Zerks that refuse grease!

[irwin]

I had an issue with my L35's backhoe, would not take grease..swapped out the zerk, I bought a rejuvenator.. still no good. it was the lower swing pin.. no way did I want to take that apart if I didn't have to!

With the zerk out.. got a section of mechanics wire, bent a little end and poked around in the hole til I found the tiny grease passage.. dug in there, pulled a bit of hardened crude out.. then used a MAP gas torch, heated it up, and got it to accept grease.. I keep it freshly greased so no more problems

 

[Bedlam]

Grease Fitting Rejuvenator Tool (B000GHV5WE

 

[AlanB]

Harbor Freight has the rejuvinator's sometimes, I could not find them on the website though.

The short version is that it is a high pressure hose and coupler that you latch to the grease fitting, and you strike the back with a hammer which forces the oil, diesel, weasel pee of your choice through the hose, through the zerk and hopefully through the clog.

For me, I don't think mine has ever worked, although maybe it helped.

I am in the camp of first I try and get all load off the thing I am trying to grease, use jacks, stands, etc. etc. so that the joint is free, then I try moving the joint as I try and apply grease, being careful not to get pinched is important.

Then I remove the fitting and put the fitting on the grease gun and give it a squirt, usually it squirts through cleaning the zerk, if not, just change it as they are cheap. Then I use a pick, compressed air, cleaners and various weasel pee to break out the gunk that was under the zerk and usually leave the hole full of weasel pee of the day, I like Aero Kroil but PB blaster, yeild whatever your little heart thinks is the absoulute only one that works is fine, then I put the fitting back in again with the joint unloaded and try and grease again while pivoting / nutating the joint. (yes, that is a word)

If it will not start passing grease through then I take the joint apart, or just get so sick of fooling with it that I hope the mechanic fairies come in the middle of the night and just heal the thing...............

I seldom use heat as I seldom want a torch around the joints I am having problems with, usually rubber, grease and POL products are involved on a piece of equipment I cannot afford to replace so as a rule I tend not to apply a red wrench unless I am convinced the mechanic fairies are not flying and am desperate to have the thing work.

Good luck, around my place these usually involve a liberal dose of less then socially acceptable verbs and nouns and various denegrations of the parenthood of the design engineer for that piece of equipment when all too often to find the fault I must first find a mirror.

 

[Opti-Mist]

AlanB, that's just too funny. I almost lost a keyboard!

 

[TBDonnelly]

The one in question is the big knuckle between the two tie rod arms that go out to the wheels. Mine is a big joint that has a bolt and lock nut in the front of the assembly and I cannot see any grease pushing out at where it mates with the front axle.

If it's the joint that the front axle pivots on and it's like my Kioti CK30 you could try pumping grease in that zerc all day long until the cows come home.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/139310-stubborn-grease-fitting.html

Don

 

[Gary Fowler]

After following all the advice here and not getting any grease to take, I think I would remove the zerk, flush out all the grease and make sure that the hole is tapped all the way thru. That would seem to me to be the only reason left that it is not taking the grease. Might need to drill out the center of the zerk tap hole somewhat larger and all the way through, then flush it to remove any shavings that might be in it.

 

[Coyote machine]

So Don,

If it's the joint that the front axle pivots on and it's like my Kioti CK30 you could try pumping grease in that zerc all day long until the cows come home.

Ok, so once I see the cows coming home, then what? And how many cows do I need to see to know things are ok?!

To all others; so after I gather an assortment of hammers, rejuvenators, weasel pee, heat wenches, and other tools of destruction then I also need to watch out for flying bb type zerk balls, puddles of grease and throw in a bunch of 'sailor' language to get things to loosen up and submit to grease?!

I think I've got it now, just keep on fighting with the expectation that a win is a remote possibility.

Thanks for the ideas and comedy relief too!

 

[Dargo]

...and throw in a bunch of 'sailor' language to get things to loosen up and submit to grease?!

My nearest neighbor is a preacher. Either I have some powerful lungs or sound travels well because he asked me if I wouldn't mind closing my barn door before using that method. He did give me a free pass for the times I smash a finger or set myself on fire when welding. Those are times that it's not necessarily anger and I don't use the g word before the dam word.

 

[Mousefield]

Had several zerks that would not accept grease. Went and picked some up and just replace them as needed. By the time I do some of the fixes suggested the cost of a zerk looks pretty cheap. Only takes a minute to change one out and I can carry on with my day.

 

[Bedlam]

Changing them out is fine but all my doubles go back to the grease being packed and from heat it turns to solid form. Its not the Zerk thats the problem for me. the crud built up.Maybe from the cheapo grease i use.

 

[glastron23]

Hi Guy's .. just a note on grease.. if you mix lithium and moly grease it can form a hard crud, the mixing can also form acids that can cause more damage than you think in the bushings.. Jim

 

[Huey]

CM, May I suggest the one thing I think everybody else has missed is "read the owners manual". From the way you described the problem fitting, it sounds like the fitting on my MX5000 that you have to unscrew a little plug before the fitting will accept grease. Check the manual and see if it says anything about it. Hope this helps.
Huey

 

[Chilly807]

CM, May I suggest the one thing I think everybody else has missed is "read the owners manual". From the way you described the problem fitting, it sounds like the fitting on my MX5000 that you have to unscrew a little plug before the fitting will accept grease. Check the manual and see if it says anything about it. Hope this helps.
Huey

You might have a point there, it's the front axle pivot if I recall correctly... the plug has to be out before it'll take grease from either nipple.

Chilly

 

[big bubba]

yup, that's the issue.....been there exactly w/that model......back off that hex bolt, pump, then tighten up....you hit it right huey & chilly, go get a margarita . bb

 

[Coyote machine]

CM, May I suggest the one thing I think everybody else has missed is "read the owners manual". From the way you described the problem fitting, it sounds like the fitting on my MX5000 that you have to unscrew a little plug before the fitting will accept grease. Check the manual and see if it says anything about it. Hope this helps.
Huey

Trust me I've read the owner's manual and the shop service manual both from cover to cover with highlighting the important sections, etc. Well, maybe not cover to cover on the shop service manual- I don't see myself doing a engine rebuild or trans overhaul
I will look again, but I'm fairly confident there is no plug to pull before lubing the front end 'knuckle'?

glastron23:
I don't mix greases either, though that bears noting for others who may have or still do so....where does the info regarding mixing greases come from?
And thanks to all others who have contributed to this thread.

 

[dcyrilc]

So Don,
Ok, so once I see the cows coming home, then what? And how many cows do I need to see to know things are ok?
To all others; so after I gather an assortment of hammers, rejuvenators, weasel pee, heat wenches, and other tools of destruction then I also need to watch out for flying bb type zerk balls, puddles of grease and throw in a bunch of 'sailor' language to get things to loosen up and submit to grease?!

I think I've got it now, just keep on fighting with the expectation that a win is a remote possibility.

Thanks for the ideas and comedy relief too!

More than 12. I have 12 and it hasn't helped yet to wait for them to come home.

 

[glastron23]

It's not so much as the Moly/lithium thats the problem , it's all the soaps,modifiers,additives that's in grease that causes grief. sticking with one manufacture is always the best thing, find something you like and stay with it. when mixing it can go to crud, nothing at all or it can liquify the grease when it's worked. Try and find one is going to work for your application, dusty and dry, muddy and wet, high/low temps or temp swings, slow/high speeds,high shock loads or high pressure loads. here is a chart that may help, Lubricants USA - Grease Compatibility Chart
the best thing is to follow your owners manuel as the OEM normally spends a lot of time and money developing the equipment and have a vested interest in keeping it working...Jim

 

[Glen Watkins]

So Yote did you get it to take grease?

 

[texasjohn]

I read all 39 prior posts, they contain all my experience and suggestions and more and I simply have nothing to add. If all this does not get the job done, I suggest getting a new tractor...