Grease hammer: how to fix a grease fitting that won’t take grease anymore

It’s fairly common on tractors and industrial equipment to have a few grease fittings that won’t take grease. Often the issue is down in the joint, not the grease fitting itself. I demonstrate how to use a grease fitting rejuvenating tool (i.e., grease hammer) to fix a grease fitting that won’t take grease.
For more videos featuring “Hot Potato” the 1960 Case 310 crawler dozer check out the ​⁠‪@northeastoutpost‬ playlist • “Hot Potato” the 1960 ...

[@cliffhanger20]

What a rare video. How many videos are out there with kids working with their Dad, love it.

[@cglenncowdell2408]

As a heavy equipment operator, wish I had know this 25 years ago. Great video thanks.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

:)

[@dustyroads834]

One thing to keep in mind is that sometimes the bushing inside will turn and block the grease port. In that case you may have to drill a new shallow hole through the bushing at the grease fitting hole.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Excellent point!

[@WeeShoeyDugless]

Exactly, which is why I always run a drill bit down through them (whether the bush has turned or not👍)

[@woodywood6961]

What size hole do you put through the bushing? I imagine it dosen’t matter too much, about a 2mm hole?

[@steelman86]

Use a torch directly on the metal area where the grease zerk is to heat up and soften the old dried up hardened grease inside and fill with new grease, only a small propane torch is needed...use a small ice pick to first push in on the little bearing in the zerk in case that is the problem or simply replace the zerk with a new one if unsure...

[@nickgiesler7757]

VO 🎉❤tvel W We Wwww Fgggb

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Great tip!

[@denningmp37]

You gave advice in the reverse order it should be applied and you should eliminate the torch from the operation altogether for several reasons besides it not being effective no need to burn grease and heating unnecessary

[@WeeShoeyDugless]

Or you could do it the easier way of running a drill bit down through the crud. Far easier, far quicker and never fails👍

[@SteveMoitozo2]

@@WeeShoeyDugless thanks for the tip!

[@ucallthatatweet]

I'm very relieved to see proof of that problem, and how to fix it. I thought that I was losing my mind, but I was basically only greasing the outside of my fittings.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Happy greasing

[@trevorslater2746]

I usually take the grease fitting out and most times inside has turned into like brown clay ,hard as,so put a drill bit in an turn by hand bingo ,most times ,now got another good solution Thanks

[@tinytreepublishing8383]

Well done indeed. Great patience too. Slow and steady and on the fix. And also didn’t get annoyed at young son making noise and distracting nearby. All around good job.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you for the kind feedback

[@freddymax5256]

It isn’t safe letting kids (anyone) stand near any raised hydraulic equipment. Especially an old unit like that. A hose fracture and the bucket falling on someone would be devastating.

[@scrappydog175]

Damn, I hate greasing. Alot of the frustration is fittings not taking it. Thanks for introducing the tool to me!

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Happy greasing!

[@2bittesla]

I had this problem with the main boom pins on a crane. Using a cordless grease gun I kept the pressure on while booming up and down. After a few cycles the grease worked its way through and started coming out.

[@LukeA_55]

And if that doesn't work add some heat to soften the old grease

[@michaelnelson9140]

We had one where I worked. Agricultural equipment. It never worked. People will attempt to grease a fitting, and when the grease squeezes out of the fitting at the gun, they will install a new fitting, zerk. When it still won’t take grease, then you usually have a shaft that has worn out and seized in the bore. It’s time to take it apart, and actually repair the moving part. The lesson is, grease the zeros regularly. You might never have a problem with them if you do.

[@--_DJ_--]

The tips on the guns wear out too. If every fitting you come across seems to be bad, often it is the tip.

[@yelle84]

First timer using equipment with grease fittings, I have this issue with an old backhoe, I will try your method hopefully it'll work! :) Thanks for sharing.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Hope you have success!

[@JonhuaFernandes]

I loved the wonderful video

[@CogentConsult]

That is so cool. I didn’t know how to break loose a grease zirk. Nice work!

[@my2cents645]

learn everyday. never knew there was such a tool. sure did work

[@JH1200A1]

I have used one of those before but here's what works better. Take a port-a-power pump and unstop most joints with it. Remove the quick connect end from the least used attachment and plumb it straight in the hole you take the troublesome fitting out of. Warm it with a torch and pump it. It will unstop and flush the joint.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Wow

[@magnum8264]

Thats a super idea!

[@doodlegassum6959]

Just be careful when you hit max hose pressure. Hydraulic injection injury is not pretty

[@mance985]

I usually just pressure up the grease gun as much as i physically can and then hop in the machine and move whatever joint isn't taking grease. Always worked for me. Sometimes have to to is a few times to get to to take grease easily.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks for the tip!

[@dirtfarmer7472]

We had a similar thing in ‘80 when I was farming same idea, it worked. Thank you Sir for your video

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you for watching

[@intheshell35ify]

Automatic transmission fluid, especially warm, is a miracle worker. Stuff is magic.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Indeed

[@barrymacokiner9423]

Mix atf and acetone to loosen rusty bolts

[@tandemwings4733]

Oh come on... ATF is just 10W oil with some additives in it. It's just oil..!!!

[@intheshell35ify]

@@tandemwings4733 and you're a bag of mostly water with a "few additives". The magic is the additives. 😬

[@--_DJ_--]

@@intheshell35ify I don't think friction modifiers really help blasting old grease out of a hole.

[@DavidBruceAllen1]

We used to just heat them up with a torch and they always took grease. This is a nice tool if you don't have a torch though! Thank you for the tip.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks for sharing the tip about the torch!

[@jordanbrock8055]

What do you mean using heat? I’m still new at this two, heat sounds like the quick easy way, I’m just not understanding how it works. Your saying just torch the fitting for a few seconds and it’ll start taking grease again?

[@ZincOxideGinger]

​@@jordanbrock8055 Even if the grease is solid, rock hard, and old, putting a torch to it and letting the heat get to that grease will make it soften and may start running of the joint. Either way, pumping in new grease now will push out the old. Hope this helps

[@ClinttheGreat]

@@jordanbrock8055 You basically use a small propane torch to heat all around (and including) the grease fitting. Keep the heat on it until the area is warm and then try pumping in grease. If the fitting doesn't take grease, then keeping heating. You can also run a drill bit that is smaller than the grease fitting hole down the hole and hopefully drill through the dried up grease.

[@ryanhansen8312]

Awesome short and helpful video!

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you!

[@lrodriguez9315]

I was gonna say what the hell is that noise until I saw little man’s legs and figured out what was going on then I heard dad explain put a grin on my face

[@SKEvolved]

Transmission fluid has a lot of detergent in it. Makes sense to me that it would work for this. Nice job, sir.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks

[@tandemwings4733]

You're kidding - right?

[@--_DJ_--]

@@tandemwings4733 We can only hope...

[@tandemwings4733]

@@--_DJ_-- 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@richardblair919]

Never saw that tool, thanks for the video.

[@BBQDad463]

Thank you for this video. Nifty tool! I had never seen one before. Please tell me there is a block somewhere beneath the elevated blade.

[@ttc5000]

I used to just run a drill bit down the bore (by hand) to clean out the hardened grease

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you

[@woodywood6961]

What size bit? You take the zerk off and use a bit slightly smaller than the thread? or is there a smaller bore in there I need to clear out?

[@ttc5000]

@@woodywood6961 Start small. The trick is to bore a hole thru the dried up grease, so it doesn't need to be the exact size of the hole

[@woodywood6961]

@@ttc5000 Thanks mate, i’ll try this as it’s a quick easy thing to do. Although I feel like the issue for me is further along. Maybe the bushing has rotated a little.

[@casedoumasr656]

Interesting tool wished I had something like that when I worked at The cannery🤔

[@SouthernGround]

Got one that's about half as long, instructions say use same grease as you are lubing with, works great, Fluid dose not compress so either would work.

[@davidpiche658]

Thanks you so much i dint know how to fix m'y problem and then you show me the way it is thx its very usefull video

[@davidlobaugh4490]

Good to know theres a tool for that. I'm not osha approved by any stretch, maybe did and couldn't see but I'd block up that blade while kiddo chips at it. No reason the valve should ever let loose but if it does probably cost some toes at the least. 🤠 Sometimes a hose gets pinch punctured from a falling object, sometimes a cat comes and leans on the lever. Maybe I've got bad karma 😆💩

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Got it

[@AndreasHatz]

Yes, please never rely on hydraulics to hold anything up while working on it. Buddy of ours was killed while working under a spraying rig held up by the tractor linkages. His dog was in the cab of the tractor and stepped on the release lever.

[@WebberAerialImaging]

For sure! The condition of the hoses we could see was pretty bad. You can't imagine how quickly an implement will drop when the hose pops until you've seen it.

[@garysheppard9622]

I have never seen one of these, I always removed the zerk and cleaned out the old grease and then filled it with penetrating oil and replaced the fitting and pumped grease in behind the penetrating oil to force it through. If this didn't work I would use a torch if I had one handy.

[@ronskancke1489]

I'm 72 and have used about every penetraiting product there is. Recently I discovered a product called freeze off and it beats all othere hands down.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks for the tip

[@MikeKostecky]

It’s been my experience that when a joint won’t take grease it’s usually not because the grease has hardened and won’t let grease pass especially if it IS greased occasionally it means the bushings are worn and the groove that the grease is supposed to travel thru around the joint is not there any more. A good indication the bushing needs replacing.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@Livingandcooking]

That is really informative. Thank you

[@nicolec7290]

Kids hard at work

[@pipedreams57]

You are now a rocket scientist that is qualified to do anything with nothing.

[@lucasbergfors9446]

Got the same problem on the 1985 Case 1294 tractor the right lift arm doesn't take any grease whilst the left does i am gonna try this method tomorrow and hopefully get the right lift arm greased can i use any kind of oil doing this ? 😄

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Transmission fluid or another light oil should work.

[@lucasbergfors9446]

@@SteveMoitozo2 can i also use say oil for lawns mowers or cars ? I got some 10w-40 mineral motor oil and some 5w-30 car engine oil 🤔

[@SteveMoitozo2]

I think any of those options should work. Even hydraulic fluid should work.

[@lucasbergfors9446]

@@SteveMoitozo2 alright, i'll try it out tomorrow and when it's done the right lift arm should be greasable again :]

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Let me know how it works out and which oil you ended up using.

[@fixitallpaul4847]

Always grease at the end of the day not the beginning. You want to push any dirt and moisture out. Why let that crap sit in there until next use? Greasing at the end of the day protects it til next use.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Good advice!

[@tripjet999]

No real difference, though...

[@mikecollins8241]

I grease before use, then wash the machine afterwards. Sometimes, I'm smart enought to regrease before washing, but not often 😂

[@ClinttheGreat]

If your grease regularly, then it doesn't make a difference.

[@nealesmith1873]

Great info!

[@heximancer28]

Thanks for the concise video. Please wear gloves when handling those chemicals.

[@jeffmarett321]

I usually pull the pin and now the grease squirts right into the hole. Then put the pin back in. It's all about corrosion.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Makes sense

[@stevenolsen6360]

did you prove the nipple you removed actually passed grease- I learnt from trusting mechanics, who assumed nips pass grease, I found 3 on my car, that were installed on the manufacture of the car, that were bone dry

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Yes I did

[@tripjet999]

English, please...

[@harrywehrman5308]

Something I do is heat the joint with a propane torch. It will usually take grease after that.

[@haong2978]

Can you tell me if I can use 700bar oil pump hydraulic jack to unclog?

[@kitasuhill9667]

is the blade supported ? especially with the young fella working around it

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you

[@illbeyourmonster5752]

My family had a different method of doing matainance. Zero maintenance meant zero operating cost. If you never take care of things they cost almost nothing to run. 😋

[@SteveMoitozo2]

😂

[@illbeyourmonster5752]

@@SteveMoitozo2 I'm not exactly joking either. Nothing ever got greased until it was so worn out that grease did little to nothing, and then they threw grease at it like mad.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

There’s a reason we call this machine “Hot Potato” kzbin.info/aero/PLIXyblC2LRAhcXCtxw8W2NRB7zpohzEKq&si=QKZBIxhqwK6PEjlb

[@MikeKostecky]

Until it breaks. Then it costs BIG TIME!! Like the man in the commercial said… “ you can pay me now or pay me later!!” Later is always much MUCH more tho!! Maintenance is ALWAYS less expensive.

[@brianhoxworth3881]

My step dad was the same.. no maintenance run it till it breaks. Then bitch that it's broke.

[@JoeL-re1dc]

Turn you trans fluid bottle over and pour the other way. It'll flow out cleaner with less spill.

[@derek876544]

Where du get them from

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Amazon

[@derek876544]

@@SteveMoitozo2 cheers

[@jt4055]

no safety block under dozer blade if for any reason and you can come up with your own senerio that kids feet are GONE !!!!!

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Good point

[@joedoe-sedoe7977]

I never liked the hand pump grease gun because you cant guide the hose securely and pump at the same time because it will often leak grease so I like my air driven gun with a trigger to operat the pump action leaving my other hand free

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Dried grease gets extremely hard

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Yes indeed

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Forty five years master mechanic rather tractor or car grease dries out and hardens if not maintained properly

[@stan5949]

Where do I get this grease gun hammer ?

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Amazon. Search for “grease hammer” or “grease fitting cleaner tool” or “grease fitting rejuvenator”. Mine is a Lincoln 5805 Grease Fitting Cleaning Tool

[@faiththatmatters]

Thank you!

[@SteveMoitozo2]

You're welcome!

[@luke25music]

Well done!

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks!

[@carlthornton3076]

Very Good!... #145 ✝ {10-9-2023}

[@michaeldavis3188]

Money...Thanks alot man!

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Happy to share it! Go forth and lube!

[@johnpublic168]

Disassemble clean all passsgeways repair bushing and pin.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

Would hate to see your dozer blade accidentally fall on that little guys feet, be careful. ;)

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you for your concern

[@plowhand5591]

❤ This. Thanks!

[@ourv9603]

The way I fix zerks that wont take grease is- As zerks cost like what? 10c I throw the zerk away I install a new one. Any mech worth a SH should have several zerks of each size on hand if you are going to do lube work. !

[@dwilliams8365]

They make grease fittings with an angle that would make access better

[@zwilkinson2]

Next time maybe we could have the kids do something quite for a bit. That's for the video

[@davejoseph5615]

I would first try using a drill bit to see what rubbish can be pulled out of the hole.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks for the tip

[@adilsonpereira5384]

Como adquire Este produtor

[@FA--X01]

Amazon or Ebay

[@peterrudy9207]

I would expect that only full synthetic grease or 100 % synthetic grease from AmsOil would be used .

[@markthompson1330]

Acetone soak works overnight

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Interesting idea

[@markthompson1330]

@@SteveMoitozo2 did it many times, it softens up the hard grease and grime.

[@tripjet999]

Would be a good idea to keep the little ones away from the construction equipment.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

My philosophy is different. Teach them to understand the equipment, respect the risks and abilities of the equipment, and to act wisely around it when I am present.

[@natrob123]

I agree, much better to have them getting hands on experience.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

@@Sig.40 for me it was Clark fork lifts with my dad, Honda ATC three wheelers, the John Deere G, and a Cat D8. All by the time I was 12

[@patrickcreath217]

I just pour a little oil on that joint, and work it for 5 to 10 minutes. It will then take grease.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thanks

[@iamlucario]

damn ima buy one of these instead of calling bobcat to do it for 800$

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Feel free to buy some of my merch too? :) northeastoutpost.newfwd.com/shop

[@BobGriff-o9s]

Watch. The little. Boy. Blade. Could. Fall down

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Got it

[@paradiselost9946]

something seems wrong here. i swear the standard method is to thump it off with something heavy and close to hand, fill it with grit, and not think about it until either hopefully its sold or yeah... someone elses problem.

[@IsleOfFeldspar]

What really annoys me is that my old equipment needs work and I have NO TIME

[@johnricciojr.5324]

👍🏻

[@jimmason1072]

When the part that takes mosts of the abuse looks undersized then it's time to beef the whole area up....

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Indeed

[@santiphapsangkaew2454]

หาซื้อได้ที่ไหน

[@josephvalek5746]

I hope that blade is blocked up in case the hydraulics fail. Hate to see that boy get hurt.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you for your concern

[@martinswiney2192]

Most likely the pin is worn out and needs to be replaced. Also how about not having your child standing under a raised blade scraping off dirt that serves no purpose. Operation of the blade will remove the dirt. Failure of the pin while you are working on it could kill your child.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Thank you for your concern

[@HarveyWallbanger-ho2cq]

How come my kid won't do any work

[@snowman333-]

hydrolic shock

[@jamesspalten5977]

Why not just put a new fitting in it? Asking for a friend.

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Because the issue is not in the fitting, but deeper in the joint itself.

[@steelman86]

Unfortunately getting to the zerk is next impossible as it is inside the track housing and actually pushes a piston out on the end to tighten the rubber track.

[@stephensclavos4485]

They work but buy a “ good one “ , the cheap stuff lasts not long , sold most of my equipment, had prob like a total of about 100 fittings, down to only 50 fittings, l 39 back hoe etc , but why in the heck do they put some fittings in places that aren’t easy to get at no matter the brand ? Answer stupid engineering , like the wiring on my l 39 , it’s a little “ beast “ yet why the smallest possible gage wires that “ work “ or putting them again in hard to reach places ? Same answer , one thing though at times the pivot pin s on older equipment may have to b taken out and cleaned , so that the grease will b distributed evenly around the whole pin ( rust dirt etc ) or replaced, it’s cheaper than say a loader “ arm

[@kris8742]

Grease NIPPLES

[@SteveMoitozo2]

🙄

[@azentioced9]

yeah lol most of the time that does not work! and you know it!!

[@kolsen6330]

Blade up, not blocked, and your kid is scraping dirt off it. You must really trust the hydraulic system. A good way to get dead.

[@CMAenergy]

It isvery unsafe to have a child standing with his feet under a blade, or anyone at any time, They should be on the ground or properly blocked Would you like to see your child or anyone lose part or all of their feet?

[@Mike-db1nn]

Please tell me you have something other than your child under that blade ? I saw a man crushed to death working on an old machine like that when the arms suddenly came down.

[@denningmp37]

Joints don’t typically freeze up like that with regular grease applications…….

[@SteveMoitozo2]

Agreed. This was my first time doing maintenance on a machine I had just bought.