Grease Guns

[Lippyp]

Why are the damn things so ****** unreliable? I always seem to spend ages messing with the damn things and end up covered in grease. I have three, a big old Lumatic that takes cartridges and two small ones for tighter spots, one has CV grease in as that was used on a couple of spots on a past car. None of them seem to be reliable. Are the air powered ones better?

Add to that manufacturers who put grease ******* in the most inaccessible places that require an impossible shaped hose/pipe in order to get to them (well maybe it's easier if its on a lift) and you have a recipe for a lot of swearing. I always seem to need three hands, one to hold the end on the ****** (zerk) one to hold the grease gun and the other to pump it.

 

[DangerousDan55]

I feel.your pain brother! You buy me a ticket and I'll come give you a hug!

 

[RandyL]

I have used a lever type...the three handed version for years. Last year I broke down and bought a pistol grip type gun as my new mower was making things impossible.... Gettcha a pistol grip, its good for the soul.

 

[cashishift]

I purchased a USA made Alemite from John Deere for 30 bucks a few years ago.

 

[RandyL]

Like this.......

 

[cashishift]

Like this.......

Mine looks just like that, except its all stainless.

 

[Davefr]

The Alemite pistol grips are really nice. You can adjust the gun for either volume or pressure.

It also has a valve on the top so you can fart off the air. That's most of the problem when these things fail to squirt out grease.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... two small ones for tighter spots, one has CV grease in it as that was used on a couple of spots on a past car.

Eh ?

Was this an "open" CV joint ? All the CV joints I have ever seen are inside of a sealed rubber boot. The only way to add/replace grease is to remove the axle and boot, cleaned out the old lube with multiple rags and then add new.

Everyone I know agrees, even if the boot splits/tears, just run the axle and joint until you can't stand the noise and then replace the whole sub assembly.

 

[rburke65]

I can relate....and most often you do need three hands. I have purchased a 90* adapter for the end of my gun which helps in some cases.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Air powered unit at tractor supply was $7. It has a burp valve ...

Rarely seen, even on the "better" quality guns.

 

[RandyL]

I purchased a USA made Alemite from John Deere for 30 bucks a few years ago.

The OP may not be looking for American Made... but is is good to know.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have had good luck (so far) with a Plews 30-416 Professional Pistol Grease Gun - Amazon $30.

If you need high pressure, skip the pistol. You have to go lever.

 

[Lippyp]

My lumatic gun is a pro quality brand albeit fairly old. The CV grease is in their because something I owned called for Moly grease to be squirted into something I forget what it was, possibly something suspension related on my old Trooper.

Alemite guns don't seem to be available over here, someone said they use Wanner at work with no problems 9swiss made)

Glad to hear I am not the only one that hates the things!

 

[RandyL]

I have had good luck (so far) with a Plews 30-416 Professional Pistol Grease Gun - Amazon $30.

If you need high pressure, skip the pistol. You have to go lever.

Agree.........

 

[MG11068]

I have pistol grip and lever type guns. The pistol grips are better in tight places but not for everything else. Pistol grips usually delivery about half as much grease per stroke as a lever type will. So if you have a lot of greasing to do a pistol grip type will wear out your forearm.

 

[Davefr]

I have pistol grip and lever type guns. The pistol grips are better in tight places but not for everything else. Pistol grips usually delivery about half as much grease per stroke as a lever type will. So if you have a lot of greasing to do a pistol grip type will wear out your forearm.

A good pistol grip gun will have a lever you can pop into the "volume" position. It squirts a much higher volume but at a lower pressure.

 

[Rod N]

Oh ya. Hate these things! Spend more time f###ing with them than greasing.

Someone told me that you should hang them upside down when not in use.

Anyone doing this?

 

[amolaver]

I went through three or four, 2 hand pump and two pneumatic. Only my Lincoln pneumatic has held up worth a damn. In fact it's the only one I've run more than two tubes through before failure. About 20 tubes so far I'd guess and no problems. Heard nothing but positive things about the alemite, but no experience with them. May get one just to avoid dragging something into the shop. Shame they aren't available to you. Cheap enough to take a flyer on.

ahm

 

[70staged]

I like the battery operated one that we have.

 

[joe49]

I solved all my greasing problems years ago, with a Lincoln m/n 1013 dual pressure grease gun. The other key is having a 4 foot or longer hydraulic hose made up for it. Then you rest the gun anywhere you like and pump with one hand on the lever only. Mostly I will pump the gun from the front of my hip at the top of my leg. My hose is 5" that way I can reach fittings as high as I can reach, that is 8". This link shows the gun http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Pressure-Heavy-Duty-Grease-Model/dp/B002GBUL96 not cheap but worth the money. There is no magic to using a grease gun. A couple of points are. When you run out of grease quit pumping and change the cartridge or refill bulk. When you have run out, pull the loading rod back twisting it to be sure you have the rod past the detent, and latch it. Unscrew the pump end and then unlatch the loading rod to push out the expended grease cartridge, Pull the plastic cap on your new cartridge, leave the metal pop top on for now. Put the new cartridge in the gun place the pop top end of the tube on anything solid push the gun tube on to the cartridge, pulling the loading rod and latching it again at the same time. Now pull the metal pop top and screw the pump end back on part way, don't tighten it yet. Unlatch the pull rod and rotate it so it will not push in [ detent is pushing the piston]. Now put the T of the pull rod against your body pull on the tube of the gun to apply pressure on the piston. Then screw the pump end back and forth while pumping the lever, this will purge the air. When the gun starts to pump the grease, tighten the pump end on, turn your pull rod off the detent and push it in. Get your rag and wipe your gun down. Be careful keeping the gun and cartridges clean, you don't want any contamination. Don't forget to wipe the grease nozzle and all your zerks off before hooking on.

 

[404]

Eh ?

Was this an "open" CV joint ? All the CV joints I have ever seen are inside of a sealed rubber boot. The only way to add/replace grease is to remove the axle and boot, cleaned out the old lube with multiple rags and then add new.

Everyone I know agrees, even if the boot splits/tears, just run the axle and joint until you can't stand the noise and then replace the whole sub assembly.

Now you know someone who does not agree..

Seriously, I change the boots before they break. Mix up my own grease for the inner tripod out of 7% moly grease and mobil 1 gear oil to thin it out. Outers are moly grease.

Same set of CV joints for 220,000 miles.

I clean out the old grease with a blow gun over the trash can and brake cleaner.

 

[404]

After careful cleaning around the zerk I unscrew it hold it over the trash can and flush it out with new grease.. Put it back in and then pump grease the joint. Unless the zerks have caps some moisture or dust is going to get around the zerk ball. Don't need to push THAT into the joint.

 

[wnstwolf]

A great thread I will happily share with my wife. She laughs when I struggle with the three grease guns I have pistol, lever, air. I make a mess and eventually get grease into the thing I need to grease..

Nice to see I am not the only one frustrated with these contraptions.. Agree that trapped air is the culprit to failure but the systems are just not that effecient. One trick that sems to work is remove ane hose or extension off the discharge and get things flowing first then put these back on. maybe just luck and not actually any help but it seems to work 3-4 times out of 100!

 

[MG11068]

A good pistol grip gun will have a lever you can pop into the "volume" position. It squirts a much higher volume but at a lower pressure.

I've never used one that you can select between volume and pressure. For the most part I just use my pistol grip in tight places and a lever for everything else. Even if the volume per stroke were the same I would probably still do it this way because of the amount of grease I use would still wear out the forearm.

 

[ishiboo]

I have the Milwaukee M12 and love it. I don't grease a lot of stuff, but it makes keeping up the tractor/skid loader a lot more enjoyable so I do it more frequently.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I used to have the same type of problems. I have learned over the years a few tricks. First Joe49 is really on the right track anyone having trouble should reread his post and follow closely(very well written). I would also add that is is important to store new grease tubes standing up the correct way(most will say somewhere on the tube this end up) it keeps the air on top. Also, I don't tighten the pump end cap down it seems to allow the air to continue to release. Another thing is the piece that pushes the grease is the follower and it can be faced up or down in reference to bulk loading or cartridge loading, make sure the lip of the follower is facing the right dirrection. And last greases are different the higher the number the harder it pumps number 1 or 2 greases pump good in all temps. sorry this got longer than it should have.when not using a grease gun store it hanging with the pump end up. good luck

 

[bazzateer]

Had to take the company car in for a new windscreen the other week. The fitter used a battery powered caulk gun to run a bead of sealant around the window. Must be something similar out there for grease?

 

[bazzateer]

Here you go, UK and US ones:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...+gun&_nkw=battery+powered+grease+gun&_sacat=0

 

[ctb]

There is no magic to using a grease gun. A couple of points are. When you run out of grease quit pumping and change the cartridge or refill bulk. When you have run out, pull the loading rod back twisting it to be sure you have the rod past the detent, and latch it. Unscrew the pump end and then unlatch the loading rod to push out the expended grease cartridge, Pull the plastic cap on your new cartridge, leave the metal pop top on for now. Put the new cartridge in the gun place the pop top end of the tube on anything solid push the gun tube on to the cartridge, pulling the loading rod and latching it again at the same time. Now pull the metal pop top and screw the pump end back on part way, don't tighten it yet. Unlatch the pull rod and rotate it so it will not push in [ detent is pushing the piston]. Now put the T of the pull rod against your body pull on the tube of the gun to apply pressure on the piston. Then screw the pump end back and forth while pumping the lever, this will purge the air. When the gun starts to pump the grease, tighten the pump end on, turn your pull rod off the detent and push it in. Get your rag and wipe your gun down. Be careful keeping the gun and cartridges clean, you don't want any contamination. Don't forget to wipe the grease nozzle and all your zerks off before hooking on.

THIS

Once you learn the technique, you'll never have problems priming a grease gun. After running a piece of heavy equipment for ten hours, then having to fuel and grease at the end of the shift, ******* around trying to prime a grease gun gets old real fast. This is the only method I've found that works every time.

 

[joe49]

I used to have the same type of problems. I have learned over the years a few tricks. First Joe49 is really on the right track anyone having trouble should reread his post and follow closely(very well written). I would also add that is is important to store new grease tubes standing up the correct way(most will say somewhere on the tube this end up) it keeps the air on top. Also, I don't tighten the pump end cap down it seems to allow the air to continue to release. Another thing is the piece that pushes the grease is the follower and it can be faced up or down in reference to bulk loading or cartridge loading, make sure the lip of the follower is facing the right dirrection. And last greases are different the higher the number the harder it pumps number 1 or 2 greases pump good in all temps. sorry this got longer than it should have.when not using a grease gun store it hanging with the pump end up. good luck

More good points.

THIS

Once you learn the technique, you'll never have problems priming a grease gun. After running a piece of heavy equipment for ten hours, then having to fuel and grease at the end of the shift, ******* around trying to prime a grease gun gets old real fast. This is the only method I've found that works every time.

35 years a Operating Engineer myself.

 

[Handyfarmer]

I solved all my greasing problems years ago, with a Lincoln m/n 1013 dual pressure grease gun. The other key is having a 4 foot or longer hydraulic hose made up for it. Then you rest the gun anywhere you like and pump with one hand on the lever only. Mostly I will pump the gun from the front of my hip at the top of my leg. My hose is 5" that way I can reach fittings as high as I can reach, that is 8". This link shows the gun http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Pressure-Heavy-Duty-Grease-Model/dp/B002GBUL96 not cheap but worth the money. There is no magic to using a grease gun. A couple of points are. When you run out of grease quit pumping and change the cartridge or refill bulk. When you have run out, pull the loading rod back twisting it to be sure you have the rod past the detent, and latch it. Unscrew the pump end and then unlatch the loading rod to push out the expended grease cartridge, Pull the plastic cap on your new cartridge, leave the metal pop top on for now. Put the new cartridge in the gun place the pop top end of the tube on anything solid push the gun tube on to the cartridge, pulling the loading rod and latching it again at the same time. Now pull the metal pop top and screw the pump end back on part way, don't tighten it yet. Unlatch the pull rod and rotate it so it will not push in [ detent is pushing the piston]. Now put the T of the pull rod against your body pull on the tube of the gun to apply pressure on the piston. Then screw the pump end back and forth while pumping the lever, this will purge the air. When the gun starts to pump the grease, tighten the pump end on, turn your pull rod off the detent and push it in. Get your rag and wipe your gun down. Be careful keeping the gun and cartridges clean, you don't want any contamination. Don't forget to wipe the grease nozzle and all your zerks off before hooking on.

the way I do it, if pulling the loading rod out is difficult, I hook the gun on some thing and then pull and lock,

about the only time I have problems is if there is air in the grease, yes even quality grease some times have air bubble in them, (keep the gun warm, room temp, in cold weather).

I have good guns and I have some cheap ones and really do not find a lot of difference in the use of them, probably have 8 or 10 guns or more, most of the machines have there own gun, and have a couple in the shop, and in some of the trucks,

I never liked the bulk fill units (one need good warm grease to make them work, I some how ended up with a few 5 gallon buckets and adapted a few guns to bulk fill, (had many more problems with the bulk fill system, as the grease follower would not **** down and keep air out of the system,

I normally used john deer greases, but that is more out of convince,

I go through a number of boxes a year of grease, (my old drills (planter) are steel on steel (most bearings) and can take a few guns full to grease it every day. when using,

 

[Nekit]

Every grease gun I have had seems to leak grease/oily grease when it is stored. Anyone find a cure for this?

 

[redmondjp]

Every grease gun I have had seems to leak grease/oily grease when it is stored. Anyone find a cure for this?

I have this problem as well. My solution is a section of folded-up newspaper in the drawer underneath all of the guns. It's still not a very good solution.

 

[G-ManBart]

One of these is some of the best money I've spent in years....frees up one hand completely. The only negative I can see is it's a bit longer, and won't fit in super tight spaces. I have one of the mini pistol-grip types with a standard coupler for those spot, but generally don't need it.

http://locknlube.com

 

[smiffy]

Alemite are available in the uk Lincoln is another quality brand just a note the most important thing i find is the chuck cheap chucks that have to be held in place are useless as already mentioned pistol grips are great i put 2 cartridges a day through an alemite in the busy season and never have a problem with sore arms

 

[devinchi]

Have used lever and pistol, both with good luck if loaded correctly. On the railroad we had a Lincoln rechargeable ( http://www.lincolnindustrial.com/products/generallubricationproducts/powerluber®.aspx ) and used it on all of the surfacing crew's machines. 2-3 tubes a day. As long as it was loaded correctly, it had no issues.

 

[Nekit]

One of these is some of the best money I've spent in years....frees up one hand completely. The only negative I can see is it's a bit longer, and won't fit in super tight spaces. I have one of the mini pistol-grip types with a standard coupler for those spot, but generally don't need it.

http://locknlube.com

I like the looks of this. Thanks

 

[Labradorian]

A great thread I will happily share with my wife. She laughs when I struggle with the three grease guns I have pistol, lever, air. I make a mess and eventually get grease into the thing I need to grease..

Nice to see I am not the only one frustrated with these contraptions.. Agree that trapped air is the culprit to failure but the systems are just not that effecient. One trick that sems to work is remove ane hose or extension off the discharge and get things flowing first then put these back on. maybe just luck and not actually any help but it seems to work 3-4 times out of 100!

you do remind me of the day i ended up using 3 grease guns to finally get done what i had to grease and the mess i was in was frustrating. I forget what i was doing wrong but by end i was up to my arm pits in grease and my wife said you smell like a grease monkey.

 

[3798j]

One of these is some of the best money I've spent in years....frees up one hand completely. The only negative I can see is it's a bit longer, and won't fit in super tight spaces. I have one of the mini pistol-grip types with a standard coupler for those spot, but generally don't need it.

http://locknlube.com

Thanks for the tip G-ManBart. Just ordered mine.

 

[Labradorian]

Have used lever and pistol, both with good luck if loaded correctly. On the railroad we had a Lincoln rechargeable ( http://www.lincolnindustrial.com/products/generallubricationproducts/powerluber®.aspx ) and used it on all of the surfacing crew's machines. 2-3 tubes a day. As long as it was loaded correctly, it had no issues.

yeah a grease gun is one of those tools when not used or loaded correctly can cause many frustration and a big mess. Like I said earlier, Ive had that bad grease gun day and hope to take away from this thread some grease gun do's and don'ts

cheers