Hi All,
The master zerk lubrication panel is connected to several copper tubes that carries grease to its destinations, and in my case, one of them has a rupture. What size are these copper tubes, and might they be common at the hardware store?
Can you take a caliper to get the OD of the tube? I'd bet that it's a standard size and that it uses standard sized fittings on the ends.
Hi;
If you can remove it, take it to a Napa dealer for a "show and tell". Let them tell you what your options are.
good luck ;)
or a easy way to find the size od of the tube is use a open end wrench and the one that fits has the size stamped on the wrench 1/4" 3/8" and so on
dave
I used 1/4" when I did this but the stuff they sell at the box store is too thin these days. It probably won't hold up well. Instead you can use 1/4" brake line tubing which is thicker and if you want it to be easier to work and look like copper use the Ni-Copp version which also won't rust. Wish I'd thought of that.
Jim
My best guess without a caliper would be 1/4", and brake line tube would probably work just as well as copper. As long as the ends of the tube need to be flared like a brake system, I think that solution would be best.
I put 1/4-28 threads on one end of the tube. Now this was tricky because of the thin wall so what I did was to screw a nut on to the copper tube to swage the threads because a die just wouldn't work. With the hardware store line it wanted to collapse which meant I couldn't screw the nut on quite as far as I'd have liked. With the ni-copp I think that would not have been a problem. With steel line I'm not sure you could do it, but the die might work.
The holes in the jack that the zerk screwed out of were 1/4" and I didn't find any flare fittings to match that. On the other end it's easy, just use the NPT zerks and a flare or compression adapter fitting.
Jim
It shouldn't be necessary to reinvent the wheel for these, as it's quite common to use remote Zerk fittings. The reason I mentioned measuring is that there obviously more than one size used.
You can also replace the copper lines with something like this:
https://locknlube.com/products/grease-fitting-relocation-kit?variant=1691361542168&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CedCommerceGoogleShopping&gclid=CjwKCAiAirb_BRBNEiwALHlnD8_MNk-PZH5dbq6FrgtdIg4ai-O8tzRF-uoihwYP1N5XKcM2hbE37xoC4sYQAvD_BwE
It's nothing special I replace those with brake lines from NAPA or O'Riley's brake lines will take more pressure than the copper lines
And do you flare the brake lines to connect them? How are these connected? Compression fittings?
Quote from: brianzero on December 31, 2020, 11:38:01 AM
And do you flare the brake lines to connect them? How are these connected? Compression fittings?
Flare when needed just like the copper
Check out the silicon/bronze brake lines. Same size as the steel lines, but very easy to bend and flare. Made for brake pressure so should handle a little grease easily.
Silicon bronze is awesome material & double flares well too.
I've not used the silicon bronze but I suspect it is very much like the nickel/copper in use. May be a bit more expensive but I'm not sure.
Jim
Where are you guys buying your silicon bronze tubing? I can't find it.
Jim
Quote from: Jim Blackwood on January 02, 2021, 11:19:27 AM
Where are you guys buying your silicon bronze tubing? I can't find it.
Jim
When I commented on the silicon bronze it was from experience with it in industrial plumbing. I haven't seen brake lines of silicon bronze, only nickel copper fwiw
Sorry about that, my old brain was conflating alloys. You are right, its nickel/copper not silicon/bronze. Silicon/bronze is for brazing. Mea culpa.
They are talking about nickel/copper.
Quote from: richard5933 on December 31, 2020, 11:00:59 AM
It shouldn't be necessary to reinvent the wheel for these, as it's quite common to use remote Zerk fittings. The reason I mentioned measuring is that there obviously more than one size used.
You can also replace the copper lines with something like this:
https://locknlube.com/products/grease-fitting-relocation-kit?variant=1691361542168&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CedCommerceGoogleShopping&gclid=CjwKCAiAirb_BRBNEiwALHlnD8_MNk-PZH5dbq6FrgtdIg4ai-O8tzRF-uoihwYP1N5XKcM2hbE37xoC4sYQAvD_BwE (https://locknlube.com/products/grease-fitting-relocation-kit?variant=1691361542168&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CedCommerceGoogleShopping&gclid=CjwKCAiAirb_BRBNEiwALHlnD8_MNk-PZH5dbq6FrgtdIg4ai-O8tzRF-uoihwYP1N5XKcM2hbE37xoC4sYQAvD_BwE)
That sure looks easier and not too spendy either. Looks like you simply unscrew the zerk fitting and screw in a new base then attach the hose. Would be a nice to have for the few fitting that are a real reach.