Zerk fittings - how many on a BX25?

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,740
2,543
113
Bedford - VA
I have greased the ol girl at least 5 times over the last 60 some hours....but damn, I always seem to find one that I might have missed !!

My wife asked me what I wanted for my bday last year, I said a pneumatic grease gun, wow it is nice - I place a pair of vice grips on the end to be able to pull it off the fitting ......

But here is a count that I get (not counting the MMM)

Port side Hoe - 4
Starboard side Hoe - 8
Pivot on the Hoe - 2
Outriggers - Port - 4
Outriggers - Starboard - 4
Articulation at Hoe - 1
Center Bucket - 2
Port side bucket - 4
Starboard bucket - 4
Pedal - 1

WHAT HAVE I MISSED??????

I had two that I had to remove and "clean out" because it would not allow grease to flow.....

What type of grease do you guys like to use? I like switching colors after every tube so I can see where is the new grease is going!
 

Stubbyie

New member
Jul 1, 2010
879
7
0
Midcontinent
Regarding your stated problem----Got one ordered but not arrived yet: look at a 'Lock-n-Lube' grease gun coupling snout. May solve a lot of greasing problems.

Personally, for a backhoe that gets greased before and after each 'serious' use---something like on a full day dig grease at noon and again at quitting, I use the cheapest grease I can find. Tractor supply for a buck a tube on sale buy a couple cases.

Others will argue the point and I appreciate their views, but I can't see using $4 a tube grease when you keep pushing it out.

Pneumatic grease gun is the best thing since sliced bread. Or orange paint.

Try adjusting the front locking collar on the grease gun coupling spout. If it's a quality item you should be able to adjust to where it will grab and hold but release easily.

I've found using a 360-degree swivel joint on a hose rated for pneumatic guns (cheap hoses typically aren't). See Lincoln or Alemite or similar for the swivels. Make life easier.

Also, make certain your zerks are not misshapen or otherwise dinged--could make disconnecting your gun difficult.

Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.
 

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,740
2,543
113
Bedford - VA
Regarding your stated problem----Got one ordered but not arrived yet: look at a 'Lock-n-Lube' grease gun coupling snout. May solve a lot of greasing problems.

Personally, for a backhoe that gets greased before and after each 'serious' use---something like on a full day dig grease at noon and again at quitting, I use the cheapest grease I can find. Tractor supply for a buck a tube on sale buy a couple cases.

Others will argue the point and I appreciate their views, but I can't see using $4 a tube grease when you keep pushing it out.

Pneumatic grease gun is the best thing since sliced bread. Or orange paint.

Try adjusting the front locking collar on the grease gun coupling spout. If it's a quality item you should be able to adjust to where it will grab and hold but release easily.

I've found using a 360-degree swivel joint on a hose rated for pneumatic guns (cheap hoses typically aren't). See Lincoln or Alemite or similar for the swivels. Make life easier.

Also, make certain your zerks are not misshapen or otherwise dinged--could make disconnecting your gun difficult.

Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.

The grease gun that I got was on the high side, but I think it is worth the money,

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-1162-...d=1402616987&sr=8-1&keywords=pneumatic+grease

I have use two tubes so far - I bought the real $$$$ stuff the first time, and I am sure it is fine, but I see your point, as often as one needs to grease, it really isnt going to be around long. I spend more time cleaning the excess off the machine than I do hitting the zerks! I have had many of the old fashion crank handle style guns, I never had one "do the job" for any length of time. This one is a breeze, now true it is a beeeauch to pull the air line out.......

I was a little disappointed that some of the fittings would not "flow" - a couple of them I had to push and hold the tip on the fitting to make sure the grease would go through the zerks. Two of them I had to take out and clean.
 

beerandgasoline

New member

Equipment
L3800
Apr 19, 2014
22
0
0
graham, wa
The grease gun that I got was on the high side, but I think it is worth the money,

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-1162-...d=1402616987&sr=8-1&keywords=pneumatic+grease

I have use two tubes so far - I bought the real $$$$ stuff the first time, and I am sure it is fine, but I see your point, as often as one needs to grease, it really isnt going to be around long. I spend more time cleaning the excess off the machine than I do hitting the zerks! I have had many of the old fashion crank handle style guns, I never had one "do the job" for any length of time. This one is a breeze, now true it is a beeeauch to pull the air line out.......

I was a little disappointed that some of the fittings would not "flow" - a couple of them I had to push and hold the tip on the fitting to make sure the grease would go through the zerks. Two of them I had to take out and clean.
That's normal a quick whack with a ballpein normally is enough to free the ball check valve up just be sure not to break the zerk off
 

Stubbyie

New member
Jul 1, 2010
879
7
0
Midcontinent
You may wish to consider an option to opening a zerk instead of whacking (tapping, I hope) it with a hammer.

Can't recall the brand name (there are several on the market) of a "grease zerk hydraulic opener" that looks somewhat like a large metallic hypodermic needle.

You fill a small champer with motor oil, insert the O-ringed plunger, clip the coupling snout onto a zerk, and then using a softface deadblow mallet hit hard the plunger.

I got one from the guy that supposedly invented the thing years ago; works like a dream. After opening the zerk, flush the oil with a few shots of grease and you're back in business fast and easy.

Even zerks that are used daily will sometimes get a attitude and refuse to take grease. Using the hydraulic opener will take a minute and you continue greasing--not like pulling and cleaning zerks.

Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.
 

The_Al

Member

Equipment
L3540, Heavy duty FEL, 9' bachoe, Brush hog, 72" grappler
Jul 19, 2013
154
2
16
MA
Regarding your stated problem----Got one ordered but not arrived yet: look at a 'Lock-n-Lube' grease gun coupling snout. May solve a lot of greasing problems.

Personally, for a backhoe that gets greased before and after each 'serious' use---something like on a full day dig grease at noon and again at quitting, I use the cheapest grease I can find. Tractor supply for a buck a tube on sale buy a couple cases.

Others will argue the point and I appreciate their views, but I can't see using $4 a tube grease when you keep pushing it out.

Pneumatic grease gun is the best thing since sliced bread. Or orange paint.

Try adjusting the front locking collar on the grease gun coupling spout. If it's a quality item you should be able to adjust to where it will grab and hold but release easily.

I've found using a 360-degree swivel joint on a hose rated for pneumatic guns (cheap hoses typically aren't). See Lincoln or Alemite or similar for the swivels. Make life easier.

Also, make certain your zerks are not misshapen or otherwise dinged--could make disconnecting your gun difficult.

Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.
Good sir, do you mind letting me (us) know where you ordered the 'Lock-n-Lube' grease gun coupling snout from? I just saw a video and I sure would not mind getting one of these myself. I can search google, but wanted to see if you would not mind sharing.

Thank you

Al
 

Stubbyie

New member
Jul 1, 2010
879
7
0
Midcontinent
Just received my Lock-n-Lube grease gun coupler but haven't yet used it. Came with a replacment seal set included.

Question I have is why do I need a seal set unless it's a known high-frequency replacement. Going to call them later today and ask the question.

Their website is www.LockNLube.Com. I piggybacked mine on spouses's Amazon order for same price with free (sorta, damn increased $35 minimum) shipping.

Should make life easier if works as advertised when doing all 'leventy-seven zerks on backhoe and tractor and mower and loader and...

Post back your experiences with this jigger so we may all learn.