I actually have several. I had a late model GM in the '80s, late model being a relative term here, that had plugs in all the holes for the grease zerks (sp?), I chaged them out for zirks(sp?). One if mine is little bitty just for those tight spots. On everything drive I rease whenever I change the the oil or once every month whatever comes first.
I have one and use it. When I worked in a gas station in High shcool in the early 70's most cars still had grease fittings on all of the moving front end parts along with U joints. Hence the term Grease, Oil and Filter. The good old days.
I'm old too and have several. My favorite one is so old you have to load it manually from a can and it is very messy. I actually use it more on my John Deere lawn mower than on my cars.
Of course I have one, I actually have 3 Even my security screen doors on my house have zerks, and I lube them twice a year
try a 1915 Colburn vertical mill, just pull the rod back,unscrew the end of the gun, stick it in the gear grease hole and let it go. eaisier to shove the stuff in by the handfull. it does have fittings too though. not much different then the steam engines they built. gotta love those early rope seals, you know it's full when it's throwing grease at you from the quill. I work in aircraft parts building tailwheels, so grease it part of the deal, i have about six guns at work, some modified to grease bearings. also have a five gallon bucket with a 1940's pump full of duralith, the nastiest smelling grease on earth, you can't wash that smell off. otherwise use a lot of Lucas red grease
Ford rangers are pretty notorious for eating front ball joints, and the uppers are built into the freakin arms. Several hundred dollars later you have new arms w/replaceable,greasable ball joints. Mine went out at around 80K
Among the other things my grandfather taught me is this. "Grease and oil changes are the two cheapest things you can do to maintain a car and they are the most neglected." On his farm if you started a tractor in the morning with out first checking the oil and water level in the radiator you had better hope he didn't see you. If he did the ass reaming that followed stayed with you all the way to supper time. He went through the depression and you took care of your tools and machinery because there was no extra money around to make repairs that could have been prevented. BTW, to answer the question, I own two, one of them is one that my grandfather had and still works like it did when he used it on the farm. Frank
My GFs 2003 4WD Jeep Grand Cherokee has a grand total of 2 -- only 2 -- grease fittings. Upper Ball joints. But, I grease 'em every oil change. We bought it new, and 176K later, I've replaced only the one tie rod end at the pitman arm. No ujoints, no other front end components at all. Pete Oh, yes, I have a grease gun.
Worked in parts at the local FoMoCo dlr for 10yrs. FoMoCos new car sales really only recuprate R&D costs. Profit comes from parts. They don't sell a lot of different rebuild kits, to raise sales on 'their' reman junk. They RELY on every fucked up thing they build, to keep you coming back. Mechanics there LIVE off warranty work. I can't afford to throw $ away on new car depreciation. Four lugs per wheel means that one of the next cars wheel is held on free, by not using 5 per wheel. They don't want stuff to last, like the parts we use with zerk fittings. Anyways..
I have a grease gun and use it on my jalopys. Sad but true, a lot of 'rods are built with 'keeping it clean' in mind, grease ozzing out looks bad. Ha. That's kind of thumb-sucking approach in my opinion.
Yeah,my 50 Chevy PU and 51 Willys truck have a million grease fittings.Chevy PU's had grease fitting into the 1990's,don't know if if the newest ones have fittings.Our regular drivers are the small Jeep Cherokees,the ones they don't make anymore.They have grease fittings except for the lower ball joint.Guess which joint fails first.
i have a pneumatic assist one that doesn't work for shit. it does however do a great job of leaking red synthetic grease everywhere.
Amen. When I got my truck it had no transmission fluid. I put my finger inside the drain plug hole and there was only dry rust... And this truck was driven. (Eventually I had to replace everything over the years, except the engine block and steering gear) The oil from the motor was ancient and the rear end fluid was brown. I had to replace almost all zirk fittings, cos they haven't been used in decades and were covered with hard dried and baked on grease globs. I somehow got a snap ring inside the transmission back in place without removing the entire thing and taking it apart and drove it for another 10 years, before it went. A grease gun was one of my first tools I ever bought after a set of socket wrenches. Been greasing my truck and coupe every 1000-2000 miles for the last 15 years. I keep a chart for each ride on the wall and make notes with date and miles and columns for all the parts that need servicing.
I just went out to the shop floor and counted. I have six, four different sizes, several different tips.
For those of you with leaking guns- When you're finished, pull the follower out and lock it. Now it won't fit in the plastic pail no more. Turn a tomato cage upside down in the pail and hang the gun on the wire.
Being that I've owned or been around trucks for the last 20 years, yes I do own a few. Here's some tips: (1) The air powered ones suck, they blow the boots out then salt, water, and grit get in, grease gets out. (2) Store the tubes of grease upside down, this lets it settle to the top of the tube and it's easier to prime after changing tube. (3) Clean top of zerk off with little wire brush BEFORE you grease it, this keeps grime from being pushed in and holding the little ball open thus squirting the fresh grease right back out. Keep on truck'in!
The Jalopy Journal
