Zerks

[spock123]

I want to change the zerks on my Cedar Creek to a angle, I think 65 degrees. I took a zerk off that I used a 5/16 socket. Do I have to use a 5/16 zerk or can I use another size. Someone told me that the threads were different, SAE and metric. I know it’s hard to get a grease gun on the straight ones

[A32Deuce]

Just go to a NAPA store and have them match what you have with the angle you want. The other type parts stores may give you a blank stare!

[Thurman]

After working 42 years in the Industrial Maintenance field and after installing/replacing thousands of "zerk" fittings: I've never seen a 65* zerk fitting. They were either straight, 45*, or 90*. The part of the zerk fitting that fits into the hole for them are either straight, meaning that they press into the part, some have 1/8"-27 tapered pipe threads, some 1/4-28 or 5/16-24 machine screw threads for screwing in. Getting the female end of the grease gun onto a zerk fitting should not be hard at all. Maybe you just need to replace your's with new one's the same size. Grease will harden up within a zerk fitting if it is not used for some time.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by Thurman

After working 42 years in the Industrial Maintenance field and after installing/replacing thousands of "zerk" fittings: I've never seen a 65* zerk fitting. They were either straight, 45*, or 90*. The part of the zerk fitting that fits into the hole for them are either straight, meaning that they press into the part, some have 1/8"-27 tapered pipe threads, some 1/4-28 or 5/16-24 machine screw threads for screwing in. Getting the female end of the grease gun onto a zerk fitting should not be hard at all. Maybe you just need to replace your's with new one's the same size. Grease will harden up within a zerk fitting if it is not used for some time.

Well the next time I visit the store I’ll take a picture and send it to you. It’s hard if you do not have enough room between the tire and the zerk. With my hand held grease gun I could get the grease in but now I have a air powered one

I’ll check NAPA today

[SilhouettePenny]

Take your zerk to any auto parts store, O'Reilly's has an assortment of straight, 45 & 90 degree fittings in one blister pack. Also pick up some J-B Kwik then simply clean, orient fitting to suit you and epoxy.

[spock123]

It’s hard getting grease in some fittings

[Scrapper]

The main problem I've see with zerks is the person doing the greasing doesn't clean the zerk off before attaching the grease guns coupler. Any dirt on the zerk gets pushed inside. As for using jb weld to hold the zerk in, with the zerks under a vehicle they need to be replaceable. A stone hitting the nipple will make it so the grease doesn't go inside. A good quality coupler is adjustable as to the amount or force it takes to snap it on/off the zerk.
You can buy replacement flexible hoses if the grease gun came with a steel tube.

[Iwannacamp]

Here you go....

[dward51]

Zerk fitting covers on Amazon! Yellow to match my Lippert EquaFlex. No dirt, no worries.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040CWX7C