How often do you check your zerks (aka grease nipples)

[IslandTractor]

I grease my tractor regularly just like my momma told me. I check to insure grease is actually extruding from the greased pin/bushing and occasionally have to clean out or replace a clogged zerk.

What I haven't done before is regularly check the tightness of all the the zerk fittings on the tractor, loader and backhoe. What a surprise I had today when I noticed that one zerk was loose. I noticed only because I regularly scoop out grease and grit from around the zerk with a small screwdriver before attaching the grease gun. One zerk seemed to move so I stopped and fetched a nut driver to tighten it. While I had the nut driver handy I decided to check all the other zerks. To my amazement, about half were loose. Some needed just a quarter turn to snug but a handful were really loose requiring several turns. It was not only the recessed zerks that were loose. Several flush mounted nipples were loose too.

I suppose they loosen due to routine vibration. There did not seem to be any correlation with type of grease fitting or how frequently the pin moved. The loosest pins were on the backhoe stabilizers which move much less than most other parts of the tractor. Loader and backhoe zerks were loose. None of the few on the tractor itself were loose.

My tractor (Kioti DK40se with Woods BH90x) is seven years old. Except for the occasional zerk needing cleaning, I'd never checked them for tightness before. I will now.

 

[RickB]

If the zerk and receiving threads are in good condition and the zerk is installed properly, they will not loosen.

 

[sixdogs]

That was probably the first and only zerk you will ever have loosen.

 

[oosik]

I've had one loose zerk in thirty two years.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Iv had angle zerks on bushog ujoints loosen. I loctite them. Let em shake around enuf and the threads will suffer.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've had 'em break off...never loosen though.

 

[k0ua]

No, but I will check them next time. I grease.

 

[IslandTractor]

That was probably the first and only zerk you will ever have loosen.

Honestly, about half of the zerks on the BH were at least a quarter turn loose and several of the loader zerks were not tight too. I was amazed as I'd never heard of zerks loosening either.

I can only imagine that vibration causes it just like with subframe bolts and loader mounts. Maybe there is something unique about the way I detach the grease gun that loosens mine. Never heard of using a lock washer with a zerk so I do accept it is uncommon but there was no doubt that six or eight of the little devils were making a bid for freedom. None missing though.

Next time you grease, take a 5/16 and 7/16 nut driver with you and check.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

I have seen a couple loosen up on a lawn mower spindle but that is about it. I will definitely check the ones an by MF 1529, especially since it is new and you never know what wasn't tightened properly at the factory.

 

[boggen]

only time i really pay attention to grease zerks tightness is when i get a new piece of equipment, and part of the initial run down of changing filters/oils, checking bolts, etc... if i find something loose i will generally give it some time after using equipment and then go back to what was loose (after i tighten things) to make sure it didn't come loose again. if it comes loose again, i end up checking further into the situation... bad threads, missing lock washer, not torquring stuff right, etc...

if i do happen to find something loose that should not be loose, then it is about time i also check everything else, and thats when i start finding extra stuff loose, it may only be 1 or 2 extra things. but... :/

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

Ive had 3 get loose on my tractors FEL over the years.

 

[GuyInHuntsville]

Next time you grease, take a 5/16 and 7/16 nut driver with you and check.

Thank you for this info!

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I've had a couple loose on my tractor since I got it new 2 yrs ago. Angled ones on the loader. If I tightened them snug, they wouldn't be at the right angle to get the grease gun on.

 

[sixdogs]

Am I odd man out? In decades and many tractors I have had only one loose grease zerk? I had no idea this was so common. Suppose it's newer manufacturing techniques? One zerk that I did try to tighten turned out to be a pressed in fitting on an early Kubota loader and it caused me a lot of grief to replace.

 

[Utopia Texas]

I've run 6 tractors for over 52 years now and have never had a zerk come loose. Surprising since they are the most lubricated part on a tractor!

 

[dave1949]

I've had a few loose or loosen, maybe they were never tight enough to begin with. I just used an ez-out on one the other day that was snapped off on the backhoe stabilizer. Probably a rock got to it. It's shielded put points to the ground and is fairly low.

 

[IslandTractor]

Am I odd man out? In decades and many tractors I have had only one loose grease zerk? I had no idea this was so common. Suppose it's newer manufacturing techniques? One zerk that I did try to tighten turned out to be a pressed in fitting on an early Kubota loader and it caused me a lot of grief to replace.

Until yesterday, I would have said the same thing. I looked even closer today and found one missing zerk in a non critical location (pivot for BH pad). That was an unprotected zerk though and might have just been knocked off.

I do wonder if there is something about the way I remove the grease nipple after pumping into the zerk that might be loosening them over time. I switch between a rigid nozzle with manual lever style and a Lincoln battery powered gun with flexible hose. i wonder if I am unconsciously twisting the nipple off counterclockwise after pumping. After seven years that might unscrew a zerk.

 

[k0ua]

Until yesterday, I would have said the same thing. I looked even closer today and found one missing zerk in a non critical location (pivot for BH pad). That was an unprotected zerk though and might have just been knocked off.

I do wonder if there is something about the way I remove the grease nipple after pumping into the zerk that might be loosening them over time. I switch between a rigid nozzle with manual lever style and a Lincoln battery powered gun with flexible hose. i wonder if I am unconsciously twisting the nipple off counterclockwise after pumping. After seven years that might unscrew a zerk.

Ed, I know it is a lot of money, but trust me get a LockNLube coupler for your grease gun and live a longer life. No rotating the coupler, no pulling, no unscrewing the coupler to loosen it, just a joyful greasing experience. You will need an adaptor ( I made one) for those two zerks on the pedal shafts as the lock n lube is too long to get in there easily, either that or trade out those zerks for right angle zerks like they should have been in the first place. I resisted for a long time but the guys kept on saying how wonderful this thing is, and you know what? They were right.

Amazon.com: LockNLube Grease Gun Coupler - Zerk Grease Coupler Fitting Tip - Easy Lock-on, Clip-off - Stays on - Grease goes in, not on the machine - FREE Shipping & 30 day money back trial plus $3 for return shipping.!: Automotive

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ssory-your-lock-n-lube.html?highlight=coupler

 

[Hammy]

Funny I came across this post, I had a couple loose zerks on my Woods BH that I finally got around to tightening today so I checked them all and found about a half dozen loose as well. Maybe its the way I take my grease gun off too? Or its the Woods BH... The one's on my loader seem to be fine. Worth a check though.

 

[IslandTractor]

Ed, I know it is a lot of money, but trust me get a LockNLube coupler for your grease gun and live a longer life. No rotating the coupler, no pulling, no unscrewing the coupler to loosen it, just a joyful greasing experience. You will need an adaptor ( I made one) for those two zerks on the pedal shafts as the lock n lube is too long to get in there easily, either that or trade out those zerks for right angle zerks like they should have been in the first place. I resisted for a long time but the guys kept on saying how wonderful this thing is, and you know what? They were right. Amazon.com: LockNLube Grease Gun Coupler - Zerk Grease Coupler Fitting Tip - Easy Lock-on, Clip-off - Stays on - Grease goes in, not on the machine - FREE Shipping & 30 day money back trial plus $3 for return shipping.!: Automotive http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/318651-accessory-your-lock-n-lube.html?highlight=coupler

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll order one today. The things I hate most about greasing are seeing grease regurgitate from a poor zerk connection and then fighting to get the tip off the zerk. Sounds like this is the device for me. I'm gonna treat myself to a new Lincoln lever gun too as I'm also fed up with my HF cheapy.