Add a zerk?? How to...

[B8FISH]

Hi--would like some helpful advice on adding a zerk to my 62D on-ramp mower deck front wheel assembly to help them pivot more freely. Would this be the right process--
1)remove wheel and shaft
2)drill and tap hole
3)install zerk
4)reinstall wheel and shaft
5)Grease

Thanks,
B8fish

 

[Mike_Lipke]

Exactomente.

 

[ronjhall]

Are you going put the Zerk in the wheel or shaft. I prefer the shaft if it is large enough in diameter.
If you are using a standard (English) sized Zerk. It will require a 1/4-28 tap.

 

[5030]

You really mean an Alemite fitting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I agree with Ron. Always put it where it's most readily acessable and in the part with the most "meat".

 

[B8FISH]

Great--thanks.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

If you are going to put the zerk in the shaft you also have to drill a hole accoss the shaft to let the grease out. You just have to make sure both holes intersect each other.

 

[B8FISH]

Would it be safe to think that the grease could come out the top or bottom of the "sleeve" fitting so I woudn't to drill another a hole (I worry about weakening the piece) I will take a picture tomorrow and post it.

 

[B8FISH]

OK--now I'm more confused--how would I go about getting the grease in between the bushing and the shaft(#'s 7, 8, and 9)--I hope I don't need to tear this apart every couple of mowings just to get grease in there??

 

[Soundguy]

What about drilling thru the bushing, and adding the fitting.. then the grease can come out on the shaft?

Look for clearance.. don't want the fiting bottoming out on the shaft..

Soundguy

 

[3RRL]

This is what I would do:
-Drill & tap #9 (the housing) in a spot easy to get the grease nipple to.
-Make a mark on the bushing so it lines up with the hole in the housing.
-Drill a small hole (Ø1/8) at that level through the bushing.
-Grind a groove around the bushing at the same level. This allows the grease to get from the outside to around the bushing and into the shaft.
-I'd also grind a groove around the shaft at the same level and perpendicular to it (grease grooves)
-Install zerk.
-Grease.

 

[Highbeam]

It looks like 8 is pressed into 9. If so, drill and tap a hole through 8 and 9 and install the zerc into 9. It will push grease into the gap between 8 and the shaft until grease spews out the topor bottom. I would assume that the shaft moves around enough to distribute the grease. The zerc is a tapered thread so tap it shallow so you don't end up with zerc in the shaft.

 

[B8FISH]

Thanks Rob, that looks like a good process. I'm going to try a couple shots of silicone before I mow next time, and if it doesn't get better then I will install the grease fittings.

 

[3RRL]

Highbeam is right if 8 and 9 are press-fit together, basically what I suggested. However, even if press fit, it would be wise to run a groove around 8 anyway in case...for some reason it rotates and shuts off the hole in 9 (Murphy's Law). I'm a firm believer in Murphy's law, in fact I think he was an Optimist.

On the zerks...Napa has a whole selection of them...straight, 90° and 45° bends...etc. Also you can get them with 1/4"-28 threads or tapered 1/8" NPT or even Metric threads. Use whatever you have to tap with. I like using the 1/8" NPT tapered for exactly the reason Highbeam pointed out.

 

[5030]

Rob:

You'll never make a good farmer. Good farmers NEVER grease anything. Good farmers DON'T own a grease gun either. Good farmers just run a part dry and sell the implement at an auction to an unsuspecting buyer, usually... ME . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[3RRL]

Daryl,....LOL LOL
I was thinking more like "Gentleman Rancher"...Grease gun toten' retired do-dad guy.