broken zerk on u-joint

Changed many broken ones in a u-joint before. If they're full round yokes I've had great success with ez-outs. Even the back end of a chainsaw round file will work in a pinch.

 

They are a tapered thread - so if you get it to turn, you just spin it out.
This is a trick that is not for those that are mechanically challenged.
I have a set of left hand helix drills, (Tool and Die maker 40 plus yrs.)
and had occasion more than once to need these to get out of trouble.
Use a smaller size of a left hand helix drill, and run drill in reverse.
I have a yellow Dewalt cordless with a hi/low switch on top of it.
Start the drill in low speed setting, and just lightly jab it into the fitting, so it catches rather than drilling - and it backs it right out. Don't try that trick on harder metal, or it may break the drill bit,
and of course, always wear eye protection.

 

Get out the "heat wrench" before turning the easy out.

 

Old flathead screwdriver ,the tip needs to go in the small hole in the middle,that you tap gently in.
If needed grind it down at the tip to fit.
Put a vise grip on it if you can't put enough power on the handle.
I have used that trick several times.

 

I had one broken zerk that I removed by hammering a torx bit into the hole and unscrewing it. The easy out I had did not work, and it was too close to the ground to get my drill in it. I think T20 was the size I used, like what is used for deck screws.

 

You guys are confirming that my fixes are less ghetto than I thought.

Pretty often I pick up a tool which has been cut on or ground on for some specific reason and I think "oh boy, I remember that day!"

 

I prefer to be called a shade tree engineer.

 

It’s not a ‘Rangi Job’ if it works!

 

I call it Appalachian Engineering