Question about greasing zerks

[SylvainG]

When greasing zerks, must grease comes out of both side of the joint or is grease coming out of just one side enough?

 

[rScotty]

I quit when grease comes out one side. In a perfect joint with no load on the joint the pin would be centered and grease distributed evenly. But this ain't that. Hopefully when the joint goes through it's full range of motion the grease will be spread out everywhere.
And after awhile a person can see where the grease is being forced out by the motion of the joint.
rScotty

 

[scootr]

I stop when grease appears anywhere in the joint.

 

[4570Man]

If you really wanted to do an optional job you’d move the pin around and grease it in various positions. But short of doing that you might as well stop when it first squirts out. You could apply more but it’s just going to come out the same spot.

 

[newbury]

Just be sure to grease often.

 

[ArlyA]

I couple of pumps is lots of grease. I'm not sure more it better.

 

[repete]

I look at where the majority of working force is applied in the joint. If it is the loader I put the bucket on the ground and then apply a little down pressure. This puts the grease into the "open" area of the joint that has all the wear when in use. Same applies to the backhoe etc.

I pump grease in till I just see the grease appear.

 

[tstex]

What do you guys up N do when your tractor has been inside your -10 barn and you need to squirt the zerk? Does the cold inhibit that?

 

[Avenger]

I have greased in very cold weather. My grease gun is typically stored in the shop, where its cold, but never freezes. I have never had any issues greasing the cold zerk.

However, I have had zerks that have gotten wet and then frozen, typcially those recessed ones that hold moisture and then freezes. I use a little propane torch or mapp gas torch to lighly thaw and dry them. Besides that, no issues.

I grease until I see movement of the old grease. fluids will always flow to the least amount of resistance. This includes grease. The grease does get spread about evenly, eventually. Just grease often.

 

[DaBear3428]

What do you guys up N do when your tractor has been inside your -10 barn and you need to squirt the zerk? Does the cold inhibit that?

that is a trick question we all know the temperature can never go below 0 so -10 is impossible, I have even heard the lies about water freezing in the air and falling to the ground as white stuff, we all know that water is clear so you know they are lying right out of the box.

 

[Williy]

DaBear3438

I have and lived were temps in the mornings were minus 35
degrees for weeks and the highs were minus 30 degrees for
the day time and I have been in countries that the temp was
minus 40 degrees in the morning and they never seen the
sun until after 1030 in the mornings. There are places that
you have to wear a face mask because when the wind hits
your skin it freezes! Were your at the temp probably never
gets down to 30 degrees?????

Mexican weather forecast: chilly to day and hot tameles

willy

 

[scootr]

Mexican weather forecast: Chilly today and hot tamales later.
I like that forecast

 

[WinterDeere]

If it's a new machine, or one that I have been maintaining, it gets just enough grease that I see it pushing a little old grease out one end of the pin. This is usually 1 or 2 pumps, in most tractor applications. My machines only get ~100 hours per year, and I grease them every year, so really not a big deal. Mower spindles get an obligatory 2 pumps, I don't bother crawling under to look for grease coming out bottom side, nor am I sure there would be any.

But if it's an old machine I've inherited, where maintenance schedule is unknown, I pump enough grease thru the joint until it all comes out clean on both ends of the pin. This is usually done with the first full change of all fluids, the day I drag it home, and before first use. After that, I usually go to my usual practice of 2 pumps or when I see grease coming out one end.

 

[RalphVa]

I quit when I see grease from anywhere.

 

[DaBear3428]

DaBear3438

I have and lived were temps in the mornings were minus 35
degrees for weeks and the highs were minus 30 degrees for
the day time and I have been in countries that the temp was
minus 40 degrees in the morning and they never seen the
sun until after 1030 in the mornings. There are places that
you have to wear a face mask because when the wind hits
your skin it freezes! Were your at the temp probably never
gets down to 30 degrees?????

Mexican weather forecast: chilly to day and hot tameles

willy

lies all lies! it was 28 here once everyone nearly died. JK i have spent some time in alaska, CO etc, I just made a decision early in life to never live anyplace i would be subject to having to work in the snow. playing is a different matter.

 

[ruffdog]

Like some other's have said, if the joint is under load, try to reverse the load for greasing. I do this for loaders and front axle joints. Jack up the front frame just a tad so the front axle pivot and king pins will get grease where the real pressure and wear happens.