The jerk with the zerk... Keeping your own equipment maintained.
The humble grease fitting or "zerk"-- maybe you've seen these on your riding lawn mower, tractor implement, or tractor. Maybe you know what they are and how to service them, and maybe you don't. If you are familiar, feel free to skip this blog and advice.
If you wondering what purpose these serve? Or wondered why your grease gun oozes grease out from them but doesn't appear to accept grease? Or if you wonder how much grease to use, then read on!
The zerk is the attachment point for modern grease guns to lubricate a bearing (e.g. roller bearing) or a friction surface (e.g. cutter blade bed). The zerk is intended to fit the grease gun's fitting..
The image above is a locking grease gun fitting, but there are other are are non-locking. Locking fittings help keep the gun attached to the zerk in hard to reach areas.
Ok, so we covered the very basics. What's next?
REMOVE THE DIRT FROM THE ZERK BEFORE GREASING!
Clean it completely! And the areas around it! Ensure your grease gun fitting is also clean. Not just good enough. PERFECTLY CLEAN!
Next, inspect the zerk for damage. If it is damaged, replace it!
Replacing zerks:
There are many types of zerks, but the important factor to keep in mind is that their threads may be either METRIC or SAE. Never mix or cross thread a METRIC zerk in an SAE tapped lube point or vice-versa.
Stubborn zerks that will not accept grease
Occasionally, you will find a zerk that will "refuse" grease. Don't keep trying to pump grease into it! You will make an oozing mess for yourself and waste grease.
Use this type of tool to "clean" and remove old, dried, impacted grease
Do not fill the tool with grease! Instead, fill it with a light weight oil (e.g. 20w) and gently tap with a hammer until the zerk accepts grease.
In case you wondering why this happens and you need this tool? Two basic reasons are:
No maintenance
Overheated/Overloaded bearing that "coked" the grease
Know when you are done!
You will have completed greasing that zerk when:
The rubber boot covering the bearing starts to bulge a little bit
Grease oozes out of the joint (just a little)
Go back Jack and do it again...
Regularly maintain your greasing schedule. Either do it during each operation during heavy work cycles (e.g. 8 hours plus per day) or per your manufacturer's scheduled maintenance.
Just remember-- there is no such thing as a "lifetime lubed" bearing or tool!
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