I hate grease zerks

RickB · Feb 5, 2008

ancientlake said:
No grease gun I've ever used (Lincoln, etc.) had an adjustable fitting on the tip to control the "snugness". Sounds appealing. What makes/models have that?

I'm betting against that. Most couplers I've seen are adjustable, whether the user is aware or not. The outer 'barrel' of the coupler is made up of two pieces. One attaches to the hose/pipe leading back to the gun. The other is a sleeve that holds the coupler jaws and screws onto the base. Loosening the sleeve from the base also loosens the jaws. Better couplers have a hex formed into the base to use to tighten the coupler onto the hose, and knurlings to manually set the jaw tension. Often, the two halves are screwed tightly together and never adjusted or loosened by the user.

Patches · Feb 5, 2008

A lot of less expensive couplers are not adjustable. Go to NAPA or your favorite automotive parts house and ask for an adjustable grease coupler

davitk · Feb 5, 2008

I bought a Lincoln grease gun and while assembling it, tightend the "loose" head with a wrench thinking I was doing good (nothing in the instructions about an adjustment). Had to use a big pliers to grip the head and pull it off the zerk. Upon complaining to a friend he says "you do know the head is adjustable, don't you"

Now I do!!

Ford850 · Feb 5, 2008

I learned the same thing about the adjustable heads. Wow what a difference it makes once you loosen them up. I read the tips here last year but figured ured none of mine were adjustable. I checked and sure enough they ALL were. I had tightned them all when I bought them over the years I guess, thinking they were too loose. They work similar to a drill chuck, if that helps you understand it better.

ancientlake · Feb 5, 2008

You learn something everyday. Will check it out. Thank you.

awlchu · Feb 5, 2008

A trick I learned (by the hard way of course) is to install a 1/2in worm screw type of hose clamp on the end of the head. It gives you alittle more torque to tighten and loosen the head on/off the zerk fitting.

Designers need to put a course knurl on the head for greasy fingers etc.

Northland · Feb 5, 2008

I learned something new again today on TBN.

I have broken the two zerks at the bottom base where the FEL cylinders attach to the bucket. I am stopping by the Kubota dealer this afternoon to pick up some spares.

Zephrant · Mar 2, 2009

OK, that explains it. I had a very hard time getting my new grease gun off of the zerk on the new sander- was afraid I'd break something.

I've got to scurry home and check it out now, thanks!

The question I was searching for, was does anyone know what size the threads are on JD 210 loader zerks? One of mine is way plugged, and I was searching for confirmation before I tapped the hole out again.

pat32rf · Mar 2, 2009

Sometimes heating the zerk up with a torch will soften the hard grease enough to start it flowing. i normally pull the zerk and clean out some of the hard crap with a pointy punch, then pump grease thru the zerk to clear it before I stick it back in.
I will also pull the pins on the loader/hoe and take a small grinder to cut small grease channels in them so the grease has a chance to spread out when the zerk does work.