plugged grease fitting

[Willard M.]

Trying to grease a 1962 that has been sitting around for a while. The fitting on the upper control arm is very uncooperative and won't accept grease. I have taken out the fitting, tried an air grease gun, but still no luck. The other fittings were fine but this one is a challenge. Any thoughts about how to free this up enough to get it greased?

Bill #2659

[Donald B.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

I had several fittings on my '62 that would not accept grease. One of the suggestions that I used was to heat the area with the torch. It seemed to soften the old grease and I was albe to inject some new grease. A temporary solution that I have NOT even attempted to properly resolve.

[Duke W.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

Are you saying the fitting only is plugged or the entire joint?

Duke

[Chuck S.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

Exactly...I would remove the fitting and stick it into the adapter on the grease gun. Pump the gun and see if the fitting flows grease...if it doesn't accept grease, then it's the fitting; install a new fitting and grease the joint. After you're done, you can either exchange the fitting with the old one if it is a gen-u-wine C1 grease fitting...or, leave the new shiny one in place if you don't care.

If the fitting flows grease, then you've got a problem in the joint...solution is left to the owner.

[Willard M.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

I should have been clearer. The fitting flows fine once removed from the joint. It is the old grease in the joint that seems to be the problem. Today I plan to try a long flexible hose on my grease gun, one the will allow me to set the gun on the garage floor and really lean on it to get some leverage. My old arms just don't seem to have the squeezing capacity that the did 40 years ago.

Bill #2659

[Clem Z.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

they sell a grease gun that you hit with a hammer to free up problem like you have. also air operated grease guns can put out 10,000 psi

[Chuck S.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

I started to suggest a pneumatic gun, Clem...they're about as cheap now as a hand operated gun. I'm ordinarily not a big fan of the pneumatic guns because I like to be able to feel how much resistance there is, and have better control of the grease. Like Bill, I may have to consider more strength enhancing tools as I get older.

[Chuck R.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

Hi Bill,

Sometimes we could get grease into stubborn joints (especially lower control arms and king pins) by warming up the shafts/knuckle areas with a torch as well as taking the load off of the suspension.

When I say warm up, I mean just that, by very carefully running a torch adjusted to a lazy blue flame over the shafts or knuckles so as not to worry about torching the boots etc.

By staying away from the joint, the heat will slowly transmit to the affected area and possibly soften up the old grease where it will give it up. You definately don't want smoking grease and flaming boots

Good luck,

Chuck

[Willard M.]

Re: plugged grease fitting

Problem solved! I bought some extra lengths of hose so I was able to put the end on the fitting while the gun rested on the floor, allowing me to put my 200 pounds on the handle and force grease into the joint. Thanks everyone for the input.

Bill #2659

[Chuck R.]

Re: Lucky you Bill

I did that only once with my Dad's grease gun trying to lube the king pins in my sister's Beetle. Blew the side right out of it.

Dad proceeded to chase me around the garage beating the living snot out of me with it.

It wasn't a pretty site folks