Have you ever regreased a sealed universal joint bearing?

[Mows4three 826]

Need some suggestions.   Hopefully I'm not the only guy who has ever encountered this situation.

 

I have a White GT1855 with a shaft driven mower deck that I picked up last fall.  The universal joints on either end of the shaft do not have any Zerk fittings. They are stiff and I'm sure any grease in them is far past it's useful life.  What would be a viable method to get new grease into them?  I'm thinking about desolving out the old grease with kerosene, thinner or some other solvent, then heating them up, followed by a good soak in new red bearing grease that I've heated until it's liquified. 

 

Has anyone else ever attempted this or have a better idea?  I can't see any way to drill and tap for a Zerk, plus these yokes are usually pretty hard steel.  

 

Thanks. 

 

Dave

Edited April 23, 2019 by Mows4three

[Tractorhead 9,064]

There must be absolute no possibillity or chance to found an adequate spare.

 

[Digger 66 3,478]

I would search for replacements .

Odds are all the needles inside have turned to dust if , as you say , probably haven't seen grease in years .

 

I don't believe there is any way to re-lubricate them without disassembling them .

[ebinmaine 67,421]

As @Digger 66 said... If they're dry, they may already be beyond useful.

I've removed and disassembled full sized U joints from vehicles in the past. Those were likely much easier to handle being larger than what you are working with.

That's the only way I'd KNOW I got grease in there.

 

If there isn't already a zerk IN THE CROSS of the joint then there may or may not be an internal path for the grease. So even installing a zerk there would be futile.

You may be able to drill the ends of all of the caps and install 4 needle type fittings. 

One of my concerns would be throwing the balance off, thereby eliminating need to have grease in favor of the need to have a new U joint after vibration killed it.

[953 nut 55,188]

U Joints that are greaseable will have holes drilled in them to act as passage ways for the grease, it is highly unlikely that yours is equipped with them. You could take it apart and lubricate each cup and put it back together if it isn't too far gone. To press the cups out you will need a socket slightly larger than the OD of the cup to press it into and a rod or socket slightly smaller than the socket to press with. get them lined up in a press and push one cup at a time out. Inspect and lubricate them and press it back together.

[Mows4three 826]

Thanks guys.  I may need to take this part to a local machine shop that rebuilds driveshafts.   I was hoping there might be a way to cobble something together. 

 

Dave

[oliver2-44 9,731]

You can press them out as 973 said using a large vice if you don't have a press, but its a 3 handed job. 

[peter lena 8,608]

i have seen u joints , noisily react to penetrating oil , typically a  dry running joint that has powder in place of grease. that local machine shop sound like the way to go, pete

[Digger 66 3,478]

11 hours ago, Mows4three said:

Thanks guys.  I may need to take this part to a local machine shop that rebuilds driveshafts.   I was hoping there might be a way to cobble something together. 

 

Dave

Don't you have a driveshaft repair shop near you ?

They've seen it all and I'd bet my favorite pair of work boots they'll have the "ewies" you need in stock .

Not sure how close Greensburg is to you but this came up in a search for Latrobe PA driveshaft shops 

 

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=q42_XLeuL-zA5gKcsr3gCw&q=latrobe+pa+driveshaft+shop&oq=latrobe+pa+driveshaft+&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.33i299.1513.11630..14518...0.0..1.517.3348.8j14j4-1j1....2..0....1..gws-wiz.....6..35i39j0i131j0j0i10j0i10i70i249j0i22i30j0i8i13i30j33i160.VFeh-v8PXcI

Edited April 23, 2019 by Digger 66

[bc.gold 3,403]

14 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

As @Digger 66 said... If they're dry, they may already be beyond useful.

I've removed and disassembled full sized U joints from vehicles in the past. Those were likely much easier to handle being larger than what you are working with.

That's the only way I'd KNOW I got grease in there.

 

If there isn't already a zerk IN THE CROSS of the joint then there may or may not be an internal path for the grease. So even installing a zerk there would be futile.

You may be able to drill the ends of all of the caps and install 4 needle type fittings. 

One of my concerns would be throwing the balance off, thereby eliminating need to have grease in favor of the need to have a new U joint after vibration killed it.

 

Our lawn and garden tractors use series 6 pto parts, Weasler is a company that manufactures quality after market parts.

 

https://www.weasler.com/

Edited April 23, 2019 by bcgold

[Digger 66 3,478]

https://www.mytractorforum.com/294-ariens-pre-1990-new-holland/519138-pto-shaft-u-joints-2.html