Zerk fitting came out of Dexter EZ Flex - Oversized hole?

[Steve Morris]

Greasing the zerk fittings today with a Milwaukee M18 grease gun with Lock n Lube 90° adaptor. As it finished, the zerk fitting came out of the EZ Flex casting. When we tried screwing it back in, it just slid into the hole, like the hole was oversized. I'm guessing the pressure of the battery grease gun pushed it out, but there were no chips from threads peeling out. This was my first experience with a battery grease gun.

Has anyone seen this happen? What's the fix? That's going to be a PITA if I have to pull the EZ Flex out to tap oversize or replace. I'm half considering trying a press-in of the next larger metric size zerk as a Mickey Mouse repair.

Thoughts?

[FloraFauna]

This happened to me a couple of years ago.  There was no way to retap the hole without removing the axle as it was a top zirk and I was not prepared to do so.  Eventually, i got a new zirk to somewhat thread into the existing hole.  It was a real struggle, do to the limited access, and i recall i did remove both wheels. I cant recall but i might have used a metric threaded zirk of a slightly different size.  I doubt its threaded in properly but it has held in place now for a couple of years.  I am very careful when i apply grease through that one and i do not use a power grease gun on the oliver.  Not a pretty or satisfying fix but so far it has worked.

[FloraFauna]

I see our hulls were assembled in the same year.  Hmmmm.

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Steve Morris said:

Greasing the zerk fittings today with a Milwaukee M18 grease gun with Lock n Lube 90° adaptor. As it finished, the zerk fitting came out of the EZ Flex casting. When we tried screwing it back in, it just slid into the hole, like the hole was oversized. I'm guessing the pressure of the battery grease gun pushed it out, but there were no chips from threads peeling out. This was my first experience with a battery grease gun.

Has anyone seen this happen? What's the fix? That's going to be a PITA if I have to pull the EZ Flex out to tap oversize or replace. I'm half considering trying a press-in of the next larger metric size zerk as a Mickey Mouse repair.

Thoughts?

Hey Steve, first off this is nothing to do with your new grease gun! Love a power grease gun! 😎

Zerk grease fittings when screwed in are held in place by just 2 threads. They can easily strip after greasing a few times. I had one strip just before I replaced our axles/springs last year.

Your current fittings sb 6mm (.236"). I know they are on Dexter wet bolts, so likely the same on the EZ Flex. Replace your Zerks, not with a metric size but with the SAE 1/4"x28 size.

Two methods...
1) Also get a 1/4"x28 tap to get the new threads right.
2) Just push/thread in a new 1/4" Zerk into place to form new threads, then throw out that piece and lightly thread in a new 1/4"x28 Zerk.
Choice #1 would be the correct method. Choice #2 has worked for me several times in a pinch