I'm not the smartest guy on the block, nor am I a mechanical wizard but it sure would make life for us T owners a LOT easier if someone sold drag link ball caps with zerk grease fittings in them! I know it can't be all that complicated to make - so why don't they sell them? Maybe they do, but I sure don't know where to buy them. I just spend some aggravating time under my '16 re-packing the pitman arm and kept thinking how nice and easy a little grease fitting would be!
I went to Harbar Freight and bought grease zerts all angles.THEN WENT TO HARDWARE STORE FOR TAP,AND DRILL BIT.I replaced all oil cups,front and rear. I also did all steering rods including spindles
Yep, 5 minutes work can make them last for ever!
On the spindle bolts, it is unlikely that grease will reach the bottom bushing. Oil will run down and lubricate it.
It does if you have a zert at the top and bottom bushing!
Sounds easy enough - what size tap and drill bit?
Zerks come in different sizes, but many of them are 1/8" pipe thread. When you're at the hardware store getting that tap, look at the package and it will probably tell you the drill size.
Seems like they come in 1/4" pipe thread too, but that would be bigger than you need for these applications.
Zerks can be found in 1/4-28 tapered thread. I suspect that a 1/4-28 tap can be used to tap the hole by not tapping to a full thread.
Metric Zerk fittings are also readily available.
Model A Ford 5/16 drive in Zerk fittings should be available from the antique Ford parts folks.
Look for a package set made by CTD 1/4-28 tap,#3 drill bit That is what I used. With a little epoxy and grind the inside of the tip off so it won`t hang up on the ball. Hope this helps!
This may be news to a few guys but the grease cups take a 1/8" NPT tap without any drilling at all. Clean out & install the shortest Zerk fitting and the cap goes right back on. Looks original. Only difference is clean hands. I don't know about the big cup on the drive shaft though. Never tried that one.
I sure we'll soon see all the posters saying how these are not Original.
Nice idea if you drive your car a lot and also don't show too much.
Saves money too cause you don't have to use those pennies to take up the wear.
1/4 × 28 thread zerks are made to fit a standard 1/4" fine thread hole.
Okay Gene...I might as well start the "un-original" whine!!! LOL
But seriously, how long does it take to remove the cap, add grease or Lubriplate a couple of times a year and back on the road? 10 minutes? It actually takes me longer to get the car up on the lift and raised, to do the work, but that's how I prefer it. To me, this is part of the fun of the hobby,plus it gives me yet another excuse to be out in the "man cave".
Plus, it also kind of "forces" me to thoroughly check things out while I'm under there. JMHO
Tim, me too. Count me out for zerks for the same reasons you noted.
Plus, on the drag link, I use the Apco spring loaded caps and they let me add grease without removing the nuts and bolts, just the main plug.
I have the Apco on my '16 and I sure couldn't remove the cap that is on the inside - the cap is too big to fit through the opening on the end where the screw plug is removed. Plus, there is so much grease inside the cavity that it makes it kind of difficult to even locate the cap. Believe me, I tried every way I could to avoid removing the cotter pins and bolts/nuts on the pitman arm cap; even after I figured I couldn't remove the cap I tried stuffing some more grease into the cavity it just wasn't very effective. I finally took the entire Apco cap off and did it the old way. Sorry purists, but if adding a very tiny grease fitting in order to make life a little easier and giving me more time on the road means "non-original" than so be it. I'm even considering putting de-mountable rims on my 1916 (oh, no, another non-original!
The zerks that you guys are calling 1/4-28 are actually 1/16 pipe thread. 1/4 will work but the actual 1/16 npt is 27 threads per inch. I wouldn't make a special trip to buy 1/16 pipe tap. If you have a 1/4-28 by all means use it.
I think the zerks are a great idea for driver cars. We tend to pick which things we like individually. Many folks who would be put off by zerks have no problem putting quick change bands or electric starters on their cars.
Gary, 1/16 pipe thread? I have not ever heard of that. The smallest pipe thread that I have seen was 1/8"NPT. Dave
This may help!
Zerks on a Model T? Disgusting!