L3240 Zerk Grease fitting question

[ruralNearDallas]

I love my L3240 tractor and its LA514 FEL. I only have one modification I want to make (later post).

We (we bought it together, and my wife likes to use it) grease the FEL at 10 hours as scheduled (makes sense considering what the pins do, and them being open).

My question is about the one nearest the driver's left hand, or near the fuel tank cap.

The connector is a 45 looks like this: Google Image Result for http://imagethumbnails.milo.com/004/083/713/trimmed/4083180_8974713_trimmed.jpg

The small part that extends out came loose this week. I think it may have done it before. I called dealer. Not so helpful because I don't think he understood my situation. The small part seems to screw in, but when it gets tight, more screwing just results in it being loose again (I think we have all experienced that on various tools). He suggested we remove the whole zerk to understand it, so we did. We cleaned and replaced planning to buy a replacement.

It seemed strange there was no ball or spring inside.

My question: Anyone with this or similar FEL: When I replace, should we get one with ball and spring (check valve)? Do yours have them/it?

Thank you.

 

[nybirdman]

Just replace it;any auto parts store or Walmart.

 

[Tachdriver]

Stripped out - Cost of replacement <$2.00






Later

 

[Mean Jean]

Good on you for sticking to a good maintenance schedule.
I bought a 50 pack of zerks for about $8.
It was a 3 month anniversary present for my tractor.
I replaced every zerk the other day.
If you've got $8 to spend then go for it.

 

[leonz]

I love my L3240 tractor and its LA514 FEL. I only have one modification I want to make (later post).

We (we bought it together, and my wife likes to use it) grease the FEL at 10 hours as scheduled (makes sense considering what the pins do, and them being open).

My question is about the one nearest the driver's left hand, or near the fuel tank cap.

The connector is a 45 looks like this: Google Image Result for http://imagethumbnails.milo.com/004/083/713/trimmed/4083180_8974713_trimmed.jpg

The small part that extends out came loose this week. I think it may have done it before. I called dealer. Not so helpful because I don't think he understood my situation. The small part seems to screw in, but when it gets tight, more screwing just results in it being loose again (I think we have all experienced that on various tools). He suggested we remove the whole zerk to understand it, so we did. We cleaned and replaced planning to buy a replacement.

It seemed strange there was no ball or spring inside.

My question: Anyone with this or similar FEL: When I replace, should we get one with ball and spring (check valve)? Do yours have them/it?

Thank you.

You can buy them in larger quantities from www.mcmastercarr.com and with longer lengths if that helps- they are great folks to work with and have a large selection fo grease fittings too.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

One of the first things I did was go to Harbor Freight and bought both the Metric and SAE zerk selections. The loader is SAE and most of the tractor is metric.

David Kb7uns

 

[ruralNearDallas]

Thank you very much for the replies.

i certainly am going to replace. Thanks for the store suggestions. I had only considered Tractor Supply.

Also thanks for the SAE versus metric info. I had been worried about that TSC only sells (I think) individual sizes, so I like the assortment idea.

Also, on my concern about whether to get a zerk with check valve, or without, sounds like you all are saying not to worry about that because they only come one way.

Regarding the adherance to the maintenance schedule. I had tried so hard to get what the manual called for: Moly (short for Molybdneum) EP (short for extreme pressure), but couldn't find boh in the same tube. I found EP, and Moly, but not both. Mr. Tractor Supply said either would do.

 

[ruralNearDallas]

I went to a well known auto parts franchise (my first time there, they were on the way from somewhere); the manager was irritated that a customer actually wanted help.

I bought 1/8" NPT x 45ｰ because they looked to match (Performance Tool Wilmar W54242 1/8" NPT 45 degrees Grease Fitting) Note that they have tapered pipe threads. I hope you all agree tapered is what I should have.

The package has 10 in it for $5.99. Good per unit price, but a lifetime supply for me, it seems.

Here is a link I found that I thought some other might find useful: SAE Descriptions of NPT fittings

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Same tractor, different problem: my grease gun won't connect up to the 45 degree fitting tightly enough to seal and grease goes everywhere but into the joint. Next time I'm in town I'll take the old fitting in and get some 90 degree replacements. Funny thing is, Kubota used 90 degree fittings elsewhere on the tractor and I've got no problems there, but why 45s on the top loader hydraulic cylinder anchors?

 

[jimbo64]

Same tractor, different problem: my grease gun won't connect up to the 45 degree fitting tightly enough to seal and grease goes everywhere but into the joint. Next time I'm in town I'll take the old fitting in and get some 90 degree replacements. Funny thing is, Kubota used 90 degree fittings elsewhere on the tractor and I've got no problems there, but why 45s on the top loader hydraulic cylinder anchors?

o'reilly's sell a grease gun fitting thats for hard to get places and works pretty well on a lot of things for us. Not real expensive either-less then 10 i think-Auto zones did not work for us--------nor will harbor freight-----tractor supply-no i do not have a camera

 

[Mean Jean]

I replaced all but a handful of fittings.
There were a few I couldn't replace/grease because they were in a tight spot.
I was able to turn the fitting with a 10mm wrench so I could grease it.
2 zaps of grease then I re-tightened the fitting.
Done.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

That was the first thing I tried, as it's a half hour trip to the nearest hardware store. Didn't help me, but might do the trick for someone else.

 

[ruralNearDallas]

sjmarbu,

Good idea switching to 90ｰ, I think.

Wish I had thought of that before I bought the 45ｰs

 

[Mean Jean]

I went out to grease the tractor this am.

Discovevered that with a mix of 45 degree, and 90 degree fittings I should
be able to hit every zerk without running the tractor and moving the fel.

Then the hose on my grease gun blew out, need a new one.

 

[Johnbro]

Same tractor, different problem: my grease gun won't connect up to the 45 degree fitting tightly enough to seal and grease goes everywhere but into the joint. Next time I'm in town I'll take the old fitting in and get some 90 degree replacements. Funny thing is, Kubota used 90 degree fittings elsewhere on the tractor and I've got no problems there, but why 45s on the top loader hydraulic cylinder anchors?

I couldn't reach those fittings until I used the FEL to lift the tractor's front wheels off the ground; that got enough angle I could just get my grease gun on the zerks.

 

[tcreeley]

The tip of the grease gun that goes on the fitting usually slides on - with a good seal - and comes off easily. When it won't slide on and make a seal = screw the tip in then do it again. (Have a small wrench and vice grips handy). When you tighten the seal the grease gun usually doesn't want to come off the nipple, then while it is still attached you have to loosen the seal by screwing the tip in the other direction. Careful - and support the grease gun so that it doesn't snap off the fitting by slipping to to steep an angle.