Grease fittings

[Gramps in NM]

Started to grease my machine today for first time after dealer did it and have found 1 zerk missing, one broke, and I broke an additional two with my NEW grease gun. No zerks that I have here fit. (1/4 x 28 to small) It's a 75 mile trip for me to get replacements and wish to be sure I am getting the correct ones. I plan to take one out and take it with me but if any of you have info on size/ threads please chip in and let me know. Loader and machine seem to be same size.
2005 Dongfeng/Taskmaster
Have several auto supply places to choose from, are they likely to have what I need?

 

[jlsmith]

Started to grease my machine today for first time after dealer did it and have found 1 zerk missing, one broke, and I broke an additional two with my NEW grease gun. No zerks that I have here fit. (1/4 x 28 to small) It's a 75 mile trip for me to get replacements and wish to be sure I am getting the correct ones. I plan to take one out and take it with me but if any of you have info on size/ threads please chip in and let me know. Loader and machine seem to be same size.
2005 Dongfeng/Taskmaster
Have several auto supply places to choose from, are they likely to have what I need?

I would call the dealer you bought it from and see if he could just send you some.

 

[Bob Rooks]

They are metric. You can get replacements at NAPA, Harbor Freight, or any automotive parts store.

 

[greg_g]

x2. This is the best deal going (click here)

//greg//

 

[Garybake]

Gramps, I have seen this here a lot with new grease guns. You have to unscrew the end of the gun sometimes after it has pressurized a fitting to get it off. It is as if they lock on the Zirc after use. May not be the problem but felt a need to post it.

 

[Bob Rooks]

FYI: The zerk design is meant to "grab" the fitting and increase tension as pressure is applied though operation of the grease gun. If the grease channel is blocked or otherwise restricted to allow release of the built-up pressure, it will be very difficult to remove the grease gun. This is where fittings get broken mostly. Another thing I've noticed is that Chinese tractors come with brass zerk fittings which are rapidly worn away and easily broken. I replaced every single one on my dozer with steel ones.

 

[cleat]

I have replaced all of mine with new steel replacements. Tractor ones were 1/8 NPT mostly and the loader ones I simply chased the holes with a 1/4 tap and screwed in the new fittings. I wanted to be SAE because I have a large supply of these.

 

[Gramps in NM]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. Mostly wanted to know if they would be available locally. Seems so. Mine do appear to be brass or maybe even copper. From what I can tell they all (tractor & loader) appear to be M10 which is what the manual calls for.
Thanks all
Gramps

 

[EE_Bota]

I know my Farmpro 2430 has metric grease fittings, but I have to wonder if more is metric than just the threads.

I have a new grease gun, and it is very grippy on Standard fittings. But on these metric ones, it tends to bleed grease out around the fitting instead of going into the fitting.

I went to the Ace Hardware, and looked at NEW steel metric fittings, and they have the exact same shape and size, but when I compared to new STD fittings, the std had a bigger ball and a longer and narrower neck.

It makes me wonder if there is a metric grease gun end that is supposed to be used on metric grease fittings.

 

[k0ua]

I have never understood why anyone has ever broken a grease Zerk, I have been greasing for 40+ years and never have broken one.. /when they get stuck, loosen by unscrewing the front half of the grease coupler and it will fall of of the Zerk. The coupler is a collett with fingers inside. As you tighten it the fingers compress as you loosen it they relax. I usually leave them slightly loose, put it on the zerk and tighten it a little pump in grease and then slightly loosen it for easy removal. It helps to have a rag in your left hand to tighten and loosen easier.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/203295-grease-gun-screwdriver.html

James K0UA

 

[EE_Bota]

I have never understood why anyone has ever broken a grease Zerk, I have been greasing for 40+ years and never have broken one.. /when they get stuck, loosen by unscrewing the front half of the grease coupler and it will fall of of the Zerk. The coupler is a collett with fingers inside. As you tighten it the fingers compress as you loosen it they relax. I usually leave them slightly loose, put it on the zerk and tighten it a little pump in grease and then slightly loosen it for easy removal. It helps to have a rag in your left hand to tighten and loosen easier.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/203295-grease-gun-screwdriver.html

James K0UA

I took my grease gun end apart the other day to make sure there is nothing wrong with it due to my trouble greasing metric fittings. There was a metal cylinder in there with a tiny hole in it. I looked like it was designed such that grease pressure pushes on the little round piece and forces the fingers to grip. I am not sure though.

I have two grease guns...I think I will try the other one of lesser quality and see if I can modify it to work better on the metric fittings. On my Lincoln, those gripper fingers seem too long to grip the metric fittings right. If I push the Lincoln tip on hard enough to contact the tip of the zerk well, when the fingers compress, it tends to push it back off a bit, causing the leaking. Put the Lincoln on a std fitting, it grips like mad, and I also have to adjust the tip sometimes to either make it grip better or make it release easier. But for metric, full tight is not even good enough.

 

[Gramps in NM]

Well I'm only 72, but somewhere in those years I did learn that guns are adjustable. I mentioned the gun was new to provide info that I was not using a mangled up gun that the tractor had run over. As I first stated, one missing, one broke and I broke two. I do believe that they were most likely in poor to broken condition when I tried to use them. All the others worked fine except for one, (it popped right out) no problem with grease squirting or with getting the gun disconnected. This has been my first experience with metric however. Live and learn, always worth while.
Thanks
Gramps

 

[k0ua]

Well I'm only 72, but somewhere in those years I did learn that guns are adjustable. I mentioned the gun was new to provide info that I was not using a mangled up gun that the tractor had run over. As I first stated, one missing, one broke and I broke two. I do believe that they were most likely in poor to broken condition when I tried to use them. All the others worked fine except for one, (it popped right out) no problem with grease squirting or with getting the gun disconnected. This has been my first experience with metric however. Live and learn, always worth while.
Thanks
Gramps

Some Zerks are press fit not threaded, they sound like a great way to pop out and have trouble.

James K0UA