The Ford Barn

Tacoma Bob · 07-14-2010, 11:24 AM

My car is for all intents and purposes an older restoration. Soooo I have a mish mash of zerks and I believe the original alamite fittings. One day I will get them all the same. Todays big question is that I have one that has fallen out. I bought a package of "modern" zerks and they are still a bit too small for the hole. Do I mic the hole and get a bigger size. And does one use a bottom tap to cut new threads. I can probably beg, borrow or steal and original But what if the hole has been drilled bigger. Would JB hold it???

Patrick L. · 07-14-2010, 11:48 AM

This may a good place to insert one of your recent quotes " It sounds as if you don't have a clue" end quote,, but,, I wouldn't say such a thing to anyone.. In time, you'll probably figure something out..

Bruce · 07-14-2010, 01:02 PM

Whether you use a threaded zerk or a drive in one, JB Weld won't hold in that application . Soon as you try to pump some grease -- or take the grease gun fitting off, that zerk is outathere!
But don't take my word for it. Try it.

howie123 · 07-14-2010, 06:47 PM

You need to know what size the hole is. Try different size bolts in both coarse and fine threads to find the size. The new fitting will have to have the same thread. Looking at Bratton's catalog it looks like Ford used 1/8 pipe thread for screw in grease fittings. This may not be standard for modern fittings. It is also possible that someone redrilled and tapped an existing hole in a different size. In any case, take your time with the investigation and you will figure it out.

Keith True · 07-14-2010, 06:56 PM

Something I have run into a lot lately is the use of METRIC threads.I bought a bunch of grease fittings from Tractor supply,and if they tightened at all,they didn't fetch up until they hit the hex.They turned out to be metric.I wanted to replenish my Lincoln assortment,that was a bad idea.One of the older parts stores came up with the right parts.

Tacoma Bob · 07-15-2010, 09:54 AM

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Hey thanks guys, sounds like I'm not too far off the mark. As Howie mentioned I do think somebody was horsing around with a drill. I'll dig through my" fibber mcgee" can of nuts and bolts and go from there. Cheers

Terry, NJ · 07-17-2010, 08:14 AM

Threaded Zerks are available in 1/8 NPT (pipe thread) and 1/4 NPT. Pipe threads are tapered and the standard depth is three turns by hand, then wrench tighten. If you can turn a zerk in by hand to anywhere near the hex, it's because someone tapped the hole too deep. I've never heard of Metric pipe threads. They may exist, but I've never encountered them.
Terry

Don/WI · 07-17-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry, NJ

Threaded Zerks are available in 1/8 NPT (pipe thread) and 1/4 NPT. Pipe threads are tapered and the standard depth is three turns by hand, then wrench tighten. If you can turn a zerk in by hand to anywhere near the hex, it's because someone tapped the hole too deep. I've never heard of Metric pipe threads. They may exist, but I've never encountered them.
Terry

There are no Metric pipe threads, but there are Metric threaded grease fittings. Here is a link to the many types of grease fittings available. (See the second page for metric sizes).http://www.mcmaster.com/#grease-fittings/=7zzzik Don/WI

Terry, NJ · 07-17-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don/WI

There are no Metric pipe threads, but there are Metric threaded grease fittings. Here is a link to the many types of grease fittings available. (See the second page for metric sizes).http://www.mcmaster.com/#grease-fittings/=7zzzik Don/WI

Don, Thanks for correcting me! I had never encountered the vast amount of available zerk fittings. Although, I had run across some 1/4-28 (I think) years ago. All the others had been in either 1/16" (Rare) 1/8" or 1/4". I still think that most people who convert Mod A to threaded zerks will use 1/8 or 1/4 NPT and those are the main thread sizes that we need to think about. BTW the taps are commonly found in the flea markets in good enough quality to clean up old threads. (After twenty years of looking , I found my first 1/16" NPT tap in a local flea market, Perfect cutting edges, only $0.50) Thanks again!
Terry

Keith True · 07-17-2010, 09:16 AM

I first discovered metric grease fittings in the early 80's on farm machinery.Fransguard,Kuhn,Kvernland,all had metric fittings.Back then we could not just buy a metric assortment.We had to buy the fittings individually by part number from the makers.

07-14-2010, 11:24 AM	#1
Tacoma Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,025	Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada My car is for all intents and purposes an older restoration. Soooo I have a mish mash of zerks and I believe the original alamite fittings. One day I will get them all the same. Todays big question is that I have one that has fallen out. I bought a package of "modern" zerks and they are still a bit too small for the hole. Do I mic the hole and get a bigger size. And does one use a bottom tap to cut new threads. I can probably beg, borrow or steal and original But what if the hole has been drilled bigger. Would JB hold it???

07-14-2010, 11:48 AM	#2
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada This may a good place to insert one of your recent quotes " It sounds as if you don't have a clue" end quote,, but,, I wouldn't say such a thing to anyone.. In time, you'll probably figure something out..

07-14-2010, 01:02 PM	#3
Bruce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sun City West, AZ Posts: 489	Re: Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada Whether you use a threaded zerk or a drive in one, JB Weld won't hold in that application . Soon as you try to pump some grease -- or take the grease gun fitting off, that zerk is outathere! But don't take my word for it. Try it.

07-14-2010, 06:47 PM	#4
howie123 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 113	Re: Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada You need to know what size the hole is. Try different size bolts in both coarse and fine threads to find the size. The new fitting will have to have the same thread. Looking at Bratton's catalog it looks like Ford used 1/8 pipe thread for screw in grease fittings. This may not be standard for modern fittings. It is also possible that someone redrilled and tapped an existing hole in a different size. In any case, take your time with the investigation and you will figure it out.

07-14-2010, 06:56 PM	#5
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,987	Re: Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada Something I have run into a lot lately is the use of METRIC threads.I bought a bunch of grease fittings from Tractor supply,and if they tightened at all,they didn't fetch up until they hit the hex.They turned out to be metric.I wanted to replenish my Lincoln assortment,that was a bad idea.One of the older parts stores came up with the right parts.

07-15-2010, 09:54 AM	#6
Tacoma Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,025	Re: Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Hey thanks guys, sounds like I'm not too far off the mark. As Howie mentioned I do think somebody was horsing around with a drill. I'll dig through my" fibber mcgee" can of nuts and bolts and go from there. Cheers

07-17-2010, 08:14 AM	#7
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada Threaded Zerks are available in 1/8 NPT (pipe thread) and 1/4 NPT. Pipe threads are tapered and the standard depth is three turns by hand, then wrench tighten. If you can turn a zerk in by hand to anywhere near the hex, it's because someone tapped the hole too deep. I've never heard of Metric pipe threads. They may exist, but I've never encountered them. Terry

07-17-2010, 09:16 AM	#10
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,987	Re: Zerks, alamite fittings yada-yada-yada I first discovered metric grease fittings in the early 80's on farm machinery.Fransguard,Kuhn,Kvernland,all had metric fittings.Back then we could not just buy a metric assortment.We had to buy the fittings individually by part number from the makers.