Simple Hydraulic Line Question

[HEMI®Dart]

Our 55 gal barrel of grease @ work has a Lincoln Pneumatic grease pump on top. It puts out 7500 psi. (C?) 500+ Bar? The output hose is rated for 2250 MAX WP (psi?). ½" I. D air line, 120 psi of air pressure. How come the hose does not split?

 

[tkerrigan]

The 7500# is only if the hose end is dead headed. As long as the grease can come out the max pressure is never obtained. Also most hoses have an approximate 3:1 safety factor built in.

 

[Skydiver]

Good question! How come the hose does not split?



Probably because the grease ports are not clogged from lack of maintenance.

I hate to service a backhoe or other type of hydraulic equipment that someone has failed to grease. Always find some grease ports clogged. I just remove the alemite and use a small drill bit, turned by hand to remove the clog. Might spray some PB blaster.

 

[tkerrigan]

Maybe this would help. Sorry the pictures didn't come through. Just google Zerk Blaster.





Purchase Zerk Blaster HERE





- Plugged Zerk



- Stubborn Zerk



- Normal Greasing ...





Zerk Blaster Blasts through obstructed zerks



Clears grease fittings & bearings

Fastest, cleanest way to grease those stubborn zerks

1 year manufacturers limited warranty

Fits standard size grease zerks

Easy to use





Zerk Blaster Unit





The Zerk Blaster Unit was developed on our farm after frustrations from using other types of grease zerk clearing tools that did not work adequately.

Problems with other zerk clearing tools include: (1) Bounce Back -- hitting the drive pin on other units is like hitting a spring. This phenomenon is caused by trapped air in the unit. (2) Leakage, also known as blow-by [other units are not sealed very well]. (3) Other units are messy because they have to be manually filled with lubricant (oil/grease). Spillage is inevitable.

The Zerk Blaster unit eliminates all of these problems. (1) There is no bounce-back because the pressure of the grease from the grease gun forces out all possible trapped air. (2) The Zerk Blaster unit uses a high durometer seal that actually seals tighter as the pressure increases. (3) Using the Zerk Blaster unit is much cleaner and you never spill any lubricant.

The Zerk Blaster unit is beneficial to any farmer, construction worker, or anyone who is involved with the lubrication of equipment.

There are three main reasons grease zerks plug: (1) stuck ball in the end of the zerk, (2) dirt migration into lubrication area (shaft/bushing), or (3) hardened grease from not lubricating on a normal timely basis. The Zerk Blaster unit will successfully blast though most obstructions that occur from normal usage. The Zerk Blaster unit will not perform miracles, if the plugged zerk hasn't been greased in years, your chances of clearing the obstruction are less.







HOW THE ZERK BLASTER WORKS





If the Zerk is not plugged, you will not notice any difference in the Zerk Blaster unit or your grease gun.





If the Zerk is plugged, you will notice your grease gun building pressure. When the grease gun can not be pumped any further, the Zerk Blaster unit will be fully charged with the grease guns pressure (about 10,000 psi) and the back pressure spring will be fully compressed. At this point, the drive pin can be hit with a hammer. Each blow with the hammer will produce a shock pressure of over 100,000 psi.



Commonly asked Questions



Q: How long is the unit?

A: 8" ... If the location of the plugged zerk is in tight quarters, this unit may not help. Basically, you need enough room to swing a hammer.



Q: Can I use this unit off (unattached) of my grease gun?

A: No. If you use it as a stand alone unit, you lose the benefit of the grease gun's pressure which (1) gets rid of any trapped air, & (2) gives a much higher spike pressure when hit with the hammer.



Q: How does this change my normal grease gun?

A: The unit permanently attaches to the end of the hose of your grease gun. If the grease zerk is not plugged you will not notice any difference in the function of your grease gun. However, if the zerk is plugged, the grease gun will build up pressure and charge the Zerk Blaster unit, at which time the drive pin can be struck.



Q: How much pressure will this unit generate?

A: The ultimate pressure (which is an instantaneous spike pressure) is determined by two variables,. (1) the weight of the hammer being used, & (2) the speed at which the hammer is swung. Basically, the average swing of a 2 1/2 pound hammer will generate about 150,000 psi.



Q: How hard can I hit this unit?

A: As hard as you want. But, note, if the zerk is still plugged after 2 or 3 hits you probably have bigger problems and continuous hitting will fracture the grease coupling.



Q: What will I damage if I continue hitting?

A: The grease coupling will eventually fracture and grease will start oozing out, at which time the pressure will be released from inside the unit. Continual hitting after this happens will just result in mushrooming the drive nut and further damage to the already ruined grease coupling. (Fortunately, the grease coupling is replaceable).



Q: Can I put this unit on a rubber hose grease gun?

A: Yes.



Q: How long will the unit last before it is worn out?

A: The only high wear item is the grease coupling. After being snapped on & off hundreds of grease zerks, it will eventually wear out, at this point, you simply replace the coupling.



Purchase HERE

 

[HEMI®Dart]

The 7500# is only if the hose end is dead headed. As long as the grease can come out the max pressure is never obtained. Also most hoses have an approximate 3:1 safety factor built in.

But we charge it (put the air line on), and it can sit for an hour without using the guns. Isn't that like being dead headed?



Bill

 

[cojhl2]

But we charge it (put the air line on), and it can sit for an hour without using the guns. Isn't that like being dead headed?



Bill

Seems like it!



A related question I have is the 2500lb hose alright? i have a couple of air powered guns and one of them has a decent hose but the other which I've replaced the hose a number of years ago (i prob asked for 7000lb hose) is so darn stiff it is unusable.



The what do i ask for when buying a new grease hose?

 

[tkerrigan]

I just went to the gates hyd hose catalog, they showed 5000psi labeled hose taking 5000 thru 20000psi on the catalog page, that particular hose would be really stiff. The person selling the hose should be able to help you, the smallest id hose -4 would surely be an advantage. Chances are that a 2500 psi hose would take 10000 psi before bursting.

 

[fest3er]

Our 55 gal barrel of grease @ work has a Lincoln Pneumatic grease pump on top. It puts out 7500 psi. (C?) 500+ Bar? The output hose is rated for 2250 MAX WP (psi?). ½" I. D air line, 120 psi of air pressure. How come the hose does not split?

To build on the first two responses, because it is not constant 7500# pressure. Rather, it is pulsed and the pressure is allowed to decrease.



Indeed, you might find that the greasing function wouldn't work well or at all if you replaced the 'soft' hose with a hard line. I would expect the line is expected to stretch a little, thus pushing the grease into the target a little more slowly and evenly over a slightly longer period of time. Just as you can pulse 120PSI air into a balloon without it popping until you exceed the elastic limits of the balloon.

 

[Jim W]

But we charge it (put the air line on), and it can sit for an hour without using the guns. Isn't that like being dead headed?



Bill

The Lincoln grease system has an unloading valve built in. This will allow the system to unload the air/and or grease pressure when the system is sitting idle. I use to design in their system's in heavy duty equipment when the owner wanted on board grease system installed.