Universal Drive Grease fitting broken

[leslie428]

In the picture you will see that a grease fitting broke off and I removed it and tried to replace it with a standard 1/4 inch model. I burnt up three titanium drills trying to bore a new hole so I could tap the unit for a new grease fitting. NO GO. This stuff just does not allow itself to be drilled or taped. Can anyone suggest a solution Please! Thanks in advance.

 

[normde2001]

Why not replace it with the correct grease fitting?

 

[Syncro]

<font color="blue">....and tried to replace it with a standard 1/4 inch model....</font>

Zerks come in both SAE and Metric. If it were me I'd unscrew an undamaged zerk and match it up at a hardware store, you'll find a lot of different thread sizes. Its easy and cheap to swap all of em out if there is a problem. As for the broken zerk, I'd try to back out the old fitting and just screw in a new one, the threads are tapered and it should self tighten as it goes in.

 

[Jagmandave]

Were you using cutting oil? I drill a lot of stainless and found two things important - the right amount of pressure on the drill bit and good supply of cutting oil.

 

[Farwell]

Sounds like it is to late to use an easy-out to back out the old zerk fitting. If you drill, do as the other poster said, plenty of cutting oil will help and maybe use lots of pressure at a slow RPM.
Farwell

 

[Tim_in_IA]

for the price of those 3 titanium drill bits you could probably have a new joint put in. I had one installed for $30 labor included.

 

[leslie428]

Thanks, you are probably right.

 

[leslie428]

You are of course right! However I live in Canada, we have gone metric approx. 20 years ago and do you think I can find a metric grease fitting anywhere?? NO! I did find a site on the net and will place an order. Thanks.

 

[leslie428]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I did find a site on the net with metric zerks so I will place an order. By the way I did purchase some cutting oil, drilled at very slow speed and this stuff is very tough! Could not dent it. I will replace with a metric original.

 

[ronjhall]

I'm not familiar with what Zerk fittings you need. But when one of my <font color="orange"> Kubota </font> FEL fittings went bad. I got some metric fittings from the local auto store. They did not fit. Thread on FEL was a finer pitch. Had to go to dealer and get fittings from them. I now have several spare fitting. In case I lose another. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif