Grease guns are critical for preventing excessive wear and premature failure of moving, mechanical components. The coupler on the end of the grease gun snaps onto grease zerks, locking into place for a leak proof seal during the transfer of grease from the gun to the mechanical equipment.
Are there different size grease gun couplers?
Standard, Giant, and Metric Button Head Couplers fit to button head grease fittings with selection based on size of fitting. Grease Gun Adapter Kits are a must-have for any lubrication specialist.
Why is it called a Zerk fitting?
The Zerk design, named after Oscar Zerk, used a fitting much smaller than the Alemite pin-type and did not lock the hose coupler or hand gun and fitting together. Instead, the seal between them was maintained by the pressure of a pushing action when the operator applied the coupler to the fitting.
What size thread is a grease fitting?
Grease fittings come in many different styles. There are two grease fittings that are very common. These are the 1/4″-28 thread and the 1/8″ NPT thread. However, there are other less common grease fitting threads in use.
What does ZERK mean?
zerk in American English
(zɜrk ) noun. a small metal fitting through which grease can be inserted into a mechanical joint that requires periodic lubrication.
Are there different types of grease fittings?
There are three major thread types for grease fittings: metric, taper or parallel, and unified. M5, M6, M7, M8, and M10 are common metric threads. British standard pipe (BSP), pipe thread fine (PTF), and national pipe thread fine (NPTF) fittings use tapered or parallel threads.
Are all grease Zerks the same?
The most common standard grease zerk size is 1/4″‑28 SAE‑LT and is often used in automotive applications. They can also be found in agricultural environments as well as other various standard duty applications. For heavy-duty applications, larger 1/8″‑27 PTF grease zerk fitting sizes can be found.
Are there metric Zerk fittings?
Metric Grease Fittings are available in both regular and stainless steel. Metric Grease Fittings are also referred to as Metric Zerk Fittings, Metric Lubrication Fittings, Metric Hydraulic Fittings, and Metric Zerks.
How old are Zerk fittings?
You can thank Oscar Zerk and his 1923 patent for a special fitting for that. The process for maintaining such lubrication had advanced somewhat, but it was Zerk that created a design that made truly meaningful improvement. Early cars were lubricated like machines, by manually slathering grease where it was needed.
When did cars stop having grease fittings?
The job of greasing the suspension system on your car had all but disappeared in recent years. Now, greasing is making a comeback. In the 1980s, many auto makers eliminated greasing points because they believed that the quality of grease had so improved it would last the life of the car. But motorists knew better.
Do all bearings have to be lubricated each year?
Some equipment needs all the bearings re-greased every day, some once a week, some every two weeks, and some once a month. In applications such as this, it is often beneficial to completely wash out the bearings once a year, re-pack with new grease, and continue on with the established re-greasing program.
How do you know when a grease fitting is full?
If this is the case, the best tactic is to feel the grease into the bearing cavity until slight resistance or back pressure is felt against the trigger, or lever, signaling the bearing cavity is now full.
What size hole do you drill for 1/8 NPT?
Size Of The Drill Bit
A 1/8″ NPT tap requires an R-shaped drill bit. The R drill bit corresponds to a size of 0.339 inches or 8.61 mm.
