Zerks Installed at a 45-Degree Angle?

[hotajax 223]

On my OEM wheels, a straight zerk is threaded into the hub.  Just curious - how is the drill and tap held at a 45-degree angle during the drill and tap process?

[Ed Kennell 38,163]

The hubs are probably drilled and tapped by a lathe attachment while they are being bored and parted off from bar stock in an automatic lathe.

[stevasaurus 22,725]

You can buy grease zerks that go in straight and have a head that is 45 degrees.  

[hotajax 223]

Yeah, I know about the 45-degree and 68--degree elbows.  But I wanted to know how to hold that angle while drilling and tapping.

[Chaz54 57]

Do you have a picture of what you are referring to?

[wallfish 16,995]

1 hour ago, hotajax said:

Yeah, I know about the 45-degree and 68--degree elbows.  But I wanted to know how to hold that angle while drilling and tapping.

Why would you want to drill and tap them on a 45 deg angle?

It probably wouldn't work for a grease zerk anyway since the threads on them aren't very long. Plus it could easily get knocked off too

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,041]

Could you weld a nut over the hole and use an angled fitting?

[WHX?? 48,815]

I know what He's talkin about. I think he's tryin to put them in rims that don't have zerks. 

 Had to re-tap many and yes you can't get a tap wrench or drill in there. I just use a small wrench and a 1/4 turn or so is all you get so slow but works. 

Learned not to take them out unless absolutely necessary. 

If you are using rims that don't' have them just use sealed bearings. Many of use have just gone to not greasing.  Re-grease per greasy pete tho. 

1/4-28 is the tap size. 

1 hour ago, wallfish said:

the threads on them aren't very long.

They are available in long thread.

[ri702bill 8,318]

4 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

You can buy grease zerks that go in straight and have a head that is 45 degrees.  

 

[953 nut 55,212]

If you have a drill press I would suggest you start a pilot hole at ninety degrees to center the bit then clamp the wheel to your drill's bed, tilt it to forty-five degrees and drill into the pilot hole.

[wallfish 16,995]

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

If you are using rims that don't' have them just use sealed bearings.

Absolutely !!! This is the solution even with grease zerks in place.

 

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

They are available in long thread.

Do you still think you would want that thing on an angle into a 45 deg hole? Plus that rim metal is thin

[hotajax 223]

9 hours ago, wallfish said:

Why would you want to drill and tap them on a 45 deg angle?

It probably wouldn't work for a grease zerk anyway since the threads on them aren't very long. Plus it could easily get knocked off too

That's the way the OEM wheel was configured.  I thot about putting in a 45, but i can't get the clearance to drill and tap on that small wheel.  Not much room to work.  I can't even get in there with a grease gun on a straight zerk.  Thanks

[peter lena 8,620]

@hotajax  as referred  , a picture would be nice , however , never let a " sealed  "  bearing stop me from correcting the issue , WRONG LUBRICANT . having done over all my wheels , and also proper wheel shimming , to eliminate side play shucking . the combo of  side wheel play , and ceiling fan lube , does not  make for a reliable set up . personally only buy , bearings with a wide  rubber side grease shield , easy to remove , clean out , repack with lucas polyurea , 550 deg , grease . my entire PTO DRIVEN , set up is detailed like that . imagine no belt / clutch screaming , just smooth easy  movement . wheels are easy , pete

[moe1965 738]

If held in place at a 45 degree angle in a vice use a center drill to start your hole then you can drill with the correct drill for a tap.  Can be done on a bridge port.  Drill and power tap.   A machine shop should be able to help you out.

[wallfish 16,995]

10 hours ago, hotajax said:

That's the way the OEM wheel was configured.  I thot about putting in a 45, but i can't get the clearance to drill and tap on that small wheel.  Not much room to work.  I can't even get in there with a grease gun on a straight zerk.  Thanks

Why isn't just using sealed bearings an option? No greasing and no zerks.

All of that extra grease in there does is make a big mess if the wheel ever needs to be removed. Yes it's simple to give the bearings a quick squirt with zerks in place but then again you don't need to do anything with sealed bearings.

[953 nut 55,212]

             Are we talking about a front wheel for the Wheel Horse or one of those little mower wheels?

[hotajax 223]

Talkin about the 15" front tractor wheels, not the ones for the deck.

[hotajax 223]

So if I understand the people who are in favor of sealed bearings, clean out your bearings, apply premium grease, and reinstall the shields and forget about lubing the spindle?

[wallfish 16,995]

1 minute ago, hotajax said:

So if I understand the people who are in favor of sealed bearings, clean out your bearings, apply premium grease, and reinstall the shields and forget about lubing the spindle?

Yup, that's it. The grease in the center of the bearings is just a waste of grease that is there to push grease into an unsealed bearing. It does absolutely nothing to lube the spindle since nothing is even touching the spindle in that area. The only place that needs grease is inside of the bearings. The seal on the bearing also keeps dirt out

[Wild Bill 633 845]

Bearing Buddy's come in 1.781, 1.810, 1.938, 1.968, 1.980 diameters. I use them on all of my Simplicities.

[hotajax 223]

3 hours ago, Wild Bill 633 said:

Bearing Buddy's come in 1.781, 1.810, 1.938, 1.968, 1.980 diameters. I use them on all of my Simplicities.

Bearing Buddy: Pull off the seals on the bearings?

[hotajax 223]

I installed new ball bearings, all the way around.  Shimmed up the axle so there is almost no perceptible end play.  The spindle doesn't seem to have any wear rings, yet the one wheel still wobbles, even with the tractor going straight.  Could this be wear inside the hub where the bearing is placed?  Thanks.  314-8 front wheels.

Edited September 16 by hotajax

[wallfish 16,995]

That kind of wear or fit you could simply feel by jacking it up and trying to wiggle the wheel.

Maybe a bent rim. While it's jacked up give it a good hard spin and watch it

[Ed Kennell 38,163]

7 hours ago, Wild Bill 633 said:

I use them on all of my Simplicities.

I use BBs on all my boat trailers that I constantly dunk in salt water.    The pressurized hub does keep the water out.    I never felt a need on a tractor though. Sealed bearings work fine on all my tractors.  I do store them inside.