Grease Jerk Fitting Question . . .

[tpenfield]

Greetings,

I re-wired my sailboat trailer, as the rodents had taken a liking to the wiring over the past few years. Also installed new lights. I am ready to go with bringing my sailboat to the summer house. Except for . . .

.
. . . Greasing the axle bearings. I got a typical grease gun at a local store, but the grease zerk on the bearing buddies look to be a tad smaller than the typical fitting. Thus, the grease just squirts out around the fitting, rather than going into the bearing.
.

.
For those in-the-know, please school me on the sizes of grease fittings. It looks like the zerks on my trailer might be a metric size or something . . . Definitely not making a tight seal with the grease gun . . . and I've tried/checked a bunch of things. The check valve (ball) on the zerks easily presses in, so it seems like the gun is not the right match to the zerk.

TIA . . .

 

[tpenfield]

I just checked the zerks . . . 0 .228" / 5.8mm in diameter. Not sure if that is a standard size or what?

Possibly the fitting on the gun is bad?

 

[Scott Danforth]

the end fitting on your gun should be adjustable. righty-tighty, lefty-loosy

 

[Scott Danforth]

 

[Scott Danforth]

because people like movies, here is a facetube clip on adjusting the end fitting on the gun.

 

[four winns 214]

because people like movies, here is a facetube clip on adjusting the end fitting on the gun.

Learning has been achieved. Thank you.

 

[tpenfield]

Thanks for the info Scott. I will see what I can do. The coupler may be missing its o-ring, but I'll check to be sure.

 

[Lou C]

It's funny how you can be using grease guns for years, and then there's this...I think it took me till about 10 years ago to realize these things are adjustable lol!

 

[rolmops]

because people like movies, here is a facetube clip on adjusting the end fitting on the gun.

Halleluah!!!!
Where were you 50 years ago?

 

[jlh3rd]

jeez....71 years old and I'll be damned....thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

Halleluah!!!!
Where were you 50 years ago?

rebuilding holley carbs and using a grease gun helping dad

 

[dingbat]

Halleluah!!!!
Where were you 50 years ago?

The feature was patented prior to 1951 so it’s been around at least 75 years

 

[Lou C]

Maybe it’s because very few vehicles actually have had grease fittings in the last 30/40 years!
My last vehicle that had them is our 1998 Grand Cherokee!
Before that it was our early to mid 70s GM full-size cars…

 

[Lou C]

Greetings,

I re-wired my sailboat trailer, as the rodents had taken a liking to the wiring over the past few years. Also installed new lights. I am ready to go with bringing my sailboat to the summer house. Except for . . .
View attachment 403991
.
. . . Greasing the axle bearings. I got a typical grease gun at a local store, but the grease zerk on the bearing buddies look to be a tad smaller than the typical fitting. Thus, the grease just squirts out around the fitting, rather than going into the bearing.
.
View attachment 403992
.
For those in-the-know, please school me on the sizes of grease fittings. It looks like the zerks on my trailer might be a metric size or something . . . Definitely not making a tight seal with the grease gun . . . and I've tried/checked a bunch of things. The check valve (ball) on the zerks easily presses in, so it seems like the gun is not the right match to the zerk.

TIA . . .

Hey Ted don’t you think that trailer is a tad short

 

[1960 Starflite]

Maybe it’s because very few vehicles actually have had grease fittings in the last 30/40 years!
My last vehicle that had them is our 1998 Grand Cherokee!
Before that it was our early to mid 70s GM full-size cars…

My 1948 Pontiac has 36 grease fittings and 6 needle fitting points. Offen thought of going to an Jiffy Lube (if they still exist) for a lube job and have the attendant count the fittings. Then send him back under if short.

 

[1960 Starflite]

jeez....71 years old and I'll be damned....thanks

I'm 77 and learned something today

 

[bruceb58]

My 2024 GMC Denali 2500HD has 9 zerk fittings on the front suspension.

 

[Renken2000Classic]

When I rebuilt the steering linkage on the Caprice I had, I on purpose got the greasable parts. Mighta been dumb, but made me feel like it all got one good greasing, at least, lol. My son just had a non-greasable balljoint come apart on his '03 Mustang GT, so...

Got a zerk on the (front driveshaft yoke?) on the old GMC that I couldn't even get with a needle fitting thing. Might have to drop it to get to it : / Don't know when that one last got it; or will get it for that matter, lol.

Then I mentioned "zerk" to a young kid at work (with some technical/mechanical training, and kind of a car guy) several years ago, and he said "What's a zerk?"

 

[tpenfield]

Hey Ted don’t you think that trailer is a tad short

It's short enough

 

[jlh3rd]

My 1948 Pontiac has 36 grease fittings and 6 needle fitting points. Offen thought of going to an Jiffy Lube (if they still exist) for a lube job and have the attendant count the fittings. Then send him back under if short.

ah...Miyagi-Do....wax on-wax off