Steering joint will not take grease

plowjockey · #1 09/03/12, 05:51 PM

'67 Ford 4500 tractor

The bottom bearing on the front steering spindle won't take grease, through the joint. Replaced the zerk with a known working one, same thing.

Any tricks to get the joint flowing grease?

Laughingcat · #2 09/03/12, 06:29 PM

I'd try slowly heating the spindle housing with a propane torch.

Remove the new zerk first and probe the hole with a stiff piece of wire.

The best thing to do of course is to disassemble and properly clean everything.

agmantoo · #3 09/03/12, 08:12 PM

After probing as suggested above fill the void with penetrating oil such as PB Blaster and grease. Then put teflon tape on the threads of the zerk fitting and start threading it into the hole. If you get the void filled thoroughly and the threads sealed the threading will force the grease and oil in. It is best to lift the wheel off the ground by using a jack under the axle on that side. A manual grease gun will make more pressure that an air powered gun. If you have trouble with the grease escaping where the grease gun nipple affixes to the zerk as you add grease get a scrap of cloth and place that over the zerk and then put the grease gun nipple on the zerk and attempt to grease. Lincoln company has a nipple that is good and I believe will seat up to around 4000 PSI. I rarely have a fitting that refuses to take grease after going through this exercise.

farminghandyman · #4 09/03/12, 08:30 PM

some times taking the Zerk out and taking a drill bit (hand chuck is nice) and work the hard grease out of the hole out,

Farmer Willy · #5 09/03/12, 09:48 PM

Seems to me I saw a tool you sit on a fitting and give a blow with a hammer. Supposed to drive the grease in, I reckon driving the old hard grease out in the process. Maybe harbor frieght? That or Gemplers catalog.

coolrunnin · #6 09/03/12, 10:29 PM

I have had really good luck with this tool.

IPA Grease Fitting Cleaner | Hoses, Valves Fittings| Northern Tool + Equipment

Bandit · #7 09/04/12, 12:35 AM

I do pretty much what agmantoo does with either Kroll or PB Plaster ( forget WD-40 etc. ) and it has all ways worked for me .
You might have to drive it around the yard a little and repeat doing the above .

raymilosh · #8 09/07/12, 01:28 PM

When I had the same problem, it was solved by lifting the wheel off the ground by the axle. the spindle must have been blocking the grease entry hole i suppose b/c the bushings were worn, so letting it dangle provided the room for the grease to get in.

Calhoon · #9 09/09/12, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowjockey

'67 Ford 4500 tractor

The bottom bearing on the front steering spindle won't take grease, through the joint. Replaced the zerk with a known working one, same thing.

Any tricks to get the joint flowing grease?

plowjockey , your relief fitting is plugged with old grease that's prolly turned into a soap plug .

put a new one in , should solve the problem .

If it dont , you gonna have to use kerosine to flush the plug out , don't use gasoline , it'll ruin the bearing . .

make sure the zerk ain't bottomed out on the bearing race-way , that'll act like a plug as well .

hope that helps .