Fixed - Grease zerk replacement.

[BufordBoone]

Got a grease zerk that won't take grease. I've got one of the tools that you put oil in and tap the piston to clean the zerk. Although it has worked on others, it has not on this one.

I've been unable to unscrew it using wrenches and, next a pair of vice grips.

It is the zerk to grease the quick attach piston for the bucket/grapple, etc.

Anyone think a bit of heat might help?

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

 

[redman135]

Are you able to slide the piston partly out and pump grease in to blow the blockage out, then push the piston back in?
Some times a pin on the loader will refuse to take grease and this method is very effective for me.

 

[BufordBoone]

I don't think I explained the part correctly. What I called the "quick attach piston" is that pin which has an angled base. It is moved up and down when you raise and lower the levers to connect a bucket or grapple.

I've tried manually putting grease on it and working it up and down. Didn't clear the blockage.

Blockage is bad enough that my DeWalt grease gun ends up spitting grease out of its check valve.

I tried the oil/piston cleaner (Grease Buster type), a bunch of times. No luck.

I figured I needed to replace the zerk. It has flats on it for a wrench. Couldn't find one that would work in either metric or SAE. Next tried some needle-nose vice grips. They won't turn it, either.

I'm left wondering if a bit of heat might help.

This is not an emergency. Manually rubbing grease on the pin will get me by till I figure this out.

Redman, are you recommending disconnecting the lever so that I can get to the inside of the system?

Thanks for the help/suggestions.

 

[DJ54]

Is it possible it's a drive in zerk..??

 

[BufordBoone]

Is it possible it's a drive in zerk..??

Now there's something I didn't think about. Hell, I didn't even know there was such a thing.

Since I can't turn it, I expect it will be very difficult to pull out.

Think I'll ask at my dealer.

Thanks!

 

[Mike1955]

It s a judgement call. If it’s imperative then do what ever it takes. That’s what you are going to have to do in the end. No short cuts when it comes to lubricants

 

[DJ54]

drive in zerk - Google Search

 

[GreyhawkUSA30340]

Wondering if a small pin punch could be used to mechanically dislodge the ball in the zerk and get grease moving?

 

[Alan W.]

Is there a bushing for that pin. Reason I ask is I have seen bushings get dry and gall to the pin enough to rotate in the housing. When this happens the grease hole in the bushing will no longer be aligned with the zerk and putting grease into the joint by the zerk will be impossible.

 

[OldTrix]

I've had a few of those. In each case, I pulled the pin and removed the rock-hard grease from the passages in the pin. The zerk usually works fine, it's the dried grease that blocks things.