Screwing in a 90 degree zerk fitting in a tight spot

[CompostMaker]

Hi folks,
I’ve got a kubota l series tractor and a 90 degree zerk fitting fell off my loader arm and I’m trying to get it back on. It’s in a tight spot and I don’t have any room to screw it back in. Can’t use a ratchet because of the 90 degree zerk. I’ve tried raising and lower the bucket arm and no position gives me enough access. Any suggestions?? Is there a special tool I need?

 

[SidecarFlip]

Almost always an angled Zerk will be a 2 piece Zerk. The body and the fitting separate. Clamp the body in a vise or a pair of Vice grips and use a socket to unscrew the top fitting. Screw the body back into the hole and screw on the fitting.

 

[SDT]

Hi folks,
I’ve got a kubota l series tractor and a 90 degree zerk fitting fell off my loader arm and I’m trying to get it back on. It’s in a tight spot and I don’t have any room to screw it back in. Can’t use a ratchet because of the 90 degree zerk. I’ve tried raising and lower the bucket arm and no position gives me enough access. Any suggestions?? Is there a special tool I need?

I usually use a suitable sized open-end or combination wrench.

SDT

 

[mikester]

Sometimes a ratcheting box ended wrench works well in tight spaces. A piece of hose cut to fit the zerk can help you get the threads started.

 

[6feettogo]

Hi folks,
I’ve got a kubota l series tractor and a 90 degree zerk fitting fell off my loader arm and I’m trying to get it back on. It’s in a tight spot and I don’t have any room to screw it back in. Can’t use a ratchet because of the 90 degree zerk. I’ve tried raising and lower the bucket arm and no position gives me enough access. Any suggestions?? Is there a special tool I need?

I hear you. I took mine off the other day (LA534 loader) to put on grease zerk caps. I ended up using a needle nose plier to get the zerk in front of the hole. I then used my index finger of my left hand to hold it there and then used a wrench to start turning it and it started.

 

[armylifer]

Almost always an angled Zerk will be a 2 piece Zerk. The body and the fitting separate. Clamp the body in a vise or a pair of Vice grips and use a socket to unscrew the top fitting. Screw the body back into the hole and screw on the fitting.

I did not know that about angled zerks. Thanks for that tidbit. I have had success using a needle nose pliars but next time I need to replace a 90 degree zerk I will try your method. Is that true for the 45 degree zerks too?

 

[SidecarFlip]

Sure is. Always 2 piece.