greasing mower zerk fitting

[william97338]

Greasing the rear zerk on my new Brushbull 48" mower seems impossible. It lives in a plastic hood with a little hole for access to the fitting. However, the fitting is so far inside, and at the wrong angle, that I cannot get at it. The dealer couldn't help and is worried about liability issues if I mess with the plastic guard.

It seems that the lawyers have won another round in the war to protect us from ourselves. I am told that the only reason for the plastic hood is safety - no operational reason for it. What to do?

 

[Bulldog]

I would modify the guard before I would run it without grease. Just my $.02

 

[Fredhargis]

I've replaced a few zerks with some that had a better angle to get to, but I share your frustration. I'd modify the guard if I didn't have an alternative.

 

[kubotasam]

If you are talking about the grease fitting on the pto shaft to the mower sometimes you can change the angle of the fitting by turning the shaft. I have one on the shaft to my snow blower that I need to remove the shaft and bend the U-Joint almost 90 degrees to get the grease gun to fit on. I too would modify the guard if it will help.

 

[skeets]

You bought it, you own it,, do what ever you have to do to make it work,,, Just sayin

 

[ctmike]

Look for some tabs holding the shield onto the plastic tube. There's usually 3 of them. You can push one tab in with a flat-blade screwdriver and while holding it in, pull the larger shield down onto the shaft. Then you'll have easy access to the grease fitting, when done, slide the large shield back up till it clicks back in place.

 

[Stubbyie]

If the shield being out of place, removed, or fiddled with on a regular basis bothers you then do it once and replace the zerk with either (1) a longer zerk or (2) a zerk extension. NAPA may have one or both in the correct thread pitch but be sure of thread before reinstalling. For ideas refer to Alemite or Lincoln websites and poke around the zerk department.

If access problems are due to grease gun snout, consider getting one of the swivel snouts to replace the standard straight nozzle. To get to all the zerks (quit counting at 57) on our orange stuff have to use TWO different type swivel grease gun nozzles. Bothersome, but worth it.