Simple Bearing Grease Packing Tool for those interested

[Gary LaBombard]

Hello Guys,
As usual, this will probably be lengthy, for those not wishing to be bored to death from my normal boring post just omit reading this.

Please place this post when it has run it's coarse on the tech board if the moderators feel this and the post on the DOT air fitting release tool is of any importance to keep for newbie's etc.

I have posted this information on the Eagles International Bulletin Board but I know not everyone reads that bulletin board as they don't need information on Eagles.   But some stuff posted there can be used on every bus.  I feel this simple tool is one of them such as the DOT push in air fitting release tool I posted some time ago here for some of you that may be able to use that tool.

This tool is simple and very cheap as well and very useful for more things than what it is intended.  I will post the photos with explanations of each which is pretty simple to understand.  This tool is intended to easily assist the mechanic assist you in repacking or newly packing new wheel bearing grease in a wheel bearing or any kind of bearing that can or needs to be packed with grease. You will need to use a (Air driven grease gun for this tool to be effective).  The power of the air will squirt the grease deep inside between the bearing from one side and then what you do is turn over the bearing and do the same from the opposite side, you will be able to see the grease ease through each bearing and apply grease between each bearing very easily with this tool.  You will save grease, have less waste and less mess of all over yourself.  You will be able to be assured that the grease is deep inside of the roller bearing because of the force of the grease of being shot between each roller from the air grease gun.

This tool is also going to be useful for getting lubrication in very tight small areas that you could not get to lubricate before without making a mess in other applications. 


1st photo:
1)   Foggy photo of fittings to be needed to make up simple wheel bearing packing tool.  From left side #1 fitting = Aluminum tapered fitting used normally to fill air mattresses.  Can be found at Harbor Freight or you may have one for beach balls etc. This has to be metal for durability in the future so you will not break a piece of plastic off in side of a bearing somehow.  This fitting will have a male pipe thread on it, not sure of the thread, I think maybe 1/8 NPt but take the fitting with you to get the rest of the parts at a HD or Lowe's store. Now put this aluminum tapered fitting in a lathe or a drill motor mounted in a vise and use a course file to file a sharper taper down to the end point so it will be as small as possible down to the opening where the grease will come out of.   This will allow you to place the tip of the grease applicator in the smallest of bearings and any areas to apply grease in the future and it will be a very valuable tool you will see.
2)   #2 fitting from the left side in the 1st photo is of brass but can be of steel if you find one, it has to have the same pipe male thread on one end and female thread on the other end as the fitting above.  Be sure to try assembling the fitting all the fittings together before going home from HD or Lowe's.
3)   #3 fitting in the 1st. photo from the left side is a double female coupling with the same pipe thread as the fittings above.



# 2 Photo Is exactly of the assembled lay out of the #1 photo parts on a table.  Pretty simple, I hope not to insult anyone here; I sure don't have those intentions.



# 3 Photo is of all Parts to make up your Wheel Bearing Grease packing tool



#4 Photo is of using the new grease packing tool to push the grease you have chosen to repack or newly pack your new bearings from one side of your bearings between each and every roller bearing.  Watch both the inside and outside of the bearing between each roller as you shoot the grease with the air grease gun between each roller, turn over the roller bearing and do the same from the other side to assure the entire roller bearing is packed as tight with grease as you can get it and it will be much better and thorough than by hand packing and less messy with less mess than those hand packing tools.

 
#5 Photo Close up of Wheel packing bearing tool beind used.

When you repack or pack new bearings be sure to use a piece of maybe 12 inch by 12 inch clean plastic on your work bench to catch any waste if any of the grease and protect your bearing from any dirt, when you are satisfied the bearing is good and packed, use any excess from the application of the grease packing tool application tool and rub the excess grease on the inside and outside of the roller bearing and the bearing should be ready to be installed and ready for use.

Note: After you are done with your grease packing tool, disassemble it from the flexible hose of the grease gun, place in a plastic baggie and store it where you will find it the next time it is needed, you will maybe thank me one day.

Good luck, Hope this saves you a little time and mess.
Gary

[Lee Bradley]

Fairly standard tool from most of the tool dealers. They generally have a zerk fitting so you don't have to disassemble your grease gun but very nice of you to post this.

[luvrbus]

Mine has zerk fitting it is a Lincoln brand I like Gary's idea one for low pressure to service wheel bearing neat  ,a trick I do on sealed bearing is drill a small hole in the seal and use a hypodermic needle from a Vet supply and grease those to keep from replacing the bearing insulin needles don't work worth a damn  

[usbusin]

Gary, thank you very much for taking the time and sharing with us.  I know you put a lot of work in getting the photos and then the write-up.  Much appreciated.  Thank you.

GaryD

[Gary LaBombard]

I was not aware there was a similar tool to what I have taken the time to make and post here.  I looked for such a tool to use before coming up with this idea and went to HF and they gave me a container that you fill with grease and a plunger and put the bearing inside and keep plunging it to force the grease inside and just looked like a mess to work with plus it was expensive to me and made out of China plastic.

I should of posted if there was such a tool similar to mine before I posted this to see what was available but as I work on my bus I have to invent nearly every day for a new project and if it is worth while I like to pass it on.  I did not intend to take a lot of time posting or your time in reading by reinventing a wheel that was already available.  Wish I had known.  Well, anyhow you have choice but maybe you can post where to get a similar tool in particular as HF doesn't have any. Could be better than mine
Thanks
Gary

[luvrbus]

Gary, the needles available are for high pressure fitting mine is rated for 10,000 # of grease pressure cost over 20 bucks also yours is neat for wheel bearings fwiw