The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Kingpin Lube Won't take grease

I have a problem getting the lower grease fitting on the kingpins to take grease on my 53 1 ton. I have jacked it up and tried to move wheels around to get them to take but with no luck. I did a search and found one suggestion to remove fitting and use an ice pick to try to clean out old hard grease. Could this cause any damage? Should I try to apply Heat or Spray with BP Blaster?
Thanks for your help,
Ralph

Cut to the chase and apply some gentle heat to loosen up the hard grease.
Also, make sure the bushings were installed with the hole lined up with the grease fitting to allow the grease to get to the kingpin.
I recently pulled a '54 3600 axle out of a truck at the junkyard that had a recent brake and kingpin job. I couldn't get the fittings to take any grease and after removal of the fittings I dicovered the jacka$$ that did the kingpin job didn't line up the bushing holes with the grease fittings!

But the chances are that replacing the fitting will do the trick. Gentle heat, as Ghostrider says, will be enough, and only to loosen old dirty grease. A low mpact repair is always best for an old machine, if it works. Grease fittings are cheap.

get it lubed some how or soon you will have to hire a sumo to turn the steeringwheel...doc

As an oiler/greaser at a sawmill, I run into this problem every day. First thing to do is remove the fitting and clean out the hole down to the surface. if all is clear, I put a new fitting in but only start it in the threads. Then grease it, next tighten the fitting down, this will push the old dry packed grease/dirt thru, repeat this procedure a couple of times until it works with the grease gun.If it isn't clear and you see the brass bushing you will either have to take it all apart to realign the bushing with the hole. I usually grind a drill bit flat instead of its usual 30 degree angle.Just be carefull not to keep drilling after all the brass is gone.
Lothar