Remember to Grease that little zirk on the rear Cam Actuating lever

[msmaron]

Was having some real serious breaking problems. Took everything apart including all the rods..Then i found it..turns out actuating arm for the cam on the rear breaks was FROZEN Solid...after removing the backing plates and having to remove the arm I saw it was rusted solid to the bearing..In my haste over a long period of time that little zirk which became dirty and hidden I failed to grease and it froze up.. all fixed now and just as a reminder to everyone...dont forget that little puppy!!

[1931 flamingo]

Mark: Changing your Avitar is messing me up .
Paul

[P.S.]

When I got my Tudor, those rear zerks still had blue tape over them from when the rear end was painted by previous restorer over 40 years ago. I greased them, the brakes work excellent.

[Synchro909]

I've been wondering what a Zerk is but this post has helped (I think) in a way not intended. It's a grease nipple!!!!!!
I haven't spent sleepless nights wondering about it but it now begs the question "Where did that name come from?"
Anyone?

[Big hammer]

Oscar U Zerk invented the grease fitting

[SeaSlugs]

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Originally Posted by Big hammer

Oscar U Zerk invented the grease fitting

I learned something today!

And yea msmaron - your avitar changing threw me for a loop too

Has anyone made a checklist people could print off about all the different grease zerks on a model A? Maybe have a space for when the oil was last changed also on it!

I know theres the lubrication chart that shows how often and where to grease...

[Synchro909]

Thanks Big Hammer.

[MikeK]

Of note here, Ford did NOT originally use Zerk fittings on the A. In many cases the original fittings have been replaced with Zerk style fittings. Later design Zerk guns (rights assigned to Alemite) not only accommodated off-axis engagement, but they also locked on the fitting. This later improvement permitted lubing without applying physical pressure to the fitting or use of a bayonet coupling. At that point lever pump guns with grease hoses came into use and the non-locking fittings on the "A" fell into disuse.

Anyone with a name like Oh, You Zerk! begs attestation, so here it is:
(Note that these early gun fittings do not also hydraulically lock like later designs)

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I've been wondering what a Zerk is but this post has helped (I think) in a way not intended. It's a grease nipple!!!!!!
I haven't spent sleepless nights wondering about it but it now begs the question "Where did that name come from?"
Anyone?

Don't feel like the LONE RANGER, Synchro,
My Son, Gregg, (RIP) always was confused about FEMALE/MALE fittings, until Chief, his Grandpa, made a 3 finger gesture to him, & he NEVER was confused again!! Like ----->0
Bill W.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

A rethreaded zerk & grease gun is a blessing when trying to disassemble stuck disc brake or drum brake wheel cylinders. I put a pressure gauge on a grease gun & it EASILY pegged out the 2,000 Lb. gauge!
On my friend's '47 Ford, someone didn't align 1 of the grease holes in 1 of his king pin bushings. We drilled through the bushing & slightly into the king pin, blew it out & put the zerk back in. With a grease gun & QUITE a bit of effort, we forced grease out of BOTH ends of the bushing, VOILLE'
I'm glad they called it a ZERK, that's easier to say/write, than, "A SELF LOCKING FITTING FOR INJECTING GREASE INTO MOVING PARTS"! ZERK has a nice ring to it, kinda' like, JERK!
Bill W.

[rocket1]

Mechanics started calling customers jerks for not greasing the fittings,eventually they became known as zerk fittings,get it?

[P.S.]

Originally Posted by MikeK

Of note here, Ford did NOT originally use Zerk fittings on the A. In many cases the original fittings have been replaced with Zerk style fittings. Later design Zerk guns (rights assigned to Alemite) not only accommodated off-axis engagement, but they also locked on the fitting. This later improvement permitted lubing without applying physical pressure to the fitting or use of a bayonet coupling. At that point lever pump guns with grease hoses came into use and the non-locking fittings on the "A" fell into disuse.

Anyone with a name like Oh, You Zerk! begs attestation, so here it is:
(Note that these early gun fittings do not also hydraulically lock like later designs)

Yes, of course you are correct. I just automatically call all grease fittings zerks.

[45GPW]

Originally Posted by Big hammer

Oscar U Zerk invented the grease fitting

No, Oscar Ulysses Zerk invented the Zerk fitting (after the Model A was already in production). Other types of pressure grease fittings existed long before Zerk invented his improved-style grease fitting.

[msmaron]

Bottom line..>Grease it ALL THE TIME.....

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Remember those old "ZERKS" that looked like a light bulb base? They worked pretty good.
Wonder if anyone collects old grease cups? Saw an OLD airplane motor at the Smithsonian, with exposed timing gears & a grease cup on the front cam bearing. They must have brushed the timing gears with grease before flying. Same engine had NO valve cover & had squirt can holes to oil the rockers!! For sure, they DIDN'T need valve stem seals!! The carb. looked like it was machined out of a square block of BRASS!
Bill W.

[gweilbaker]

Big deal, so he invented pressurized grease coupling. What about finding the solution to the separation of grease whilst in a grease gun? Grrrrr!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by gweilbaker

Big deal, so he invented pressurized grease coupling. What about finding the solution to the separation of grease whilst in a grease gun? Grrrrr!

Maybe take it to your paint store & have them SHAAAAAKE it, just before your next grease job??
Bill W.

[30ccpickup]

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

I learned something today!

And yea msmaron - your avitar changing threw me for a loop too

Has anyone made a checklist people could print off about all the different grease zerks on a model A? Maybe have a space for when the oil was last changed also on it!

I know theres the lubrication chart that shows how often and where to grease...

http://m.inventory.ford.com/2014-For...nvpacode=04664


Thanks to http://www.fordgarage.com/ for providing such a nice chart.

[OL JENNY]

Can you purchase this chart? The website does not allow printing

[45GPW]

Originally Posted by OL JENNY

Can you purchase this chart? The website does not allow printing

Not sure about that one, but you can get this one from most of the regular Model A parts suppliers:

http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mo...t-17-x-22.html

There are also similar versions available for the Model T and the early V8s.