Air leaking from grease port? Is this normal?
Air leaking from any tool should be a concern, but how much of a concern should it be?
Air leaking from a lubricant fitting indicates a “ball check” that is not properly closing or sealing. There are several possible reasons why this malfunction happens.
- The fitting has been damaged. The damage can happen if the fitting receives a hit or gets knocked against a hard object.
- The fitting wasn’t cleaned before the lubricant was injected through the fitting. Debris forced into the fitting caused the “ball check” to stay open.
Make sure to check the recess around the ball check, dirt and debris (like metal chips from grinding) can get packed in there. Before you supply grease or oil to the tool, use a brass or nylon brush to clear away dirt and debris from the fitting.
Does it need to be replaced? If the ball check hangs-up because of debris, most of the time it can be cleared and will function properly again.
How to clear debris from the ball check:
- Use a brush to clean the lubricant fitting.
- Connect tool to air supply.
- Throttle the motor on.
- While tool is running, use the end of a small paper clip to gently depress ball check. Compressed air and lubricant should force debris out from the lubricant fitting.
Share this post
