Clogged zerk's ....?
 

I was trying to grease the spindles on my 122 mutt today and found that the zerk fittings won't take grease. The ball bearing on the fitting itself is free, but I'm guessing the path thru the axle casting is clogged.

Tried some moderate heat but it still won't take grease.

Zerks look pressed in the front axle housing ... are they?

John

I had the same problem with my "snow duty" 125 last fall. I ended up removing the spindle and cleaning it up. I was able to get the zerk to work properly and then reassembled it.

It steers easier now too :bash2:

I removed the spindle and cleaned it and the axle. I might make a small right angle poker to see if I can loosen some of the mung.

I see there is such a thing as a "zerk buster" but they're a third of the cost of the whole Cub :-)

Careful heating around a grease fitting, I've had them to blow apart. If they are drive in you may be able to replace with a new one, if not take apart and drill and tap for 1/4-28 fittings.

Mine were pressed in. They can be pulled out and cleaned. Maybe some red locktite when you press them back in.

Good point! Kind of like seating a bead with hair spray :-)

Take out fittings and heat. It will poop out when hot enough. Johns right there’s got to be a place for it to go when it melts and expands and the fitting is like a check valve.

"Take out fittings"---

If I could get them out easily this would be straightforward. :biggrin2:

I'll take the spindle out and make a right angle poker to probe into the grease hold from the inside. I suspect if I root around in there and loosen up the plug I can then apply pressure with the grease gun and it'll accept grease. A claw hammer seems workable if that doesn't work out.

I'm undergoing daily radiation treatment on my leg as well as working FT job, so my cub time is limited.

Oh, this is the rusty mutt tractor ...which has a surprisingly strong engine. It's sat outside for a lloooong time in the NC rain