How does a Zerk fitting work?

How do you know when a grease fitting is full? If this is the case, the best tactic is to “feel” the grease into the bearing cavity until slight resistance or back pressure is felt against the trigger, or lever, signaling the bearing cavity is now full.

Can you over grease a grease fitting? While applying grease minimizes wear of parts and bearing, over-lubrication can reduce a component’s life expectancy. For instance, too much grease can increase running temperatures and lead to energy losses. That is because too much grease will cause the components to push the excess lubricant away.

How much grease do you put in a Zerk fitting? Tips for Greasing Zerk Fittings

Use Just Enough: Don’t overfill when you grease Zerk fittings. Usually, three or four pumps of grease are enough and over-greasing a joint pushes grease out the aforementioned seals, which attracts dust, sand, and dirt.

How does a Zerk fitting work? – Related Questions

Why does grease gun get stuck on ZERK?

Grease guns get stuck on fittings due to clogged zerk fittings which don’t let the grease pass through and cause a pressure build up that prevents them from releasing. So to get it unstuck unscrews the hose or hardline from the gun which will release the pressure and allow it to come off.

Why is it called a Zerk fitting?

The Zerk design, named after Oscar Zerk, used a fitting much smaller than the Alemite pin-type and did not lock the hose coupler or hand gun and fitting together. Instead, the seal between them was maintained by the pressure of a pushing action when the operator applied the coupler to the fitting.

Do new ball joints need grease?

Usually the joints will come with enough grease for assembly, but not enough for long term use. This is to keep the parts from metal on metal friction, but not to spill grease out making a mess. Also, if they have a zerk, this means that they are not sealed and will need to be greased at an interval.

How often should you grease your ball joints?

Ball joints allow you to steer smoothly and are constantly moving so throwing a little lubrication their way is a small favor for the big job that they do every day. The rule of thumb is to grease these parts every, or every other, oil change which might seem excessive, but again; little thanks, big job.

How much is a shot of grease?

Answer: Generally, a shot of grease means one stroke from the grease gun. However, the output, or amount of lubricant dispensed from a grease gun depends on the model. Grease guns deliver widely varying amounts of grease (typically 0.1 ounce or 2 to 3 grams).

Can you over grease excavator?

However, using too much grease doesn’t help with lubrication — it makes a mess, attacts and traps abrasive materials (dust, sand, gravel) that can do as much damage as no grease at all, can also trap heat where it will cause an increase in wear-causing friction.

Can you over grease gears?

Too much grease volume (overgreasing) in a bearing cavity will cause the rotating bearing elements to begin churning the grease, pushing it out of the way, resulting in energy loss and rising temperatures.

Can you over grease a truck?

In the same vein, over greasing your truck can also be damaging. In fact, if you apply too much grease to your semi-truck, it could result in high temperatures that can damage your truck’s inner components. Other possible risks that could arise from over-greasing include: Collapsed seals.

Are Zerk fittings universal?

Zerk Fittings may be all the same But I have Had Many that would either NOT Go On or had a Heck of a Time Getting it Off.

How often should I grease my skid steer?

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GREASE A SKID STEER? Skid steer pins, bushing and other pivot points throughout the machine should be greased every 10 hours of operation, if not more depending on the working conditions.

How much grease do you put in a grease fitting?

Grease guns vary in the amount of grease pumped per stroke, from one to three grams of grease or higher. The actual output can vary depending on the age of the grease gun.

What thread are grease nipples?

Grease fittings come in many different styles. There are two grease fittings that are very common. These are the 1/4″-28 thread and the 1/8″ NPT thread. However, there are other less common grease fitting threads in use.

What is a button head grease fitting?

Button head grease fittings are a heavier duty fitting distinguished by its flat, low profile appearance. They are able to handle large grease volume due to their high flow rate and sturdy construction. Button head fittings feature a smooth working surface and allow for easier coupler attachment and removal.

What are the different types of grease fittings?

There are three major thread types for grease fittings: metric, taper or parallel, and unified. M5, M6, M7, M8, and M10 are common metric threads. British standard pipe (BSP), pipe thread fine (PTF), and national pipe thread fine (NPTF) fittings use tapered or parallel threads.

How do you clear a clogged Zerk fitting?

Heat up clogged grease fittings and pins with a standard hair dryer or a heat gun on the low setting. Attach the grease gun and use it immediately; the new grease will push the now-softened older grease out of the way and unclog the fitting.

Why do grease guns stop working?

The most common cause is an air lock. This can be fixed by continuously pumping to see if the air will pump out. Secondly by unscrewing the barrel one turn and continuously pumping, then tightening the barrel when the grease pumps.

What does ZERK mean?

zerk in American English

(zɜrk ) noun. a small metal fitting through which grease can be inserted into a mechanical joint that requires periodic lubrication.

Who invented the Zerk fitting?

Oskar Zerkowitz emigrated to the United States and changed his name to “Oscar Ulysses Zerk”. He was also known as “Oscar V. Zerk”. He became a world-famous inventor and one of his most prominent creations was a grease fitting known as “the zerk”.

Can your tire fall off from a bad ball joint?

Bad ball joints can lead to abnormal wearing of your tires. As ball joints wear, this can hamper your ability to steer and control the vehicle. If a ball joint fails, a vehicle’s suspension can collapse or the wheel could fall off causing the vehicle to lose control.

How long can you drive on bad ball joints?

Generally speaking, you should expect to have to have your ball joints replaced between 70,000 to 150,000 miles of driving. Excessive play in the joint can cause additional wear, and if a ball joint fails, your car’s suspension could collapse and you could lose control of the vehicle.

What is the highest pressure grease gun?

Alemite High Pressure Series Grease Guns will develop up to 15,000 psi pressure, and are designed to perform in harsh environments.