Grease fitting questions

U

Underwaterwelder

Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2021
RO Number
34541
Messages
33
There is a grease fitting on my surge brake trailer to grease the sliding mechanism for the surge brakes (Load rite trailer, tandom axle, surge brakes, possibly a demco coupler?) It was press fit and no longer is “pressed in” and pops out with the grease gun.

Are all grease fittings (and grease gun fittings) the same size? The grease gun I have seemed snug on the fitting and was tough to get off. Did I mix up a metric and standard or something that is close? Or are they all basically the same?

is there any reason they press fit in the fitting and didn’t drill and tap? I’m thinking of drilling and tapping the fitting so it won’t pull out in the future. Assuming I can find a fitting close enough to fit the hole that’s there without over drilling too much.

anyone ever have any trouble with these? Any suggestions? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!!!
 
I might not be understanding your question, it's 3:30am and I'm half asleep <grin>.. Your nozzle should adjust to loosen/tighten the fit, on the grease fitting, by turning it counter clockwise or clockwise.

edit add: Grease fittings come in different sizes and being able to adjust the nozzle allows your grease gun to service different sizes.
 
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Bill D. said:
I might not be understanding your question, it's 3:30am and I'm half asleep <grin>.. Your nozzle should adjust to loosen/tighten the fit, on the grease fitting, by turning it counter clockwise or clockwise.

edit add: Grease fittings come in different sizes and being able to adjust the nozzle allows your grease gun to service different sizes.
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I had no idea they were adjustable. I actually read through the directions of the grease gun and it said nothing about it. And I’ve watched a handful of YouTube videos on them recently and nothing was ever mentioned on them either.

thanks! That definitely answers half my questions
 
I don't know why they went with press fittings, maybe a time/coat saving thing. If yours just pulled out it was likely because your nozzle was son tight when you tried to pull it off (just a guess though). You could probably just hammer another one in, but drill/tap seems reasonable as well.
 
Bill D. said:
I don't know why they went with press fittings, maybe a time/coat saving thing. If yours just pulled out it was likely because your nozzle was son tight when you tried to pull it off (just a guess though). You could probably just hammer another one in, but drill/tap seems reasonable as well.
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It was definitely tight when trying to remove. I assumed it was because it was a new grease gun. I tried hammering in the old one again but it pops right out.
 
Bill D. said:
I might not be understanding your question, it's 3:30am and I'm half asleep <grin>.. Your nozzle should adjust to loosen/tighten the fit, on the grease fitting, by turning it counter clockwise or clockwise.

edit add: Grease fittings come in different sizes and being able to adjust the nozzle allows your grease gun to service different sizes.
Click to expand...
Wait…. So how do you adjust the nozzle? Mine doesn’t appear to rotate at all…
 
Bill D. said:

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Im guessing this is a “get what you pay for” situation… and that big box store that might rhyme with “dome depot” or “ball-mart” …. May not be adjustable …. But I’ll triple check in the morning. It’s a shame because I thought they were all the same … and I usually would rather buy a good tool once than a crappy tool 283874 times …. I should have know
 
I too thought all were adjustable. However, your grease hose/nozzle "should" be removable and you could just replace it as a cheaper solution.
 
Simply amazing!!! I've been using the same grease gun for over 50 years and no clue there was such a thing. Todays (rainy day) 'to do' is find an adjustable replacement tip. Thanks Bill.
 
I guess to be correct it not so much 'adjustable' in size as it is in being able to loosen and tighten so that your able to get a good fit on the grease fitting nipple and not have to try and hold it on while you pump the handle. I had never really paid much attention to the nozzle, just always did this. Y'all made me go look at mine in the truck and in the basement and both work this way. In fact I needed to grease my compact tractor so this was a good reminder. Thanks

the 'rough' outside of the nozzle is there for a gripping surface for greasy fingers I assume. If I had a new one I would pay more attention to it and see exactly what it does, but it's not worth getting greasy fingers to find out, just know it works. Also, note that it can be almost impossible to pull off unless you loosen it. <grin>
 
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I have had situation when I pushed on the grease gun fitting to the Zerk and it went on OK. But after a few pumps of the grease gun it was almost impossible to get off. The pressure of the grease gun was holding it tight. So I loosened the grease gun fitting and it came off without a problem. Typically if what your greasing has a rubber bladder (like a ball joint) you do not have the problem.
 
ddurand said:
I have had situation when I pushed on the grease gun fitting to the Zerk and it went on OK. But after a few pumps of the grease gun it was almost impossible to get off. The pressure of the grease gun was holding it tight. So I loosened the grease gun fitting and it came off without a problem. Typically if what your greasing has a rubber bladder (like a ball joint) you do not have the problem.
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Maybe that was my issue. The fitting is greasing where the surge brakes slide. I believe in my trailer the design is greasing between plates where it rubs. Maybe that’s the issue as well.

thanks!
 
OK, this has got me interested. I don't remember any of my hydraulic (surge brakes) actuator's having a grease fitting on them. My boating memory could be very flawed because with my boating in saltwater , no matter how careful I was about rinsing and general care, my brake components always rusted up after a couple of years. I simply gave up having trailer brakes in saltwater. With that said, what brand trailer do you have?

​

 
Bill D. said:
OK, this has got me interested. I don't remember any of my hydraulic (surge brakes) actuator's having a grease fitting on them. My boating memory could be very flawed because with my boating in saltwater , no matter how careful I was about rinsing and general care, my brake components always rusted up after a couple of years. I simply gave up having trailer brakes in saltwater. With that said, what brand trailer do you have?

​

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Load Rite. I’m pretty sure it’s a “demco” siege brake system (but that’s based on me googling and comparing pictures and what not. It’s not labeled)

theres a grease fitting on the surge brake system, one on the ball receiver, and one on the jack. The rest of the trailer is just a galvanized trailer…. We use it only in freshwate
 
Underwaterwelder said:
Load Rite. I’m pretty sure it’s a “demco” siege brake system (but that’s based on me googling and comparing pictures and what not. It’s not labeled)

theres a grease fitting on the surge brake system, one on the ball receiver, and one on the jack. The rest of the trailer is just a galvanized trailer…. We use it only in freshwate
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I’m only talking the actuator system…. Nothing to do with the brakes on the axels
 
I guess I have no more useless information. My search did not provide any help. I will send a msg to a RO who owns a very large trailer MFG. company, not boat trailers, and see if he can add anything. Sorry.
 
Bill, after having the same problem you describe with the drum brakes I swapped them for stainless disc on my old boat trailer and never had a problem with the mechanical parts. Just had to replace the pads every 3-4 years. Bought a new McClain aluminum trailer in 2016 with stainless disc and I haven't had to replace the pads yet but, we don't boat as much as we did previously so that probably accounts for no pad change.
 
Bob, I swapped the whole system to SS Disc system from Champion Trailer Supply in Slidell, LA and it did last longer but still failed to hold up for what I considered worth the cost and effort. Being old school I've hauled heavy loads on trailers without brakes much of my life, and often behind vehicles not really built for the task. Going without brakes was a much better way for me.
 
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