Author Topic: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?  (Read 6340 times)

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Offline phil71

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Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« on: June 06, 2011, 09:46:55 AM »
What do I need to grease old hondas up? The fittings don't really take your standard jiffy-lube grease gun, and you just make a mess.

Offline Duke McDukiedook

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2011, 10:28:23 AM »
You need to drill that old fitting out and put a zerk on, that fitting just makes messes if you can even find the proper grease fitting.
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Offline phil71

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2011, 04:37:47 PM »
What if I'd like to do it the hard way? where can i get an old honda grease gun?

Offline CycleRanger

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2011, 04:57:36 PM »
The original brass Japanese zerks in the early 2-zerk swingarms are just pressed in with no threads.
They can be pulled out and the hole can be threaded for "normal" zerks but you'll have to pull the swingarm.

I haven't had any trouble greasing with the original zerks using a rigid grease hose that allows you to apply extra pressure and keep the grease from oozing out.
Another reason it may be difficult to use the original zerks is that the tiny ball bearing might be stuck and not letting any grease in.
Do you have a copy of the Honda Shop Manual or Parts List for your bike? Get one here:
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Offline cookindaddy

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2011, 05:19:56 PM »
You didn't say what year or model. For my 750 K8 swing arm, I unthreaded the original fitting and threaded in a zerk obtained at the local auto parts place for a buck. The replacement was a METRIC threaded zerk and it fit perfectly and works perfectly with my regular grease gun.
George with a black 78 CB750K (in Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada)

Offline SohRon

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2011, 10:11:58 PM »
Quote
I haven't had any trouble greasing with the original zerks using a rigid grease hose that allows you to apply extra pressure and keep the grease from oozing out.

+1
"He slipped back down the alley with some roly-poly little bat-faced girl..."

Assembling my '74 CB550: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=86697.0
Assembly of the Right-hand Switch (a rebuilder's guide):  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80532.0
Installing stock 4X4 exhaust: CB500-CB550 K: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=82323.0
CB550 Assembly Manual: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.0.html

Offline Gordon

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2011, 10:21:52 PM »
Quote
I haven't had any trouble greasing with the original zerks using a rigid grease hose that allows you to apply extra pressure and keep the grease from oozing out.

+1

+2

Especially the part about the ball valve being stuck and not letting the grease in. 

Offline Bluegreen

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2011, 10:28:09 PM »
The way I went about it was I went to my local seal shop with the Japanese zerk and they machined a couple of American ones down for me to match the Honda one. They tapped right in.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2011, 10:28:45 PM »
On the pre-1975 SOHC4 bikes, the swingarm bolts had Japanese zerks on the ends of the bolts and gun-drilled passages 2.4" deep into the ends that are cross-drilled into the collar to directly center-feed each bushing. This superior system works very well when delivering grease...if you can get it into the fittings, or if they don't pump out of the bolt in the attempt.  :P

You can drill & tap the bolt ends with an Irwin tap-and-drill kit from Ace Hardware (#10 drill, 1/4-28 tap) and install North American 1/4-28 thread straight fittings on these early arms easily. After drilling and tapping, carefully pick out the chips inside with a small wire before installing the fitting (I do these almost every week!).

On the post-1974 bikes, it is a very different story. They have 1 grease fitting in the center of the arm, with different bushings and seals and collar, and if the old grease EVER dries out inside, the new grease will NEVER reach the bushings (and truth is, not much of that reaches them in any event in this setup). The only way to effectively grease these 'arms if the bike has been sitting for a long time is to disassemble the swingarm, pull out the collar, clean everything, hand grease it, reassemble, then pump it full of a modern, thin, all-purpose grease so as to keep it from drying out again. And often, like every 3000 miles. (Whew...). Or, you can just convert these over to the earlier system, which is the only one Honda sells parts for, today, anyway. Except their current bushing offerings are steel, which will destroy your nice new collar in about 5000 miles.

Or, if the bushings are worn out, you can pull the arm off and send it to me and I'll rebuild it into a Lifetime Warranty situation for you with custom-fitted Oilite bushings, but that's a story for another day...  ;D
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

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Offline Gordon

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2011, 10:36:07 PM »
Or, if the bushings are worn out, you can pull the arm off and send it to me and I'll rebuild it into a Lifetime Warranty situation for you with custom-fitted Oilite bushings, but that's a story for another day...  ;D

And you get the brand new American standard grease fittings installed, to boot! :)



Offline bryanj

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #10 on: June 06, 2011, 11:08:59 PM »
Main reason the originals jam is people hammer them in using a drift on the end which flattens the end and jams the ball,

You are supposed to use a hollow drift onto the machined sholder---now some long series 8mm sockets work BUT others look like they will but actualy push on the end flattening it so nowt gets in again.

Moral-----Fit Carefully and all will be well
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Offline dave500

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2011, 02:13:43 AM »
they rarely get greased by POs and the old grease turns to hard soap,i always pop the cruddy odd factory ones out and tap and fit proper ones that work easily,you might have to aswell.

Offline Scott S

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #12 on: June 07, 2011, 05:34:05 AM »
 Dave, is that fitting on the 500 threaded or did you have to thread that hole?
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Offline HondanutRider

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #13 on: June 07, 2011, 05:49:13 AM »
I assume this applies to the other models as well.  In particular, what about the swingarm fittings and grease on a CB350F?  Hondaman, does what you describe also apply to these models as well, since you mention: "SOHC4 bikes"?

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #14 on: June 07, 2011, 04:18:44 PM »
I assume this applies to the other models as well.  In particular, what about the swingarm fittings and grease on a CB350F?  Hondaman, does what you describe also apply to these models as well, since you mention: "SOHC4 bikes"?

Yep. The CB500 internal parts are identical to the 750 of the same era.
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline dave500

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #15 on: June 07, 2011, 06:26:40 PM »
i tapped that thread scott,the swingarm bolt is done aswell.

Offline tlbranth

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #16 on: August 24, 2011, 10:42:27 AM »
I just put US Zerk fittings in my swingarm and want to make a correction to Hondaman's post. The 1/4 - 28 tap requires a #3 drill, not a #10 as stated. Just don't want anyone coming back from the hardware store with the wrong stuff. What a difference. Couldn't get any grease in before but goes in easily now. Thanks Hondaman.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2011, 10:44:08 AM by tlbranth »
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Offline SohRon

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #17 on: August 24, 2011, 08:51:18 PM »
Quote
I haven't had any trouble greasing with the original zerks using a rigid grease hose that allows you to apply extra pressure and keep the grease from oozing out.

+1

+2

Especially the part about the ball valve being stuck and not letting the grease in. 

+3

"He slipped back down the alley with some roly-poly little bat-faced girl..."

Assembling my '74 CB550: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=86697.0
Assembly of the Right-hand Switch (a rebuilder's guide):  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80532.0
Installing stock 4X4 exhaust: CB500-CB550 K: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=82323.0
CB550 Assembly Manual: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.0.html

Offline tlbranth

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #18 on: August 24, 2011, 09:11:54 PM »
Ron - I have a rigid gun hose and pushed as hard as I could.......nothing except ooze. Cheched the balls, they were not stuck. The new zerks let grease in in QUANTITY and easily. The metal was really easy to drill & tap too.
Don't own a Vanagon
Don't work at Boeing
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1970 CB750 K0
1975 GL1000
1999 GL1500
2002 VT750-CDA ACE - Momma's bike
Terry

Offline Scott S

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #19 on: August 24, 2011, 09:20:30 PM »
Quote
I haven't had any trouble greasing with the original zerks using a rigid grease hose that allows you to apply extra pressure and keep the grease from oozing out.

+1

+2

Especially the part about the ball valve being stuck and not letting the grease in. 

+3


  + 4

  My old gun just oozed grease around the fittings (35+ years old). The new gun fits tight and fills the fittings. Cheap Harbor Freight gun.
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Offline SohRon

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Re: Zerk, but not zerk, how do you get grease in?
« Reply #20 on: August 24, 2011, 09:21:11 PM »
Quote
Ron - I have a rigid gun hose and pushed as hard as I could.......nothing except ooze

What can I say (or the other three who agreed with me)? It may be you had old, nasty grease in there or other problems (bent zerk?). AIK is that I have no issues with this gun and the original zerks.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2011, 10:10:18 PM by SohRon »
"He slipped back down the alley with some roly-poly little bat-faced girl..."

Assembling my '74 CB550: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=86697.0
Assembly of the Right-hand Switch (a rebuilder's guide):  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80532.0
Installing stock 4X4 exhaust: CB500-CB550 K: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=82323.0
CB550 Assembly Manual: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.0.html