Missing Grease Fitting? Great Q for you OCD 8N Guys!

8N-MW · Aug 28, 2015

1948 Ford 8N. 6V Positive Ground. Front Distributor. Sherman Step-Up.

So I was greasing up the tractor and found what appears to be a missing grease fitting. Here's a photo on the right side showing an existing grease fitting:

Here's a photo of the left side. Maybe I'm stupid, but it doesn't appear to have a removable cover of any sort. Not only is it missing, but it almost appears like there never was one there and/or it was replaced with this part. It's not like it just fell out. It's like someone bought a part that didn't have it.

The crazy thing is, if you look in the parts catalog on figure 3A1 - "Front Axle & Related Parts (1939/52) 9N, 2N, 8N" it shows that there should be one on both sides:

Specifically, part #27 is on both sides. You can't order just part #27, it apparently is a kit. Part #25 is #8N3270 which is a "Front Drag Link End" and fairly cheap. Looking at photos, it does in-fact include the grease fitting.

Do I need to buy this whole front drag link end? Was there some part out there that would remove the grease fitting? Why would you not want grease there?

Ultradog MN · Aug 28, 2015

It's really not a big deal.
Most modern vehicles have no grease fittings on
the tie rods. They use a teflon insert and
still get 200+K miles before they need to be
replaced. Compare that to vehicles 30 or 40
years ago with greaseable tie rods that got
100K miles and the front end was worn out - and
not from lack of grease. Though that would
contribute to them wearing out sooner.
I would just run it. Maybe replace it ehen it
wears out - in 40 years...
PS, What does your voltage and type of distributer have to do with this?

JMOR · Aug 28, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:10:50 08/28/15) It's really not a big deal.
Most modern vehicles have no grease fittings on
the tie rods. They use a teflon insert and
still get 200+K miles before they need to be
replaced. Compare that to vehicles 30 or 40
years ago with greaseable tie rods that got
100K miles and the front end was worn out - and
not from lack of grease. Though that would
contribute to them wearing out sooner.
I would just run it. Maybe replace it ehen it
wears out - in 40 years...
PS, What does your voltage and type of distributer have to do with this?

an't you tell from the picture? :roll:

cowdog · Aug 28, 2015

If it bothers you. Drill ahole in it
Tap some threads and put a grease zerk on it.

Dean · Aug 28, 2015

Many (most?) replacement tie rod ends have no provision for lubrication.

Dean

Hobo,NC · Aug 28, 2015

Just don't over do the grease and blow out the boot/grease seal... I doubt there is much high technology that goes into a replacement tie rod end on a tractor... I drill a hole in'em and grease'em...

Hobo,NC · Aug 28, 2015

There are plenty that are worn out with 100K on'em are less its folks don't that the time to check'em for ware until there is a complaint...

HCooke · Aug 29, 2015

I have seen a couple that looked like that and when you scraped the paint off there was a broken zerk! Easy to remedy. Either remove the
broken one or drill a hole tap it and add a new one.

howdy1960 · Aug 29, 2015

Replaced both front tie rod ends on 2N and neither have zerks.

Missing Grease Fitting? Great Q for you OCD 8N Guys!

8N-MW

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Ultradog MN

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JMOR

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cowdog

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Dean

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Hobo,NC

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Hobo,NC

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HCooke

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howdy1960

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