Zerk problem

[RickB]

Thanks for all the replies. I removed and cleaned and squirted a little wd40 into the channel which did flush some old caked grease. Got em working. But I think I will take the suggestion of purchasing spares and simply change them out. I am also going to try to find some covers. Lastly as one responder suggested....don't let em get that way again. Thanks to everyone.

Zerk covers are a waste of time, especially on disc harrow bearings where you won't be able to replace them as fast as they get knocked off.
The problem isn't dirt getting into the zerk from the ball end. The problem is not enough grease getting into the ball end of the zerk often enough.

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks for all the replies. I removed and cleaned and squirted a little wd40 into the channel which did flush some old caked grease. Got em working. But I think I will take the suggestion of purchasing spares and simply change them out. I am also going to try to find some covers. Lastly as one responder suggested....don't let em get that way again. Thanks to everyone.

hf sells bulk boxes for 5$

i use them as disposables at that price..

 

[Qapla]

I usually find that the zerks are not the problem ... it is the state of where the grease needs to go. Greasing on a more regular basis is the best solution to this problem.

I will agree that there are some places where zerks are located that makes this problematic. When they are in a high-dirt area some of the grease paths get clogged from the very work the equipment is doing.

What gives me more of a problem is the "bad" placement of some of the zerks by the manufacturer. I have found many zerks located on FEL/BH joints/pins that face in such awkward directions that it is difficult to get the grease gun on the zerk. I also find zerks that are located in "unprotected" places where, under normal use, they will get broken off.

 

[Soundguy]

also, in addition to bad placement, sometimes you get bushings without correctly machined oil grooves, or pins that fit so tightly that they block the greease channel.. and you have to rotat ethe pin to get grease to flow.

have this issue on some pins and bushings in my JD batwing.

oem bushings had good relief for grease.. new replacements not so much..


soundguy