U-Joint will not take grease

[skinnypez]

Any ideas for a u-joint that will not take grease?

Zerk off the joint accepts grease with no issues, but on the joint, the grease just comes right back out the front of the zerk...nothing getting into the joint.

I saw on a few threads to try heat- propane torch did seem to loosen some old grease but the joint still won't accept any grease.

 

[mcfarmall]

Might be a manufacturers defect. Possibly they didn't drill the passages in the cross. Sounds like some exploratory surgery is in order.

 

[skinnypez]

Answering my own post...checked the zerk on the tractor end of the PTO shaft (it's the implement end that wouldn't take grease)...seems like zerks are less universal than maybe I was thinking.

Tractor end zerk was 2 threads shorter- took the hacksaw to the implement end zerk and trimmed two threads off- grease flowing to the joint no problem now. I can only assume the original zerk length was right up against the inside of the joint and that caused the grease to come back out of the zerk?

 

[fried1765]

Answering my own post...checked the zerk on the tractor end of the PTO shaft (it's the implement end that wouldn't take grease)...seems like zerks are less universal than maybe I was thinking.

Tractor end zerk was 2 threads shorter- took the hacksaw to the implement end zerk and trimmed two threads off- grease flowing to the joint no problem now. I can only assume the original zerk length was right up against the inside of the joint and that caused the grease to come back out of the zerk?

Good find!
Whodathunkit?

 

[mcfarmall]

Usually on the better zerks there is a check ball and a tiny spring that prevents grease from being forced back out the fitting.

 

[pigdoc]

Ya, zerks are not as universal as you would hope. I found that out recently with my RC54 mower deck. Kubota has a special thread that I have not bothered to measure. All I know is that it's not 1/4-20, it's not 6mm. And, so, you're not going to march into Pep Boys or Tractor Supply and find the new zerks you need. Guess what, Kubota wants $3 each for grease zerks!!! I hope they're guaranteed for life.

And Ya, it's good to sweat those details! Way to go skinnypez!

I got a $8 box of Chinese zerks (at Harbor Freight) that, once you plugged your grease gun onto them, you could NOT get the grease gun back off without extreme measures. Now, THAT's something that makes me swear! Just because it LOOKS like a real grease zerk, doesn't mean it IS a real grease zerk!

-Paul

 

[GeoHorn]

Ya, zerks are not as universal as you would hope. I found that out recently with my RC54 mower deck. Kubota has a special thread that I have not bothered to measure. All I know is that it's not 1/4-20, it's not 6mm. And, so, you're not going to march into Pep Boys or Tractor Supply and find the new zerks you need. Guess what, Kubota wants $3 each for grease zerks!!! I hope they're guaranteed for life.

And Ya, it's good to sweat those details! Way to go skinnypez!

I got a $8 box of Chinese zerks (at Harbor Freight) that, once you plugged your grease gun onto them, you could NOT get the grease gun back off without extreme measures. Now, THAT's something that makes me swear! Just because it LOOKS like a real grease zerk, doesn't mean it IS a real grease zerk!

-Paul

It sounds as if your grease-gun nozzle needs adjustment. (Many folks do not realize they are adjustable for grip onto the zerk. Look closely and you might see the nozzle is actually two-piece and can be loosened/tightened to adjust the “grip” upon the zerk.)

A You-Tube demonstrates this…(skip the B.S. and go to 1:15)

 

[skeets]

Ya beat me to it Geo, lol

 

[pigdoc]

Son of a gun.
Never realized that grease gun tips were adjustable...and, I grew up on a farm!
<checking grease gun>
Yup. Was tightened down so tight that I had to use tools to get it loose. But, there it is...

Still, it doesn't make sense that the Chinese zerks are *that* much different. But, it's not surprising, given what we know about Chinese tolerances, in general...

Thanks!
-Paul