What are these plugs (in U-joints)?

[babikov]

Dear forum,

I am replacing the gimbal bearing and thought to grease the U-joints too (Alpha 1 Gen II). There are no zerks, but these things instead (see the picture below):



Are these some kind of plugs? Should I remove them (unscrew with pliers?), put zerks in (is thread locker required?) and grease the joints (What grease? The gimbal bearing grease, I guess?). Do I leave zerks there, or put the plugs back?

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[GA_Boater]

That is where permanently lubed u-joints get loaded with grease. After lubing, the plugs are pressed in.

 

[babikov]

GA_Boater,

Thanks, yes, I understand the original intention. But, how permanent is permanent lube? If the boat is 1995 or so, and at some point there was water in the bellows, the best approach is not to touch it anyway ever, or to pull those plugs out and grease? And again, what grease? Keep zerks in? What people do in practice?



,

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... There may, or may not be threads for the zerks under those plugs,.....

I'd run 'em, til they rattle, 'n then replace 'em,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

drive-in plugs have one-way ridges to hold them in. think of a fishing hook barb, just 3-4 of them and they go all the way around the hook shank

agreed with bondo, run them until they rattle.

 

[babikov]

Thanks to everyone!

 

[achris]

The grease is a very special 'Klug' grease, and was about $5,000/kg 20 years ago.