Button tab grease fittings?

I have an old marine steam engine which has flat grease fittings about 5/8" in diameter. Grandpa said they called them button fittings or button tab fittings. Does anyone know where I might get a grease gun to fit these fittings??? They could easily be changed out but I think modern fittings just wouldn't look right on this engine. Thanks!

Are these of the same type used on Caterpillars and such?? Yup---they are available! You MIGHT try www.mcmaster.com or if they don't them (they will) you can try ANY heavy equipment parts house or operator. Some things never change!! BTW: I don't go out of my way to paint stuff either...I just LOVE a plain Jane that RUNS like a Whitney Houston!!!! Craig

I bought mine for an old catapillar from NAPA years ago. They might still have them or be able to get them.

[David Tsr]

I got an adapter that has a standard fitting on one end and will slide on the button fittings on the other end so I can use my regular grease gun on them. The local road construction crew gave it to me, I think they got tired of me borrowing it. These adapters must be available at heavy equipment dealers
David Tsr

[Kelly Tytlandsvik]

We have them at work as well. I think they are Lincoln brand. You also need an adapter (sold by the same company) to adapt the grease gun head to 1/8 npt on your grease gun.

Kelly T

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

My TD-40 TracTracTor has them on the track rollers and front idlers. I have the grease gun that came with it. I believe it is a Lincoln. They are a pretty fair fitting too. The head on the end of the hose locks on and it can't slip off, while greasing.
Gary

[JMathews]

You're local CAT dealer should still have them, or can get them. They also sell the adaptor for your greese gun, I have one I don't rember the part number. I have old CAT parts books I can get you the number for the fitings.

[Farquhar]

My brother & I had a little John Deere 350 crawler, that we logged with in the '70s, that had them too. A JD dealer might be an option also.

[Pete LaBelle]

The old tug boat I worked on in the late 70's had 3 CAT engines on board along with an old Northwest crane. All were outfitted with those type fittings. They were great fittings to use and were more durable (less apt to be sheared off) than the now common Alemite (?) fittings on most everything these days.

Pete

[JMathews]

All of the track type tractors used these fitings. IH is long gone, DEER does not stock most parts for tractors over 10 years old. CAT does stock parts for the older machines. I have a 955K and a 3T, D7 they stock parts for both machines. If you want parts feed the CAT, if you like to deal with parts guys go to the other places. All of this from the former worker of both allis and CAT.

[Pete LaBelle]

I understand that if CAT gets orders for parts from particular engines at least 3-4 times per year, they will continue to stock them. Had a friend who aquired an early 30's vintage CAT engine. Called wondering about some parts. They said they still stock them (though he couldn't afford the "over the barrel" prices for his hobby project.

[JMathews]

Some of the prices on the parts for my old junk gave me a hart attack as well. The dealer here is good about checking the salvage yard (that they own) for parts before geting the new. I get told often on steam engine parts, " if you want to play tou half to pay". The dealer in Toeka Ks, does just happen to be the second oldest dealer in the world.

[Jim Conte]

Button head fittings are fairly common in the heavy equipment and heavy industrial machinery world. Lincoln and Alemite are the two top brand names that come to mind. They come in different sizes, as I recall, the Giant Button Heads are 1" in diameter. Yours sound like the standard. I usually deal with
Applied Industrial, they used to be Bearings Incorporated.

[Elden DuRand]

Originally Posted by Pete LaBelle

The old tug boat I worked on in the late 70's had 3 CAT engines on board along with an old Northwest crane. All were outfitted with those type fittings. They were great fittings to use and were more durable (less apt to be sheared off) than the now common Alemite (?) fittings on most everything these days.

Pete

Pete:

Actually, the newer fittings are Zerk fittings. The old ones are the original Alemites. I suppose Alemite bought out Zerk when Zerk grease fittings started getting popular on cars and trucks.

Take care - Elden