Sticker shock! No I didn’t buy.

[Hal]

Working on an older Farmall tractor, I needed some drive in ( unthreaded) grease zerks. Called O’Reilly’s. Special order, $0.69 each, shipping $20. So much for buy local. Amazon prime ten for $9.99.

 

[Notgrownup]

Same for stuff for my Harley And tool parts

 

[mike93lx]

O'reilly's isnt what I consider local and Amazon probably employs more people in your area.

 

[NUTTSGT]

No TSC or other farm type store ?

 

[Notgrownup]

O'reilly's isnt what I consider local and Amazon probably employs more people in your area.

They do around here

 

[jack stand]

No TSC or other farm type store ?

Tsc = pet food, clothes and tacky yard ornaments. Hardware by the pound is ok but not so much for being a good "AG" store.
That's probably just a sign of the times to stay profitable in most locations so I'm really not blaming them.
I remember what they used to be 30+/- years ago.

 

[nadogail]

Everything costs more than what it did “back in the day”.
We remember those older lower prices more fondly than what we were paid at the time.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Same for stuff for my Harley And tool parts

Yep, putting the shield and bar on something is the same as multiplying the price 5-10 times. Don't get me started!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Tsc = pet food, clothes and tacky yard ornaments. Hardware by the pound is ok but not so much for being a good "AG" store.
That's probably just a sign of the times to stay profitable in most locations so I'm really not blaming them.
I remember what they used to be 30+/- years ago.

I won't totally disagree with that thought about TSC, however, I have bought zerks there before buying assortments at HF.

 

[cvairwerks]

Got an oddball socket that I need. SO is one of two places that have it. SO has a 28$ shipping charge for a 20$ socket that weighs less than 2 ounces. Other company is out of stock for the foreseeable future...

 

[dura eagle]

Drill it out and tap it for 1/8” pipe thread and it won’t fall out.

 

[jack stand]

I won't totally disagree with that thought about TSC, however, I have bought zerks there before buying assortments at HF.

I have noticed that the stores inventory seems to be different in relation to the ag activity in the region. Comparing the stores in the mid Atlantic (Appalachian's) area to here in Maine was the reason for my (unfair) sour response.

 

[mm08822]

If it doesn't sell frequently off of the local store's shelf, it gets dropped for other items that will.

Local demand at each store can be very different.

 

[zimman]

These days are over.
Zim

 

[Sumboodie]

I miss grade 8 bolts by the pound that D&B Supply had when I was in Idaho.
Need 3 bolts? I'd buy a lb or two for spares.

I made the mistake buying a case of ATF at Schucks last week for my forklift. $168....or $56 a gallon.
He told me the price and I was like.... uhhh, are you sure? You mean $68, right?

We sell ATF at work for around half that a gallon and I STILL get people complaining in prices. I think the most expensive one we have, a special order brand, it under $50 a gallon still.

(I wanted to get the project done and didn't need to waste 2+ hrs driving 100 miles to get a pail from work)

 

[OccupantRJ]

These days are over.
Zim

We are lucky here with a local Delmus mom and pop hardware 2-1/2 miles away where you can find most things like mower tires, blades, parts, fertilizer by the pound, plants, propane refills for $12, burn barrels, aisles of hardware, etc. When I first moved here you could rent a commercial portable sandblasting setup from them. I am very thankful for the store still being in operation and run by the daughter.

 

[zimman]

We are lucky here with a local Delmus mom and pop hardware 2-1/2 miles away where you can find most things like mower tires, blades, parts, fertilizer by the pound, plants, propane refills for $12, burn barrels, aisles of hardware, etc. When I first moved here you could rent a commercial portable sandblasting setup from them. I am very thankful for the store still being in operation and run by the daughter.

We have a really good ACE Hardware. Store is packed and if he doesn't have it, he'll find it and order it.
Thanks for that
Zim

 

[niget2002]

If I need something 'today', I have a few choices.

We have a few TSC's. They seem to be hit and miss sometimes.

If I need something that they don't have, I'll take the trek to Atwoods.

If they don't have it, then I'll look online.

 

[PoorUB]

Tsc = pet food, clothes and tacky yard ornaments. Hardware by the pound is ok but not so much for being a good "AG" store.
That's probably just a sign of the times to stay profitable in most locations so I'm really not blaming them.
I remember what they used to be 30+/- years ago.

The TSC near me has quite a bit of hardware, PTO parts, bearings and more. I would expect them to have a good selection of zerks.

Depending on how bad I needed them I still might order from Amazon and wait a couple days, instead of the twenty mile round trip.

NAPA would be another choice.

 

[dcg9381]

Hardware by the pound is ok but not so much for being a good "AG" store.

This alone is good enough for me.
They stock welding supplies, welding gas, and "hog wire" for keeping those pesky kids in cages.

 

[kwb]

Ace Hardware locations I use all have Zerks in the hardware section. Harbor Freight does as well (as noted above).
Automotive parts store chains have become nearly useless beyond Batteries, Belts, and most fluids and filters.

 

[Hal]

No TSC or other farm type store ?

Nothing in less than forty miles. O’Reilly delivers twice a day.
That’s an oddball piece, and I didn’t expect them to stock it, but I thought they would have it in their system somewhere. WRONG!!

For the ones who suggested various assortments, those are likely all threaded pieces.

As to tapping it out to 1/8” , if I had the shaft out of the bore I would. I don’t want to gouge the shaft, or wind up with shavings in the housing.

And while we’re at it, WhereTF is my good grease gun? I had it at the sugarhouse, it’s not there, not in any of my vehicles, definitely not back at the garage. I have another, but it doesn’t have the Lock-N-Lube nozzle.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nothing in less than forty miles. O’Reilly delivers twice a day.
That’s an oddball piece, and I didn’t expect them to stock it, but I thought they would have it in their system somewhere. WRONG!!

For the ones who suggested various assortments, those are likely all threaded pieces.

Nothing less than 40 miles ? Talk about boonies....

Not sure what you mean by the "those are likely all threaded pieces in the assortments.

 

[john.k]

Back in the day being two months ago ......I notice Chinese import prices up to 50 % more than a few weeks ago

 

[dante2]

These days are over.
Zim

I met a MP seller at his house for a table. His shop was loaded out with an old hardware store inventory. Looked like a Fastenal store. He also had a really nice late 60's Bronco restoration almost done. Saved his info just in case.

 

[PCustoms]

Tsc = pet food, clothes and tacky yard ornaments. Hardware by the pound is ok but not so much for being a good "AG" store.
That's probably just a sign of the times to stay profitable in most locations so I'm really not blaming them.
I remember what they used to be 30+/- years ago.

I have noticed that the stores inventory seems to be different in relation to the ag activity in the region. Comparing the stores in the mid Atlantic (Appalachian's) area to here in Maine was the reason for my (unfair) sour response.

Bridgton and Windham TSC both show multiple grease fittings in stock...

 

[NHtoolguy]

This situation was more complicated because the OP needed an unthreaded, drive-in style of zerk fitting with a smooth taper. The assortments listed were the more common threaded, screw-in type. I can't recall the last time I encountered an unthreaded one in service, or needed one.

 

[PCustoms]

This situation was more complicated because the OP needed an unthreaded, drive-in style of zerk fitting with a smooth taper. The assortments listed were the more common threaded, screw-in type. I can't recall the last time I encountered an unthreaded one in service, or needed one.

Agreed, expecting ANYONE to stock a esoteric component is unrealistic

The quick search I did on Amazon I had a hard time finding them, this looks questionable at best

Amazon.com: Drive Fittings - 1/4" drive type grease fitting [Set of 10] : Automotive

Amazon.com: Drive Fittings - 1/4" drive type grease fitting [Set of 10] : Automotive

www.amazon.com

 

[PCustoms]

Duplicate

 

[NUTTSGT]

This situation was more complicated because the OP needed an unthreaded, drive-in style of zerk fitting with a smooth taper. The assortments listed were the more common threaded, screw-in type. I can't recall the last time I encountered an unthreaded one in service, or needed one.

I can't recall ever dealing with a drive in zerk.

 

[manwithtools]

I can't recall ever dealing with a drive in zerk.

I agree, I don't think I've ever encountered one. Given the pressure a grease gun can develop, it would seem it could press the zerk back out of its location. I guess if the grease has some where to go (loose shaft fit for instance) then maybe it's not an issue.

 

[BillK]

Tsc = pet food, clothes and tacky yard ornaments. Hardware by the pound is ok but not so much for being a good "AG" store.
That's probably just a sign of the times to stay profitable in most locations so I'm really not blaming them.
I remember what they used to be 30+/- years ago.

Must be different than the one here. Ours has almost anything you need.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Any Case IH dealers nearby? They may not carry parts for an old Farmall but it would have been worth at least checking. For that matter there's places like Steiner Tractor that specialize in parts for vintage tractors.

 

[manwithtools]

Must be different than the one here. Ours has almost anything you need.

Give it time, they will change it. They are shifting to a pet supply and clothing store in most markets. They still have some of what made them Tractor Supply, but it's changing for sure.