greasing the universal joint on a howse rotary mower ?

[pokerboy57]

Folks I have a 3+ year old 5' Howse Rotary Mower. The mower works fine except the metal is a little thin. The PTO shaft contains 2 sets of universal joints, one near the PTO output on the tractor and the other near the rotary mower's gear box. Visual inspection of each set of universal joints reveals no grease fittings .

Does anyone out there grease their rotary mower's universal joint ? If you do, how do you do it without grease fittings in the joint ?

 

[k0ua]

Well I can't comment on the Howse, but I have never seen a PTO shaft for an implement without grease zerks. All I have owned thru the years had them in the middle of the cross.

James K0UA

 

[Gary Fowler]

I had a 6' Howse mower and it had grease zerks. If you have used it for 3 years and it still works, maybe you have sealed universal like is on automobiles now. Remember we used to have to grease those but they haven't had zerk fitting in 20 years.

 

[pokerboy57]

INteresting observations thanks for replying. I'm going to dig out the manual tomorrow. I also have the email of someone at howse, I'll try and get conformation from them.

 

[JimRB]

Fair chance House did not make the drive shaft. A good agricultural store or a tractor store often has drive shafts of various sizes and lengths on the shelf. If you have a Tractor Supply or similar you can see what the shaft looks like of the implement. PTO Shafts PTO Shafts by Application

 

[pokerboy57]

Another interesting twist to this story. The Howse rotary mower manual clearly shows grease fittings (actually 2) on each universal joint. Either I am hallucinating or...... there aren't any grease fittings nor holes which fittings could be screwed into in either ends universal joint..... I'm going to go check one more time but it's not like this is the first time I've looked for them. When I don't find them again I think I'll email Howse .

 

[Bigfoot62]

I would be willing to bet that you have grease zerks on that shaft.

It could be that you have a set of U-joints that are turned backwards. The zerk might be facing the shaft side of the joint. I've found a couple of mine that way. If so, just take a die grinder or dremel tool and make a 1" hole in the plastic safety collar that encloses the joint.

 

[k0ua]

A couple of pictures would be worth um... some words.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

Pokerboy i just went and looked at mine i purchased in 08 and mine doesnt have any zerks anywhere on the u joints unless im blind, there is an indentation like there was going to be one but its not drilled all the way thru. I havent looked at my manual yet but if it shows some and you contact howse please post here what they say.

 

[JimRB]

In days of old U-joints on cars had grease fittings. My 1987 truck had no grease fittings. I do not think my 2004 has any. Drive shaft might not have any or if you find a picture that says it had fittings, the u-joints could have been replaced.

 

[gwdixon]

Sometimes you just have to feel around the center of the X (or +) that the U-joint makes. It is much easier to do if the PTO shaft is off of the tractor since the attachment point can be rotated to the extent that the U-joint is clearly visible and easy to inspect.

If they are indeed sealed U-joints I wouldn't be surprised at all. Some people just don't like to do routine maintenance. If one isn't going to service Zerks on the tractor they sure won't do it on an implement.

Anyway, if it really is bothersome then new and grease-able U-joints can be purchased at Tractor Supply or any quality auto store. If there is a machine shop around they can be installed. Installation is easy though for a do-it-yourselfer.

 

[Soundguy]

all of my shafts, inclusing a few on howse mowers have zerks. some are in the cross shaft ont he side. most are in the center. a couple aiming backwards as another poster mentioned.

clean the area up and use your hands. feel all around.

at least one shaft i have has a recessed fitting that is near flush with the pin it is embedded in.