RC60-71B Mower Deck Tensioner Not Taking Grease

[JerryC999]

Advice Needed: Just doing spring maintenance on my mower, and I can't get grease to go into the tensioner pulley (see picture). I pulled the zerk, and grease goes through it, but when I put it back on, nothing flows. Old dried grease in there?

Do I take it off (nut on top) - and if so, how and what happens? Any complexities to that?

I don't really want to put a torch to it to heat it up and burn all that paint. Just need to get some grease in there so I can mow this weekend.

 

[Diydave]

I'd take the fitting off, pick out and dried grease, fill as full as possible, with Kroil, and then try lubing with one of these on the grease gun:

https://youtu.be/A5uccLIC99w

Its the best $30 you can spend.

Even if this particular fitting/part is fried, usually the locknlube gets the grease movin...

 

[bradmond]

Does the pivot move or is it seized up? I also have the lock n lube, money well spent.

 

[85Hokie]

Does the pivot move or is it seized up? I also have the lock n lube, money well spent.

I second the lock-n-lube, and replace the zerk - if you really want to spend the time, take a awl or small nail and tap on the ball of the zerk and then re-grease

 

[procraftmike]

Take the belt off to relieve tension, see if the pulley spins freely. Try greasing it while you turn the pulley. I have had some success with this method in the past.

 

[Dave_eng]

This tool works well and is inexpensive. It allows you to inject a light oil into the zerk to overcome dried grease. You fill it with oil, connect to Zerk and hit the end of the tool with a hammer injecting the oil.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/powerfist-grease-fitting-cleaning-tool/A-p4270160e
Dave M7040

 

[Diydave]

This tool works well and is inexpensive. It allows you to inject a light oil into the zerk to overcome dried grease. You fill it with oil, connect to Zerk and hit the end of the tool with a hammer injecting the oil.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/powerfist-grease-fitting-cleaning-tool/A-p4270160e
Dave M7040

I have 1 of them, it never impresses with much more than it's ability to transmit the power of a hammer, to break off a grease fitting, JMHO...

 

[JerryC999]

Thanks, all! Lots of votes for the LockNLube (how come that thing isn't standard equipment by now??). I will give all these suggestions a shot, including taking off the belt and moving it around and the Kroil if necessary. It is not frozen - it still moves and works fine. Just want to keep it that way.

I will let you know.

 

[ironpony]

remove the belt, remove the nut, lift off the pivot arm, clean, reassemble and lube

 

[JerryC999]

remove the belt, remove the nut, lift off the pivot arm, clean, reassemble and lube

Well, I did manage to get some grease in there by removing the zerk, squirting some Liquid Wrench in there, replacing the zerk, moving it around while using the grease gun - got grease out the top like you should.

However, knowing that there certainly is old, dried grease in there still, I do need to disassemble and clean and redo.

Thanks all.