Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)
Hi,
Fitting is cheap. Just replace it.

In article ,
mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

Hey is it an AN600?

Anyway, yes the fittings can be clogged, or the joint they are
greasing itself can be the problem. There are grease fittings that are
meant to be driven or pressed in, but I don't know about your Honda.
In 1969 I was more into Dodge Darts, Ford Falcons, an Chevy IIs. Best
to check a service manual or with an old Honda mechanic.

If they are the press-in type, you can try grabbing them with a vise
grips, then prying up on the vise grips. If they brake off you will
have to drill out what's left. You can either replace them with the
same type, or possibly tap for a threaded grease fitting.
--
No dumb questions, just dumb answers.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland -

mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

Yes, dirt & grit can clog them. Using a high pressure grease gun can
force the clog thru the fitting.

Bob

mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

They can and they do... Last night I was going thru my Northern tool
catalog and saw just what you need... It's at:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...0974_200130974

Never used one, never knew one existed, but sounds like the item you
might want.

I appologize for not doing it as a link... I'm a little on the techno
challenged for that... If anyone cares to enlighten me about putting
links in to posts I'd be grateful...

Good luck with the fitting.

mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

As others said, the first question answer is "yes". The second is "it
varies", depending on what's wrong. More than likely in this case it's
simply the age and the grease has dried out and solidified plus quite
likely dirt and some corrosion has sealed them shut.

There are actually tools for the purpose, but they're rather pricey for
only a couple zerks. While it's possible a high-pressure gun might be
able to break them loose, that will also put whatever dirt and dried
grease that's in there into the joint which may continue to cause
problems on down the road so my recommendation is to take them out and
soak them in a solvent to see if they clean up or simply replace them.

I think somebody else noted that since they don't have wrench flats
they are almost certainly a press fit, not threaded. You should be
able to remove them w/ the vice-grips and some brute force method.
Having a gazillion of the suckers on all the farm equipment there're
similar cases pretty frequently and I've found a sharp chisel w/ a
fairly high taper under the flange can help in stubborn cases to start
them moving and if they do break off the left-hand bolt remover tap
will make short work of any I've ever had a problem with (of course, w/
non-threaded, the direction isn't of real importance, just that most
remover sets are left-handed).


HTH...

HTH...

bremen68 spake thus:

They can and they do... Last night I was going thru my Northern tool
catalog and saw just what you need... It's at:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...0974_200130974

Never used one, never knew one existed, but sounds like the item you
might want.

I appologize for not doing it as a link... I'm a little on the techno
challenged for that... If anyone cares to enlighten me about putting
links in to posts I'd be grateful...

What makes you think it *didn't* come through as a link? It did, no
problemo.


--
Save the Planet
Kill Yourself

- motto of the Church of Euthanasia (http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/)

On 11 Oct 2006 06:59:30 -0700, "bremen68"
wrote:


mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

They can and they do... Last night I was going thru my Northern tool
catalog and saw just what you need... It's at:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...0974_200130974

Never used one, never knew one existed, but sounds like the item you
might want.

I appologize for not doing it as a link... I'm a little on the techno

Hey, it worked as a link for me, but even if it didn't, you're doing
me a favor already. You shouldn't have to baby me too.

challenged for that... If anyone cares to enlighten me about putting
links in to posts I'd be grateful...

I would advise you to keep doing what you're doing.

Good luck with the fitting.

It does look like just the right tool, but 46 dollars etc, it's going
to be my last resort. Now I know this exists for some time where I
need more volume or I MUST get it done.

Thanks a lot.

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 23:17:14 -0500, ()
wrote:

In article ,
mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

Hey is it an AN600?

The bike is a CB450.

Anyway, yes the fittings can be clogged, or the joint they are
greasing itself can be the problem. There are grease fittings that are
meant to be driven or pressed in, but I don't know about your Honda.
In 1969 I was more into Dodge Darts, Ford Falcons, an Chevy IIs. Best
to check a service manual or with an old Honda mechanic.

I was into Pontiac Catalinas then, and a '50 Olds.

But my current friend who is 10 years older than I was into this, at
least for a year or two. He bought it used, and when it was 3 years
old, he parked it in the garage and never got around to starting it
again. Gave it to me this summer. I hope to have it running before
it gets cold, but it's going to be close.

If they are the press-in type, you can try grabbing them with a vise
grips, then prying up on the vise grips. If they brake off you will
have to drill out what's left. You can either replace them with the
same type, or possibly tap for a threaded grease fitting.

Thanks.

More further down the thread.

On 11 Oct 2006 07:15:51 -0700, "dpb" wrote:


mm wrote:
Can grease fittings be clogged shut?

How does one get them to open up again, especially if it seems they
can't be removed or replaced?

I have two zerk fittings on the '69 Honda I'm trying to get to run,
and they seem to be clogged, but they have no flat sides and I think
they don't unscrew. Can they be clogged and how would I unclog them?

The last time they were greased ( 1)the clutch cable mechanism and 2)
the swing arms) was between 1969 and 1972.)

As others said, the first question answer is "yes". The second is "it
varies", depending on what's wrong. More than likely in this case it's
simply the age and the grease has dried out and solidified plus quite
likely dirt and some corrosion has sealed them shut.

There are actually tools for the purpose, but they're rather pricey for
only a couple zerks. While it's possible a high-pressure gun might be
able to break them loose, that will also put whatever dirt and dried
grease that's in there into the joint which may continue to cause
problems on down the road so my recommendation is to take them out and
soak them in a solvent to see if they clean up or simply replace them.

I think somebody else noted that since they don't have wrench flats
they are almost certainly a press fit, not threaded. You should be
able to remove them w/ the vice-grips and some brute force method.
Having a gazillion of the suckers on all the farm equipment there're
similar cases pretty frequently and I've found a sharp chisel w/ a
fairly high taper under the flange can help in stubborn cases to start

No flange either. And on top of that, the one for the swing arms is
surrounded by a 3mm ring, and beyond that is a 5mm ring that is 1 or 2
mm higher than the center. Might get a little chisel in there but
they have protected it like a castle with a moat.

The other one is at an angle although I don't know if that makes a
difference.

The bottom line is that I'm going to wait until the bike is running,
and then I can take it and the fittings to other people, who will know
if it can be torn out and pressed in.

The swing arm only rotates 10 or 20 degrees for each significant bump,
less for other bumps, and I think it won't wear out in the first 100
miles.

For the clutch mechanism, I had the cover off and I greased it from
the other end, getting part of it, but the round inclined plane
probably needs grease. When there is no pressure on it however, it
slides very easily, and will probably wear down fairly evenly, so that
will wait 100 miles too.

I have the Klymer manual for this particular bike and it doesn't say,
but maybe I'll check the Honda site etc. and see if they say or if
they sell replacement grease fittings.


Thanks to everyone.

them moving and if they do break off the left-hand bolt remover tap
will make short work of any I've ever had a problem with (of course, w/
non-threaded, the direction isn't of real importance, just that most
remover sets are left-handed).


HTH...

HTH...