Heating a stuck grease zerk

[Vtnewbie]

Something I've done a hundred times.... If the zerk won't take grease with a moderate amount of effort, hit it for a few seconds with the MAPP gas torch to loosen the pressure check ball and allow grease in. Worked like a charm the first 99 times :laughing:

Well the other day I was trying to grease the pivot on my backhoe, and the stuck zerk needed just a little more heat. Unfortunately that was just a little too much, and the check ball popped out with a report louder than a .22, but a little less than a .357. No idea where the little ball was launched to, but I was glad I hadn't had my eye directly over it while heating, which I'm sure I had done in the past. No injuries, but I did jump an inch or two off the ground. :laughing:

Sorry no video, and the only picture is of the boring old zerk after the explosion.

 

[murphy1244]

Bet you tossed out your underwear!

 

[Loadstar]

Yea think I'll stick to pull n clean or changing them lol. Glad your ok

 

[JJZ 109]

I usually have success by pushing in on the ball with a scratch awl or edge of a small screwdriver blade.

 

[Wagtail]

Mate, thanks for posting. :thumbsup: I would never have thought of applying heat to a grease nipple IOT loosen the ball (JJZ said it best) but I reckon it's a 'shop trick' that was passed on by an old-hand.

The heating method sounds like it's in the category of "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?"

Lesson learnt for all of us (who read this thread, anyway).

 

[wolftree]

My preferred method is to unscrew the zerk and pump grease through it, then rescrew it back on. Or even better put a new $0.25 zerk in and throw old one away.

 

[Vtnewbie]

Yep, replacement is now my preferred method too. I even had a multi-pack of zerks sitting in the shed, and coulda/woulda/shoulda replaced the one that went boom instead of heating it in the first place. Heating was a shop trick passed along by an old friend, who still had both eyes, by the way.

 

[Soundguy]

Yep, replacement is now my preferred method too. I even had a multi-pack of zerks sitting in the shed, and coulda/woulda/shoulda replaced the one that went boom instead of heating it in the first place. Heating was a shop trick passed along by an old friend, who still had both eyes, by the way.

i used to pull them and soak in diesel.. or heat em. but with a 100 pack costing 4$ at harbor freight.. .. it's wastefull to do anything other than just repalce them.

 

[dragoneggs]

i used to pull them and soak in diesel.. or heat em. but with a 100 pack costing 4$ at harbor freight.. .. it's wastefull to do anything other than just repalce them.

How have you found the HF zerks to hold up? Do they last? Have any bust off, requiring an easy out or something to remove? Just curious if you have experienced any quality issues before I start going cheap on these.

 

[k0ua]

It might have been interesting trying to explain that check ball "BB" lodged in you at the hospital.

 

[Soundguy]

How have you found the HF zerks to hold up? Do they last? Have any bust off, requiring an easy out or something to remove? Just curious if you have experienced any quality issues before I start going cheap on these.

i sure have not repalced any twice. so i'd call that a 'no issue' answer.

In fact. the multi pack in the palstic box i got at HF for either 2.99 or 3.99 ( can't honestly recall ).. look EXACTLY like the same zerks sold inthe baggies at the auto stores in town.. and at tsc. they are likely ALL chinese made.. you just get to choose what price you want to pay. high price.. or low price. realize too.. that a retailer selling in bulk usually has better prices. i expect to pay more per unit if i buy a 10 pack and not a 100 pack. same quality etc.

my guess / opinion only.. ive done no 'real ' testing other than to simply repalce old zerks with new ones when needed and then use them ( pump with grease as needed. )

all threads have been correct.. and i doen't recall any leaking check balls... none broke during install.

 

[troutsqueezer]

i sure have not repalced any twice. so i'd call that a 'no issue' answer.

In fact. the multi pack in the palstic box i got at HF for either 2.99 or 3.99 ( can't honestly recall ).. look EXACTLY like the same zerks sold inthe baggies at the auto stores in town.. and at tsc. they are likely ALL chinese made.. you just get to choose what price you want to pay. high price.. or low price. realize too.. that a retailer selling in bulk usually has better prices. i expect to pay more per unit if i buy a 10 pack and not a 100 pack. same quality etc.

my guess / opinion only.. ive done no 'real ' testing other than to simply repalce old zerks with new ones when needed and then use them ( pump with grease as needed. )

all threads have been correct.. and i doen't recall any leaking check balls... none broke during install.

Ditto. Maybe there should be a new thread called "Parts From H.F. That Don't Suck".

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto. Maybe there should be a new thread called "Parts From H.F. That Don't Suck".

i think there is.

 

[troutsqueezer]

I'd have to look it up but isn't it called "Tools" that don't suck? dunno....

 

[Soundguy]

oh well..yeah.. it may be.. it took it to be a general thread on items sold at HF..

 

[FTG-05]

What about replacing a zerk that has stripped the internal threads in an axle end? My friend pulled one off while greasing my axles this weekend; his grease gun zerk fitting was real tight, it pulled one off and now won't tighten back up.

I'll get one of those zerk kits from HF next time I'd down there.

Thanks,

 

[Soundguy]

depending onthe axle size you have a couple options.

you could shrink the hole ID with some smacks open face by a hammer. or even stake it in with a pin punch.. or switch to a drive zerk. lastly.. you could drill out and go to the next size zerk. if the axle was broke down.. I might even braze it and retap it..e tc. all depends what / where..e tc..

 

[Wagtail]

My friend pulled one off while greasing my axles this weekend; his grease gun zerk fitting was real tight, it pulled one off and now won't tighten back up.QUOTE]

I'd suggest that your good Mate loosen the tip of his grease gun for the future. It is adjustable. :2cents:

 

[Soundguy]

I'd suggest that your good Mate loosen the tip of his grease gun for the future. It is adjustable. :2cents:

yep.. before he pulls another one out.

 

[dragoneggs]

i sure have not repalced any twice. so i'd call that a 'no issue' answer.

In fact. the multi pack in the palstic box i got at HF for either 2.99 or 3.99 ( can't honestly recall ).. look EXACTLY like the same zerks sold inthe baggies at the auto stores in town.. and at tsc. they are likely ALL chinese made.. you just get to choose what price you want to pay. high price.. or low price. realize too.. that a retailer selling in bulk usually has better prices. i expect to pay more per unit if i buy a 10 pack and not a 100 pack. same quality etc.

my guess / opinion only.. ive done no 'real ' testing other than to simply repalce old zerks with new ones when needed and then use them ( pump with grease as needed. )

all threads have been correct.. and i doen't recall any leaking check balls... none broke during install.

thanks... good enough recommendation for me.