Zerk fittings

[viclioce]

For some reason, my grease gun doesn’t stay in place on the zerk fittings on our Hodakas. Do I need to find a metric fitting, or am I just doing it wrong? I thought it was just pressure fit? Victor

[thrownchain]

One doesn’t have the lip on it to catch the fitting, the other does but not really well . Just use pressure to hold it on , not a big deal.

[viclioce]

Dan. I’ve tried that and all I get is a mess. Maybe I need to pull the zeros off and soak them over night? I’ll give that a try& see if it helps! Victor

[JPark]

The fitting on the shifter shaft just doesn't work. The ridge is too sharp and won't allow the hose to click shut. If you look at a 'real' zerk and file the profile to look the same you'll be in business. It shouldn't have happened but it did, and probably led to the early 'ovalation' of many cases.

The brass one on the detent mechanism behind it always worked for me. Getting to either of these so you can get the gun on straight may involve some foot peg 'management'.

The ones on the steering head are pretty useless unless you want to fill the head with grease. The lipless type fittings are pretty useless but easily changed out. I can't think of any other grease fittings offhand other than the ones on the brake backing plates which I would never use, given the destination of the squeeze out. I guess some lawyer decided they needed to be there despite probably increasing chances of death.

[Tether]

I use one of these. Made for a chainsaw bar. Works well. The pointed tip will push the zero ball in then pump the grease in.

[Dale]

Just replace your grease gun tip with a pointed tip (pointed and not the needle type). Works well.

[bobwhitman]

Dale
Good tip, could you send me a short text & photo for the Resonator?
Bob

[Dale]

Dale
Good tip, could you send me a short text & photo for the Resonator?
Bob

Will do. The post by Tether is the same idea. We must have been posting at the same time...

[viclioce]

Thanks guys. Is there a how to somewhere on how to file the zerk for better fit? And what replacement varieties are available & from which sources?

I’ve always wondered about the zerk on the steering head. Seems to be not well located. Certainly won’t grease the upper bearings unless you fill the steering head, maybe. But I would like to make the ones on the shifter work. Victor

[Dale]

I have never understood the issue with greasing the steering head. With the triple tree stem in place there just is not that much volume to fill with grease. The top bearings do get greased in the process. Am I missing something?

[matt glascock]

The shifter case zerk just hits the ratchet mechanism. The shift balls are swimming in oil.

[Darrell]

DITTO the pointed/needle tip, often used on chainsaw bars. You can buy them separately to screw onto a standard grease gun.

Just insert the needle straight against the spring loaded ball valve in the zerk and Bob's Your Uncle. If you deviate a few degrees with the needle then it doesn't work.

[JPark]

I have never understood the issue with greasing the steering head. With the triple tree stem in place there just is not that much volume to fill with grease. The top bearings do get greased in the process. Am I missing something?

No, you're right. I wasn't.

[Darrell]

I have never understood the issue with greasing the steering head. With the triple tree stem in place there just is not that much volume to fill with grease. The top bearings do get greased in the process. Am I missing something?

Some of the older BMWs (and other makes I presume) also have grease fittings in the steering head. Greasing especially benefits the bottom bearing and race since that takes all the weight and pounding. The top bearings receive grease after the stem is filled, but the excess grease typically squeezes out of the bottom bearing first. Gravity I guess.

[ossa95d]

The bottom bearing is usually the one that rusts and corrodes from accumulated moisture too. I have taken apart several steering heads with tapered roller bearings where the bottom bearing is completely seized due to corrosion. I suspect any grease is better than no grease at all.