Greased all zerks

[ecoslik]

Well, this weekend, I ran through the maintenance list for the first time: frint tire pressure (rears are foamed), greased all fittings, and checked hydro, oil, and breather box cartridge. I've been blowing off the pre-screen for the radiator routinely. While i was greasing, I took some time to clean off the old overfill grease that oozes from joints with paper towels and a dab of Simple Green.

My wife had friends over to ride horses, I pulled the tractor into the shop and got to it.

The only problem I had was removing the grease gun fitting from a few of the zerks. Ultimately, I used pair of pliers to give it a little more force. Since it had been 20 years since I had equipment with zerks to grease, when I couldn't remove the grease gun from the very first zerk, I had flashes of having the grease gun dangling from the FEL permantly. :ashamed:

Does anyone have anything to add to the list or advice for a beginner?

 

[TripleR]

It looks like you pretty well have it covered.

I am in the process of buying another grease gun, one with a solid hose/tube as I find them a little easier to use on some fittings.

Sometimes it helps to tilt the nozzle to the side to get it off. In 50+ years of greasing zerks, never had to leave a grease gun hanging, but wondered a couple of times.:laughing:

I routinely blow off the pre screen for the radiator and condenser when bush hogging as well as use a leaf blower on everything else.

Good luck, that is a really nice tractor.

 

[ChuckinNH]

On many grease guns turning the knurled outside can lessen, or increase the tension it has on the fitting. Give that a try, but I can't guarantee yours is made like that.

 

[MW66]

A little off topic, but I did the same thing this weekend. I have Walmart's brand Supertech grease (red) in my gun and for some reason, it leaks like liquid out of the plunger end if I tilt it so the plunger faces down. Does anyone else have this problem with their grease? It's driving me crazy leaking everywhere. When pumped, the nozzle end comes out thick.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

LOL...had the same problem until I figured out the way mine is made requires you to pull the hose in a circle (counter-clockwise works the best) and that motion causes the connection to pop free easily.

I had the same vision of driving around with a grease gun dangling from the tractor...:laughing:

 

[radioman]

A little off topic, but I did the same thing this weekend. I have Walmart's brand Supertech grease (red) in my gun and for some reason, it leaks like liquid out of the plunger end if I tilt it so the plunger faces down. Does anyone else have this problem with their grease? It's driving me crazy leaking everywhere. When pumped, the nozzle end comes out thick.

oil is being seperated from grease from hot temps like left in sun or simalar. regular use of grease gun will not eliminate it but will lessen the issue, but most of us don't use grease gun often like farmers and construction guys do.

 

[Thomas]

Grit at time can hamper removal if zerk not clean well.
Visit your dealer see if you can purchase used grease tip..little worn but works great.

 

[beenthere]

A little off topic, but I did the same thing this weekend. I have Walmart's brand Supertech grease (red) in my gun and for some reason, it leaks like liquid out of the plunger end if I tilt it so the plunger faces down. Does anyone else have this problem with their grease? It's driving me crazy leaking everywhere. When pumped, the nozzle end comes out thick.

A reason I don't buy the cheap. That is a sign the grease will likely break down in the joint too, and not do the job. But that may just be me.

 

[ecoslik]

Glad to know that I'm not the only person who has imagined a grease gun dangling from the zerk. Would that be tractor "bling" or "blah"? :laughing:

 

[MW66]

A reason I don't buy the cheap. That is a sign the grease will likely break down in the joint too, and not do the job. But that may just be me.

Believe me, either do I, it wasn't cheap grease. It's a multi duty complex, high temp, extreme pressure grease. It hasn't been that hot lately, but maybe I need to purge out all the sperated liquid oil. But, I might change to a different brand next time anyhow to see if I get the same results. It makes a mess dripping on everything

 

[newbury]

Glad to know that I'm not the only person who has imagined a grease gun dangling from the zerk. Would that be tractor "bling" or "blah"? :laughing:

That makes a great mental picture. My tractor working with a half dozen grease guns hanging off like ticks on a coon dog.

 

[2458n]

Worked as a "oiler" on cranes for long enough to know the stuck for life feeling. A good grease gun has the tip that screws left or right to allow for just such a adustment. A good operater can tell if you are doing the job properly just by watching the type grease gun you are using. No one style works for or can reach all the fittings on most cranes, or pieces of equipment. With the price of down time or replacement parts-grease is good.

 

[wdchyd]

Grease Gun tips usually unscrew in two pieces....allowing for relaxing internal pressure on grease to allow removal....

I always make sure the tip is only finger tight (between the sections) when greasing that way when one is stuck (because pressure is built-up in fitting) then you can loosen with your fingers.....VIOLA.....Instant Release.....:thumbsup:

 

[Cherokee180]

Just did mine the other night for the first time. I did find one zerk (on the outrigger foot) that wouldn't take grease and the little bearing was gone. Went and bought a new one, cleaned it up and installed it. The foot was pretty dry and still wouldn't take grease. I hit the whole thing with some WD-40 and used a hammer to tap the shaft back and forth to break the rust loose and viola....she takes grease now. This is a lot of fun. I don't have to be quite as delicate as when working on my motorcycles and cars, and to me, a lot of extra grease flying around just adds to the ambience.