New grease gun broke my zerk...

[Rusty67]

A friend of mine gave me some really nice "white" grease to use and I bought a new Lincoln pistol grip type grease gun for it. I had heard these things had a death grip on zerk fitings when they are new and boy they were not lying. I couldn't get the grease gun to let go of the zerk and pulled on it so hard I snaped the zerk off.

So now I've got the left over threads of the zerk stuck in my ball joint (which is a special ball joint not commonly available). How do I get the little bastard out without screwing up the ball joint so I can put another zerk in there ?

 

[Grabber70Mach]

I'd try an easyout to remove the broken off piece.

 

[Rusty67]

As adverse as I am to easy outs I have been considering it. My main issues is the fact that the easy out would be SO thin I'd be afraid of braking it.

 

[danny clemens]

If you have enough threads sticking out you can take a piece of a hacksaw blade and saw a slot through it. You could then use a screwdriver and try to back it out.

If you don't have enough threads sticking out then I don't know what to say. I'm skeered of ez outs.

 

[Rusty67]

If you have enough threads sticking out you can take a piece of a hacksaw blade and saw a slot through it. You could then use a screwdriver and try to back it out.

If you don't have enough threads sticking out then I don't know what to say. I'm skeered of ez outs.

I thought I was the only one.....

Good idea about making a flat head notch, I'll look into that.

 

[Pakrat]

Well, all I can say is the only time an easy out has worked for me is when a bolt snapped when I was just installing it. If the bolt snapped during removal it was usually so seized that I broke the easy out trying to remove it. This inevitably lead to what I always tried to avoid to begin with which is drilling as much out as possible and then re tapping it. Only now of course I have to try and redrill in the middle of the broken easy out which has nothing easy about it. I have also found that trying to make a center slot for a screw driver only works when thhe bolt is at least 3/8". Any less and the side tabs you made usually break off when you turn it.

Drill and tap it from the start!

 

[Rusty67]

I have to wait for the weekend before I can even try it. Whats a good place to get new zerk fitings ?

 

[BarnStang]

Ace/True Value hardware. Tractor Supply (if you have one nearby)
I've had "some" success with easy outs. But I drill the broken piece pretty thin first, try an easy out, if it flexes but won't budge, I stop and tap. i think I have only every broke one or two. For the really small fasteners I just drill it out. I did get some 12-24 scres out of the headlight buckets on a 71. THe rare exception I think.
THe zerk should not be very hard metal. Try an easy out, just don't force it. EIther it will turn or it won't. I have also had a lot of success from set of easy outs I got from Carquest. THey are a 5 piece set with splined ends. Like an axle. Drill to specified size, then drive the spline end in with a hammer and turn it out. Haven't broke one yet and used it at least ten times.

 

[Rusty67]

Thanks, if the slot method doesn't work, I'll try that next.