to keep the dirt off the zerks, particularly in the little ball groove although most people don't care much about that. For on road vehicles the corrosives the state governments splatter around in the winter are kept away, the down side is anything trapped under the cap stays there (for instance if a cap pops loose in grass or brush and gets water and dirt in it, don't just pop it back on).

If nothing else they make your machinery look like you care about it. I use the yellow ones mostly.

They are cheaper on eBay, but sometimes hard to find particularly if you want a certain color.

 

[RalphVa]

I've used them in the past on cars and have them a few places on my chipper. Not sure they're much use on a tractor or implement. Pain to take them off, etc. Easier just to wipe and shoot. You really only have to wipe the tiny top surface, too.

Ralph

 

[archerm3]

I think they are great considering the number of zerks i've had to replace over the years due to the ball getting rusted to the zerk.

 

[RobertBrown]

Replacing a grease zerk can be pretty time consuming depending on it's location. Especially when it breaks or rounds off when you try to remove it. It's hard to find the time when you're as busy as I am. It's also easy to mispriortize the importance of replacing a failed or broken grease zerk. I think everybody wil agree that if neglected they will cease to allow grease to pass through and when your in a hurry it will break off.
If a cap will prevent this then get some.

 

[KennyV]

if neglected they will cease to allow grease to pass through and when your in a hurry it will break off.
If a cap will prevent this then get some.

If neglected? By that you are Not greasing them?? yes I guess that will cease the flow of grease...?
If a cap could prevent you from neglecting the zerk... I guess some how that could happen.
But then I think you are being a little facetious, to that I whole heartedly agree... funny, KennyV
PS ... I suppose if you got a bright enough contrasting color, it would make the zerk 'stand out' so as to not be missed and there for greased... still they are quite silly, sort of like a cozy for a toaster... but may not hurt anything, other than the aggravation of replacing lost ones...

 

[KennyV]

ball getting rusted to the zerk.

grease 'should' reduce the possibility of rust...

 

[Ironhand]

McMaster Carr sells them in packs of $50 for less then $4.