Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

[minuteman62-64]

One of my Bearing Buddy grease fittings seems to be screwed up. After I pump grease in, and remove the gun, grease squirts out the fitting.

I know Bearing Buddy's are not that expensive, but it is in good shape otherwise and seems like a waste to dump it when I could replace the fitting for about $1. Only thing that concerns me is that the fittings I buy at my local hardware store are not SS. Would that be a problem? Or should I look around for SS fittings and where to look?

I guess another factor is that if I spend a couple of hours of my time driving around looking for a SS fitting I might be better off just buying a new set

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

I wouldn't worry about the fitting being stainless. Even if used in SW, you'll get 2-3 years out of them before they get crudded up again.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

so put in a non stainless zerk.... it'll be coated in grease and besides, what's the worst that could happen? lil surface rust on it

 

[robert graham]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

Remove it and clean with solvent to try and free up that ball and spring in zerk, otherwise put in a new zerk, otherwise buy a new BB.....

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

I pulled the BB today, cleaned up the zerc and took a close look. The little ball looked kind of strange so I probed it with an ice pick. It popped out - took a closer look - hey, that's not the ball, it's a grain of sand or grit about the same size.

Now the ball is looking and acting like it should. No idea how that grit got in there - my cleaning/rebuilding techniques are impecable - must have been the previous owner

While I had the BB out I probed it with a magnet. Most of it, including the zerc, was attracted to the magnet. Does this mean it isn't SS?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

While I had the BB out I probed it with a magnet. Most of it, including the zerc, was attracted to the magnet. Does this mean it isn't SS?

Not all SS is non-magnetic.
However the zerk is likely not SS, most are plated, and unless you actually clean them with solvent, there is still a coating of grease to protect the finish. (and collect sand!)

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

While I had the BB out I probed it with a magnet. Most of it, including the zerc, was attracted to the magnet. Does this mean it isn't SS?

Buddy bearings come in non-stainless steel and stainless steel versions. The steel versions have a triple-chrome plated barrel and stainless innerds. Cheaper, but I go with the all-stainless.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

Northern Tools, Tractor Supply, other similar places sell Bearing Buddy Bras, just black rubber caps that fit over them to keep dirt, sand, road grit, water off the Bearing Buddies....a pair of them might be $3...they work good!

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

Northern Tools, Tractor Supply, other similar places sell Bearing Buddy Bras, just black rubber caps that fit over them to keep dirt, sand, road grit, water off the Bearing Buddies....a pair of them might be $3...they work good!

I actually have the Bras. I'm thinking the problem was caused by my "unsanitary" lube practices - probably had some grit on the tip of my grease gun and shot a piece into the zerk when I injected the grease.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Bearing Buddy Grease Fitting Replacement?

I actually have the Bras. I'm thinking the problem was caused by my "unsanitary" lube practices - probably had some grit on the tip of my grease gun and shot a piece into the zerk when I injected the grease.

A common problem.

I fold a paper towel in half twice, (Quarter).
Then I stick the end of the grease gun in the center of the folded towel, fold it over the tip, and rubberband it in place.
It keeps the tip clean when it sits in the garage for months.