Grease Zerks

[8N_John]

When using a grease gun on my 8N, I pump until great comes out of the area...is that correct?

I noticed that some areas brownish grease came out when I greased where in other areas it was black. I assume the brown grease maybe has moisture in it? Do I need to keep pumping until all the brownish grease is forced out?

Is any type of grease adequate or do I need to look for a special kind?

I have a couple zerks on my attachments that won't take grease. Is there an easy way to unplug them? If I can't get them unplugged, how do I switch them out?

I'm a beginner so sorry for the stupid questions.

 

[JimR]

Pump till the grease comes out. Use a high quality grease. Remove the old fittings and try to put grease thru them. If they work, then clean out the pin or whatever using a small drill. Remove the pins if neccessary to clean the junk out them.

 

[8N_John]

Do I just pull the zerks out with a pair of pliers? Should I pump until all the brown grease is forced out?

 

[JimR]

Grease fittings are usually screwed in. I don't grease till it is clean. It makes a big mess.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( Grease fittings are usually screwed in. I don't grease till it is clean. It makes a big mess. )</font>

Old grease fittings were usually screwed in, now days, many of the newer equipment have grease fittings that are driven into drilled hole. The fittings have small barbs on the side to hold them in place..... Also, some grease fittings have metric threads and others have SAE threads. You need to know the correct thread so as not to create a bigger problem. When in doubt, remove a good one and take it with you for comparison with the replacement. I know that Kubota BX which is manufactured in the USA uses Metric threaded grease fittings.

 

[PineRidge]

Why not make a trip to your local Harbor Freight and get an assortment of the SAE and Metric zerks in various sizes? Each set of about 25 pieces is less than 5 bucks (cheap). I haven't needed one yet that wasn't in one set or the other.

 

[Soundguy]

The zerks on your 8n will all be sae thread, and you will find 2 sizes. The ones on the front axle spindles will be the larger ones, while the smaller ones are on the pittman arms, draglinks, and the leveling box and lower leveling box yoke..

I found that the TSC grease fitting tools were great.. they sell a metric and sae one. but it is a small 4 way tool that has 2 sockets for the zerks, as well as an easy out and a thread chaser.

I found most of my zerks leaked back thru the hole, so i ended up just replacing all of them.

I agree with the others.. you have no idea what grease was in there.. so pump till you get new grease out.

For the plugged ones.. just replace them... also replace ones that leak. I keep a shop rag tied on to the stem on my grease guns, and always give the zerk a wipe before and after greasing it.. keeps it a tad cleaner.

While you are greasing that N.. also put a couple drops of oil in the oil cup on the generator back plate, and if it is a side mount distribuitor, there will be an oil cup as well, on the shaft.

Soundguy

 

[shvl73]

Recent experience on a friends backhoe, a right angle zerk had the tip missing, changed out the fitting and it wouldn't take grease at all. I had to remove the fitting and pick out compacted grime in the hole with a sharp pick, then replace the fitting. It took grease after that. Be careful of the threads. Good luck.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Why not make a trip to your local Harbor Freight .................. )</font>

Because my local Harbor Freight is Allentown PA which is 6 hours away. Christmas is coming and I will put that on the list that I send to Santa at the North Pole.

 

[PineRidge]

Junk sometimes I wish the closest Harbor Freight was 6 hours away from me also. It's about 15 minutes from my place so I'm always stopping as I drive by and by and by. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif