I hate grease zerks

[Zephrant]

I'm pretty sure the threads on the zerk were 1/8" NPT. If not, they are now. I chased out the threads with a tap, cleaned the zerk with a dental pick, and put it back in. Works great now.

Thanks for the tip on the heat- I should have tried that. A good parts washer would have been handy too.

I considered doing the grooves in the pins- I've seen pictures of that here, but decided it was not yet worth it.

I was able to loosen up the end of my unit, but I had to put the fill tube in a vice to hold it strong enough to loosen the end piece. I think I probably torqued it down too much when I installed the fill tube on the body.

 

[JMynes]

Grease? Grease gun? Zerk? Huh?

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Another trick is to have as much pressure off the pin as possible. Try resting the loader on the ground or if it is say a bucket pin try tilting it in different positions. The pin has a hole in it that channels the grease to the wear points, if there is pressure on the holes it is harder for the grease to travel through them.
JJ

 

[foggy1111]

I've got el-cheapo grease guns...no adjustable tips (tried to twist em today... and no dice) ....and problems getting the gun off the zerks at times too. I just couldn't get myself to pay the price for a good grease gun on the last buy. I think I'm about to splurge on a new Lincoln or at least a Lincoln tip.

Penny wise and pound foolish....as many have said.

 

[Northland]

Another trick is to have as much pressure off the pin as possible. Try resting the loader on the ground or if it is say a bucket pin try tilting it in different positions. The pin has a hole in it that channels the grease to the wear points, if there is pressure on the holes it is harder for the grease to travel through them.
JJ

Another good tip and something I hadn't thought about-thanks

 

[GeneSchultz]

Check out the grease fitting section in the McMaster-Carr catalog. A wealth of information about grease fittings!

 

[Sniggle]

I had a heck of a time getting the gun off the grease fittings when I first got my Kubota (actually started a thread on it). The solution turned out to be very simple.

The head on the grease gun I was using had four(4) leaf springs that grabbed the grease fittings. I replaced that head with one I bought from a local auto parts store that only had three (3) leaf springs. Problem solved.

Mind you, I did not buy the new head thinking great, it only has three (3) leaf springs. But after trying it out, finding out that it works well, and comparing it to the other head, I am convinced that it why it is not getting 'locked onto' the zirk.

 

[Small farm guy]

What a timely read for me! I have been lurking around, absorbing wisdom and thought that zerks were no big deal, couldn't figure out why they cause so much trouble. That is, until I went to grease up my FEL yesterday. One of the bucket fittings wouldn't take grease. THEN the tip got stuck on it......THEN I pulled the zerk out of the pin when I tried to get it off. The other 15 were all fine. Wierd thing is, the threads were not damaged??? The loader only has around 40 hours on it, I suppose that fitting could have been loose since i got it.

Anway, I took out another to compare to it, it was the same, no messed up threads on the 1st one after all, so I put the 2nd back in the 1st hole, tightened in just fine. I fiddled with the first one with some penetrating oil and a pick and finally got it freed up. Shot some grease through, put it back in the 2nd pin and all is good.

Just thought I would share and say, "My name is Joel, and I hate zerks too!" (Hi Joel)

 

[canoetrpr]

Hi Joel.

I'm glad you had a better time of it than I did when I broke my zerk No more though once I learned the trick here of losing up the tip.

 

[RichM96067]

great tips.

 

[gemini5362]

I am jumping into this thread in the middle and maybe I am saying something already discussed. As a another method of opening grease fittings has anyone tried this tool.
Grease Fitting Rejuvenator Tool (B000GHV5WE) you fill it with a light weight oil and then put it on the fitting and hit the end with a hammer. It injects light oil into the fitting to clear out old grease. I have one and I am pretty happy with it.

 

[Zephrant]

I've thought about that tool, but never had one on hand. My only concern was that I found some pretty solid rust/grease crud in my zerks, and I'd rather that was removed from the system then driven deeper in to the joint.

But I'd certainly use your system to clean out a zerk I've already removed. Thanks for the idea-

 

[Scooby074]

Dont underestimate the power of a quality grease gun when it comes to stubborn grease zerks. I have a Lincoln 1134 pistol (7500Psi) gun now and it has let me put grease into zerks that previously wouldnt take. My old gun was a Plews? lever style. Night and day difference.

 

[slaveToHorses]

I've thought about that tool, but never had one on hand. My only concern was that I found some pretty solid rust/grease crud in my zerks, and I'd rather that was removed from the system then driven deeper in to the joint.

But I'd certainly use your system to clean out a zerk I've already removed. Thanks for the idea-

Yeah, I don't like the idea of forcing crap into the joint.
First I clean the zerk off. Then if I can't pump it, I will apply a little penetrating oil to the outside and tap it lightly. If it is still jambed. I remove it and replace it.
I keep a tray of all different sizes of SAE and Metric zerk fittings, straight and various angles. If I don't like what's on the machine I replace it with one that works better for me.
I really can't see wasting much time with a jambed fitting. They are just too easy and cheap to replace.

 

[Zephrant]

Yeah, zerks were a couple of bucks for 5 at the local farm/feed store. I should have bought a variety, maybe next time I'm in.

 

[Eagleview]

Ive posted this photo a few times on TBN , i hope it helps you guy's in this thread . Hold at the bottom arrow with pliers , and turn the top portion anti clockwise with another pair . The right arrow points to the join . Leave one turn loose , if it leaks a little , snug it with your fingers . If it jambs on a zerk , loosen it a little with your fingers and it will come straight off . They are tight when you buy a new gun , a lot of people do'nt know they are adjustable .

 

[Mike Costello]

I used to keep an assortment of zerks handy in my business--for those customers who bought a new car and "paid" the dealer for that first service and were assured their vehicle was properly lubed. I'd hand them a bag with all the factory zerk caps and tell them to go thank the dealer for his honesty.

Another pet peeve, grease guns (lever or air) that won't pump grease.