Where to Find a Big Variety of Zirks

[hotajax 225]

Checked Tractor Supply, all they sell is a huge variety box mostly stuff I don't need and no guarantee that it has what I do need.  Looking for the zirk on my front wheels that lubes the axle spindles.  It mounts at a 45 degree angle to the axis of the spindle so you can get the grease gun tip in there.  I have not taken the defective part off yet, so I can't tell you anything about the thread size.  Thanks in advance. 

[ebinmaine 69,706]

IMHO your best bet will be to get the size(s) you need and order bulk from McMaster-Carr. 

Top notch quality.  

[953 nut 56,739]

The fittings on a Wheel Horse are all 1/4-28 thread, the mixed box you get at retail stores has a lot of 1/8" NPT fittings that are seldom used on anything but industrial applications.

[peter lena 8,970]

@hotajax those front wheel spindles should be , hand lubricated to ensure lubrication insertion , like to remove bearing side shields . clean out and use a 550 deg  hi stress / load lube , lucas X TRA HD  chassis grease , bombproof , also get some spacers / washers to snug up the wheel bearing connection , eliminate the wheel side to side play , thats what eats  the bearing mount area out . destroys the wheel . actually very easy  to do . while you are there grease the front axle mount to frame and the wheel spindles , while the wheels are off , like a vinyl top spindle grease cover , protects from crud ,  up on jack stands , pete 

[hotajax 225]

Peter:  Where do you get those big washers to stop the side-to-side play?  Is that a common washer that a hardware store would have or is it a Wheel Horse part?  They look to me like a machined part rather than a stamped common washer.  Thanks for your input. 

6 hours ago, 953 nut said:

The fittings on a Wheel Horse are all 1/4-28 thread, the mixed box you get at retail stores has a lot of 1/8" NPT fittings that are seldom used on anything but industrial applications.

 

6 hours ago, peter lena said:

@hotajax those front wheel spindles should be , hand lubricated to ensure lubrication insertion , like to remove bearing side shields . clean out and use a 550 deg  hi stress / load lube , lucas X TRA HD  chassis grease , bombproof , also get some spacers / washers to snug up the wheel bearing connection , eliminate the wheel side to side play , thats what eats  the bearing mount area out . destroys the wheel . actually very easy  to do . while you are there grease the front axle mount to frame and the wheel spindles , while the wheels are off , like a vinyl top spindle grease cover , protects from crud ,  up on jack stands , pete 

 

6 hours ago, 953 nut said:

The fittings on a Wheel Horse are all 1/4-28 thread, the mixed box you get at retail stores has a lot of 1/8" NPT fittings that are seldom used on anything but industrial applications.

@953 nut  Thanks for that info.  now i don't have to go all over looking around for a thread gauge. 

[ri702bill 8,729]

Peter:  Where do you get those big washers to stop the side-to-side play?  Is that a common washer that a hardware store would have or is it a Wheel Horse part?  They look to me like a machined part rather than a stamped common washer.  Thanks for your input. 

 

Once again, McMaster Carr. They sell what I call a "Party Pack" of precision 3/4" ID shims of various thicknesses. I always have one on hand; they are used to minimize steering play thruout the steering system...... where the steering wheel shaft gear sits in / on the lower support block, under it to set the sector clearance, spindle-to-axle top gap, axle pivot-to-frame gap (huge improvement), and spindle axle length. I take up all the excess play so that the ball bearing inner races are not allowed to turn on the spindle itself under an extremely light preload.

[ebinmaine 69,706]

2 hours ago, ri702bill said:

precision 3/4" ID shims

@hotajax

 

These are extremely handy.

Until a few years ago I didn't understand the difference between a 3/4 washer and a 3/4 shim. They're night and day.

 

[953 nut 56,739]

Our local ACE Hardware caries the 3/4" shim washers in various thicknesses. 

[ri702bill 8,729]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

@hotajax

 

These are extremely handy.

Until a few years ago I didn't understand the difference between a 3/4 washer and a 3/4 shim. They're night and day.

 

Yup... washer thickness can vary widely from brand to brand and lot to lot. You measure them with either "Well, 2 will fit, but not 3, so 2 it is" or the old @Pullstart "Eye-chrometer".

Precision shims are just that  - stacked to leave the desired slight clearance....... Measured with a dial caliper or feeler gauge......

[peter lena 8,970]

@hotajax  lots of good feed back from , members on this common issue , BTW , since doing that front wheel side shim detailing , have had zero / no  front wheel sloppiness, might also get some vinyl , front wheel caps , they stay on , look good . more often than not , just a little detailing on your W/H  functional set ups , makes a world of difference , like 3 / 1 penetrating oil into your choke / throttle cables , imagine , no rusty crusty drag , just smooth  easy pull response . stay at it , pete  

[hotajax 225]

8 hours ago, peter lena said:

@hotajax  lots of good feed back from , members on this common issue , BTW , since doing that front wheel side shim detailing , have had zero / no  front wheel sloppiness, might also get some vinyl , front wheel caps , they stay on , look good . more often than not , just a little detailing on your W/H  functional set ups , makes a world of difference , like 3 / 1 penetrating oil into your choke / throttle cables , imagine , no rusty crusty drag , just smooth  easy pull response . stay at it , pete  

@ri702bill @peter lena @ebinmaine@953 nut

 

You guys saved me a bunch of ag.  I called two old-time lawn mower places, and neither had the shims.  Found the precision brand shims, I'm going to order two different thicknesses so I can configure the axle the way I need to.  At 75 cents per shim, not a big layout of cash.  Thanks