Press-In zerks

[3930dave]

Has anybody seen press-in zerks used at the factory level for drive shaft U joints ?

DRIVE TYPE GREASE FITTINGS, PRESS-IN GREASE FITTINGS, PRESS-IN ZERK FITTINGS, DRIVABLE GREASE FITTINGS

I'm asking because today, when I went to grease the U joint my buddy installed for me 3 months back, well.... there was no zerk there, just a hole. This vehicle does not go off-road, and there is no impact damage, just a clean hole through into the U joint body. I recall the zerk being on the U joint at the time of installation.

Probing the hole with a pick shows just smooth walls, no threads. My guess is that a poorly fitting press-in (or Drive type) zerk was installed at the factory, then got flung off at highway speed.

Didn't know these fittings existed, till today. With the appropriate materials and QC, I can see how a press-in fitting MIGHT work properly, for low pressure applications. I'm afraid I'm seeing just another cost cutting factor that is introducing a point of failure in a critical part.

D.

 

[grnspot110]

Check Tractor Supply or maybe an auto parts house, they shouldn't be hard to find.

 

[JerryK]

The press in zerks are probably used more now days than the tapped kind. One less step in the manufacturing process, and really nothing wrong with them if they are installed correctly. Yours could have a off sized hole, off sized zerk, or not pressed in all the way when it was built. I have some, but I usually tap the hole and use the old style.

 

[3930dave]

Thnx guys.

Now that I know how current production has been "optimized", I think I'll take your approach Jerry, and tap new parts where I can. Can you undo (rotationally) the pressed in type, or do you have to pry/drill 'em out ?

Rgds, D.

 

[Bird]

I've lost a couple of pressed in zerks in the past and only had threaded replacement zerks on hand, so I found the closest size I could, ground part of the threads off on the bench grinder, then went to a set of socket wrenches, selected one that fit over the end of the zerk the grease gun goes on, but not over the base. One sharp rap with a hammer drove the new zerk into place and I never lost one that I had installed that way.

 

[Rileyroo]

They are commonly used on snowmobiles.

 

[3930dave]

Thnx for the field fix report Bird.

My buddy may be able to warranty the part for me..... I'd prefer to go that way if I can - I'm not sure if the zerk took a flyer 2 days ago, or 2.5 months ago, and it's major snow, rain, salt, plague of locusts type of weather around here lately.....

I seem to recall driving along a while ago, and hearing a "thwack" under the car that didn't make sense (no road debris or gravel) - likely was this zerk taking off for parts other than my car !

Sounds like you've lost a few Bird - I don't really like sealed bearings, but I'm beginning to think they may be no worse than ones with these SlapNStick zerks D.

 

[JerryK]

Thnx guys.

Now that I know how current production has been "optimized", I think I'll take your approach Jerry, and tap new parts where I can. Can you undo (rotationally) the pressed in type, or do you have to pry/drill 'em out ?

Rgds, D.

I have never intentionly removed one of the pressed in ones, but I think you could probably yank it out with vise grips and a pry bar of some sort. You would want to pull straight up on it and try not to oblong the hole too much. Also, once you commit to taking it out...you will probably screw it up enough that you will have to.... Good luck...

 

[slowzuki]

I've never managed to meet a press in zerk in 20 years of working on ag equipment and cars. Know about them being out there, who uses them?

Never seen one in the dozens of u-joints I've changed. Sure it wasn't just overtightened and stripped?

 

[Bird]

The ones I've lost and replaced as I described were on riding lawnmowers; i.e., lawn tractors. At least one pulled out when I meant to just pull the grease gun off of it. Others just simply disappeared; were missing when I went to grease them.