Elementary lube questions - Ford 535

Regarding my 1977 Ford 535:


1. On my left spindle (?), there is a grease fitting on the top and the bottom. On the right, there is no fitting on the bottom. There's a hole, but it doesn't feel like it's threaded. I tried to screw in a Zerk fitting, but there was nothing for it to screw into. What, if anything, can I do about this?



2. The manual says I should grease my front wheel hub, but I don't now how to access this as the diagram shows. It shows the wheel being on. The center may be a cap, but it didn't come off with minimal effort and I didn't want to go after it until I got some advice.




3. My tractor doesn't have an emergency handbrake. Where is the rear axle level plug? Is it #2 (the lower, forward square head in the photo)? It looks accessible in the picture, but it's actually in line with the foot rest, there's no space for a socket, and I don't seem to have a wrench that works on it.

Thanks for helping an amateur.

I'm not familiar with that model, but it shares some things with others, so I'll attempt to provide some answers

1. The zerk (grease fitting) is listed in the New Holland parts site as "Quantity 4", so you do need the bottom one on the right side. The picture in the part detail looks like it is a press-in style rather than a screw-in style. It says that it's 1/4", so you should be able to use any generic 1/4" press-in zerk.

2. I can't tell from the photo of your front wheel whether that cone in the center is a separate piece that's supposed to come off or if it's part of the hub that the wheel mounts to, but it's not in the parts diagram for the front wheel assembly, which includes the hub. The parts diagram looks like the picture from the manual that you posted next to the photo of your wheel. I would jack up one front wheel and remove it to see whether that center cone is part of the hub or if it's something attached to the wheel before I tried to remove it by force. Be careful though, as the front tires may be loaded with fluid for ballast, and even 16" front tires can be very heavy if they're loaded with fluid.

3. The blank plates in that picture from the manual look like they're from a tractor that doesn't have a 3 point lift hydraulic system or PTO, and the photo of your tractor looks like you do have 3 point hydraulics. The lower plate in your photo matches the insert in the parts diagram that is labelled "WITH TRANS. PTO LESS HYD. PUMP", and in that case the level check plug is the one that you are calling #2 in your photo, the lower, more forward plug. It is close to the same place as the one on my 4000, and it's a pain as you have to remove the foot rest to check the fluid level.

hub cap will have to come off.

To expand on what Soundguy said... not all Ford's front hubs have zerks. To grease the bearings on those without, pop the cap off (big screwdriver or blunt chisel and hammer - don't hit TOO hard) and repack the bearings. Outer bearing will have to be removed to repack inner bearing...gives you a chance to make sure they're tightened properly, too.

I really appreciate the helpful advice.

Regarding the press-in zerk, after better exploration, I now realize that there is something just below the outer surface. It appears to be metal and has a hole in the center. I suspect this is a broken-off fitting. How do I remove it? Am I going to have to drill it out? Thanks again.

(quoted from post at 18:03:44 10/01/13) I really appreciate the helpful advice.

Regarding the press-in zerk, after better exploration, I now realize that there is something just below the outer surface. It appears to be metal and has a hole in the center. I suspect this is a broken-off fitting. How do I remove it? Am I going to have to drill it out? Thanks again.

Click to expand...

If it is the broken off zerk, you should be able to utilize the hole that's already there to get it out. Try inserting a small drill bit or jeweler's screwdriver into the hole and then cock it at an angle to work it out. Or even bend a paper clip straight with a small bit of a turn at the very end to use as a hook. Or if it is fairly well stuck in position and won't rotate easily you might be able to get a small self-tapping sheet metal screw to grab into it and then use the head of the screw to pull it out. I've gotten a few of them out over the years, and I can usually improvise something that will get them out without drilling.

(quoted from post at 04:28:31 10/02/13)
If it is the broken off zerk, you should be able to utilize the hole that's already there to get it out. Try inserting a small drill bit or jeweler's screwdriver into the hole and then cock it at an angle to work it out. Or even bend a paper clip straight with a small bit of a turn at the very end to use as a hook. Or if it is fairly well stuck in position and won't rotate easily you might be able to get a small self-tapping sheet metal screw to grab into it and then use the head of the screw to pull it out. I've gotten a few of them out over the years, and I can usually improvise something that will get them out without drilling.

Click to expand...

I tried all of the easy answers, but it wasn't going to work. There was no movement at all. I did end up drilling it. Most of the shavings seemed to come out of the hole, rather than in, and I tried to clean those up as much as possible. I ended with a 15/64 bit to try to avoid enlarging the hole. Since my projects never seem to go right, I was shocked when the press-in fitting actually went in and the joint took grease pretty easily. I appreciate the advice.