Can anyone tell me when plymouth went from a zerk fitting as seen here to the Alemite hydraulic
My 30u has zerk and some almite so my guess is later than 1930 .
Thats a start, thanks
When I had my 30U judged at last years POC meet in POrtland I was told that the correct one for the early Plymouth was the zerk style. Think I remember being told that Plymouth never used the pin type. Not sure when they changed over to the alemite fittings, but Earl Buton, Jr probably knows, I will eMail him.
Gary
Earl Buton visited my PB roadster project in late May and pointed out that the 1932 Plymouth 4 cylinders used the zerk fitting.
My 1948 P15 has zerk fittings.
Chet...
No Plymouth would never have used the pin-type.
In studying Dodge I can make some fairly educated assumptions concerning Plymouth.
Chrysler, Dodge,Plymouth, Desoto, Fargo ect would have all made alot of the same changes across the board because the service centers had to maintain all makes and models so you would not have seen a brand new 1932 Plymouth and the same Dodge in adjoining bays with different style fittings which would have required different technique to service.
The only time this would have been possible would have been in the cases where there were excess zerk to be used up possibly.
Dodge discontinued the use of the pin-type sometime in April of 1923 and went with the zerks up until sometime 33-34 so Plymouth would certaintely have been introduced with zerks.
Todd Fitch posted this on his site.........This information is distilled from [Cannon 2004]. There are two types of pressure lubrication (grease) fittings found on early Plymouths: Zerk and "Alemite hydraulic". Both were manufactured by Stewart Warner. The Zerk fitting, shown on the left, was used on Plymouth through 1933. The "modern" "Alemite hydraulic", shown on the right, was used on Plymouth starting in 1934..........
I would like to know the source that skinned knuckles used for this information. I have a couple of people that have offered the articles to me and am only waiting for someone to have the time to push thru with it.
Earl Butons comments are appreciated.
quote........My 1948 P15 has zerk fittings......This has to be a typo! or there is confusion on what a zerk fitting is. The fitting with the ball on the end is not a zerk as everyone likes to call it.
Here is some good general info.........The ball end grease fitting which most people mistakenly call a Zerk fitting is actually an Alemite Hydraulic fitting. It was developed by Alemite enginners in 1932-33 and was common on most American cars by 1934.
Quote from: 1930 on July 21, 2011, 07:12:04 AM
quote........My 1948 P15 has zerk fittings......This has to be a typo! or there is confusion on what a zerk fitting is. The fitting with the ball on the end is not a zerk as everyone likes to call it.
I know what a Zerk fitting is and my 1948 Plymouth has Zerk fittings. At least the rear axel for sure. I bought an assortment of the Modern Hydraulic type to eliminate the Zerk but I am told that with the Hydraulic type it is easy to blow out the rear axel seal on the P15.
Chet...
Just got an eMail from Earl Buton, Jr. answering this question that I posed to him.
He stated that the early 28-33 Plymouths used the zerk fitting, either straight or angled depending on location. That the 34 was the first year to use the hydraulic (or Alemite) fittings.
Just some more info.
Gary
Quote.....I know what a Zerk fitting is and my 1948 Plymouth has Zerk fittings. At least the rear axel for sure........That is interesting and I think your idea about why they may have still been used there is good. Interesting info, thanks.
Quote.......He stated that the early 28-33 Plymouths used the zerk fitting, either straight or angled depending on location. That the 34 was the first year to use the hydraulic (or Alemite) fittings...........Thanks for that Gary
I replaced all my zerk fittings with the ball type, mainly because I had no way to grease the zerk type. If anybody is interested in the Zerk fitings I have the whole set for the 1929 plymouth coupe. Both staight and angled.
I am not in the business of selling items for the plymouths, if anybody has use for items I listed here it only costs you the shipping charges.
SD Glenn
I have just had a relatively new 28 Victory owner ask if I had any to spare so I am sure we would appreciate having the fittings if they are still available
I am not offering these zerks up for someone to make a profit from. If anybody has use for them on their Plymouth (or other car) I will be glad to send them to that person. Thru this forum.
SD Glenn
I have a set of new zerk fitting for my 30U, but they are all straight. Hadn't thought about which ones are supposed to be angled. If one of you that knows would tell which go where it would be helpful.
Thanks, Gary
And I am not in the buisness of attemting to swindle anyone out of anything just to make a few bucks, ( isnt that what the scum on Craiglist do ) I spend my time on very few forums because I enjoy these topics and I am able to learn things and share what I learn.
The person I mentioned has a very nice original 1928 Victory car, I have been helping him with information, he asked me if I could help him with grease fittings ( getting originals ) and I said I would.
This was my response to him several weeks ago on grease fittings..............I will find one for you eventually but it will take time, just so you know Victory and Standard Six are identical and there are many more standard six engine lying about.
Yes zerk fittings will be easy, ( trust me on this, it is how I get most of my parts ) when on e-bay or AACA find someone that is selling parts ( there is a front end on AACA now ) offer the guy a few bucks just for the fittings. Money is the only thing that motivates most people unfortunately so if you offer say 5 dollars for a few a fittings ( whats 5 bucks ? ) and explain to the guy why you want them he will not only feel like he is being offered the deal of a lifetime but it will also help justify his cutting up a perfectly good car and for a few moments it will make him feel better...................This is his e-mail address and I am sure he would be thank-full."Robert Bardin" <rbardin@me.com>
SD Glenn
I will probably have to replace all mine as I am only new to the Ply's - Have several zerk fittings and adaptors from other rebuilds and restores it would be good to have originals adn a full set.
Cheers
Wayne
Is there a special grease gun to use with the orginial zerks? I tried a modern grease gun which does not work that great.
rusty
Rusty
Yes there is an adapter available for what is pictured (by 1930) as a Zerk fitting!
A little history
If you mention grease nipples (thats what we tend to call then down under - they are rightly refered to as a "Lubrication Nipple" as per the orginal patent by Zerk (Filed 1922 - Patedted 1927)) to an American he probably won't know what you are talking about. This is because Americans refer to them as a "Zerk fitting", or a "Zerk", or if he is an older American he might call it an "Alemite fitting". The name "Alemite fitting" comes from the fact that the first company to manufacture the grease nipple was the Alemite Die Casting and Manufacturing Company in Chicago. The term "Zerk" comes from the name of the inventor of the grease nipple, Oscar Ulysses Zerk.
Mr. Zerk was an interesting character. He was a prolific inventor and was something of an unrecognized engineering genius. As well as inventing the grease nipple, by the time of his death in 1968 Zerk had over 300 patents to his name
Oscar Zerk was born May 16, 1878, in Vienna, the son of Flora and Bernard Zerk, a prominent textile manufacturer in the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. Zerk showed an early interest in engineering and had a deep facination with cars, which were a novelty at the time. After completing work on his engine and wheel designs in Austria and in England he decided to try his luck further abroad and set sail for the United States on the Lusitania in 1907. During the long journey across the Atlantic Zerk started to ponder the then current problems with lubrication, and it was on this trip that he came up with the idea of the grease nipple. On his arrival in New York he patented the idea, and then approached Alemite, who specialised in lubrication, and went into partnership with them. The basic design of the Zerk grease nipple has not changed since 1907.
The basic internal design hasn't changed except for outside function for adapters/lubricators (grease guns) - if I remember correctly the change was an evolutionary one and the patent office shows alot of Filings in the lubricators during the late 20's early 30' (From a Davis, Gray and et al). I could blab on for hours I could tighten up the dates if you like
I hope this helps
Wayne
I hope I havent upset or insulted anybody only new to the forum for my reply, I apologise if I have - I can be a little compulsive a times as I suffer from PTSD from the military.
Regards
Wayne
Thank-you Glen for sending these to Robert, as far as from what I have noticed in his e-mails he has a very nice car and appears to want to keep it that way
Hey 1930? , Thanks for the input. I have been in contact with Robert by e-mail. I will be sending the Zerks on to him in the next week. He sent me a few pictures of his project, looks very decent auto to start rebuilding, (solid) also a 57 T-bird must be his also, NICE. Glad to be of help to all. Wayne, I appreciate any info on these old jewel. I saw nothing that should insult anybody, must be very thin skinned if it does. lol Good luck with yours.
SD Glenn