JD 1020 tractor (1969 model) rear axle grease zerks

TrentonJ

New User
Hello all. This is my first post here. My recently acquired owner's manual for my subject tractor recommends greasing the rear axle grease zerks, but where there should be the zerk there is a threaded plug (appears factory-installed). Of course I could remove the threaded plug and screw in a proper grease zerk, but I'm wondering if the bearings are sealed and maybe I should not try to grease them. What do you think?

thanks much
 
Follow the manual.

The plugs are to keep overzealous folks from greasing them every day or so.

Remove them, install zerks, grease them according to the manual, then put the plugs back in.

The bearings are not sealed units.

The oil seal is inboard of the outer bearing, and there's an outboard seal.

The bearing lives in whatever grease gets pumped into it with a grease gun over the life of the tractor.
 

If you're the only one that greases the tractor I see no reason to remove grease zerts. My 4255 with nearly 11,000 hrs has had grease zerts in it since '93 and the zerts get a few shots every year.
 
If memory serves you put 20 pumps twice a year on a heavy use
machine and once a year on normal stuff. If you over fill it it will
blow the inside seal out then you will get hydraulic out the end
of the axle shaft.
 
You would have to fill the whole final drive housing with grease to even get close to the inside seal, don't worry about it. Put the zerks in and leave them in if you want. Since those bearings probably haven't been greased for a while, I would give them 10 shots each and then drive the tractor around. Give each 10 more and call it good. Give each side 2 or 3 pumps whenever you change oil.
 
I had same issue on my recently acquired 1520, doubt they had ever seen grease since Dubuque.

My question is what type grease is best for? I used 10 shots of a premium multi purpose that I grease the rest of the tractor with. Should it be a wheel bearing type instead? I was going to give it 10 more shots after I drive it a bit
 
(quoted from post at 09:20:56 09/11/14)

My question is what type grease is best for? I used 10 shots of a premium multi purpose that I grease the rest of the tractor with. Should it be a wheel bearing type instead?

Multi-purpose grease is what I grease my tractor with.
 
I would reinstall the plugs. You tractor stands a better chance of the zerks being broken than TX Jims especally if you have a loader.
There is a dam cast into the axle housing inside of that bearing to keep the grease in that area.
If you over grease it will go past that dam but you would never be able to fill the axle housing with grease. I say never but lets say it would take very many cartridges.
 
If memory serves you put 20 pumps twice a year on a heavy use
machine and once a year on normal stuff. If you over fill it it will
blow the inside seal out then you will get hydraulic out the end
of the axle shaft.
 
(quoted from post at 11:43:03 09/11/14) I would reinstall the plugs. You tractor stands a better chance of the zerks being broken than TX Jims especally if you have a loader.

D-
JD engineers thoughts didn't coincide with your's on removing grease zerts as no pipe plugs are offered on later model JD utility tractor rear axle housings.
mvphoto10930.gif
 
As an aside (I'd follow the "just put zerks in" method) If you can get your hands on the rubber 'boots' for automotive brake bleeders, put them on the 'zerks'. Keeps the apcray out. Hope all will listen to this (given to me, not original thought) idea. HTH
 
They were Germans trying to market cheaper tractors. Don't forget they designed the 2840.
I think it's zerks not zerts.
It's not like he has to buy new plugs.
 

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