Grease gun coupling won't come off

[greenmojo]

wow! that's some serious leverage to break the zerk. I've broke the nozzle on a grease gun, and always figured that was the weakest link. wow.

 

[dustinfox]

I went to the local hardware store (DoItBest) and bought a new coupling. Works fine. I guess it just depends on who makes them.

 

[dustinfox]

wow! that's some serious leverage to break the zerk. I've broke the nozzle on a grease gun, and always figured that was the weakest link. wow.

Ya, and now I am screwed because I can't find a replacement. Even the Kioti dealer doesn't have any.

 

[greenmojo]

Okay, I was told by the local JD dealer that home depot and lowes will often carry little accessory packs of zergs with various thread types.

~moses

 

[BlacknTan]

This is a relatively new problem.. Well, within the past thirty years or so, and I attribute it to the shift in manufacturing capability from our shores to China. Poor tolerances held on the couplings and the zerks themselves. I've gone through lot's of couplers looking for one like the old days, but it's an exercise in futility. One that's good on some fittings are too loose or too tight on others. Overseas junk strikes again! It's becoming a way of life, and very sad to see..

 

[EE_Bota]

Okay, I was told by the local JD dealer that home depot and lowes will often carry little accessory packs of zergs with various thread types.

~moses

Yea, and Harbor Freight, and AutoZone too.
I have not tried it, but after disassembling one a couple of months ago, I have the following idea:

A Lincoln coupler like on my gun is a tiny hydraulically actuated gripper. A cylinder in that thing has flat faces, and a tiny channel is drilled through it for grease flow. Gross flow slides the cylinder outward, and it presses on the grippers forcing an incline to act to close the fingers. Once this is done, gross flow cannot move the cylinder further, so pressure builds enough to force highly restricted flow through the little drilled channel.

I have not tried it yet, but the next time my coupler refuses to let go, I intend to act as if it is very difficult to attach to the zerk, and press it on the zerk harder, with a wallowing motion, thinking that is what is required to release the hydraulics. That cylinder needs to be pushed back again, and more grease must be expelled through that little center drilling to allow room for the cylinder return movement. It may just work. Otherwise, I may very well beat it to a shiny powder and lay a cussing on it similar to the one that dad in "A Christmas Story" used to lay down over that belching oil furnace of his.

 

[dustinfox]

This is a relatively new problem.. Well, within the past thirty years or so, and I attribute it to the shift in manufacturing capability from our shores to China. Poor tolerances held on the couplings and the zerks themselves. I've gone through lot's of couplers looking for one like the old days, but it's an exercise in futility. One that's good on some fittings are too loose or too tight on others. Overseas junk strikes again! It's becoming a way of life, and very sad to see..

Agreed!

 

[k0ua]

I noticed on my new grease gun, there was no mention of loosening of the knurled portion of the coupler in the entire "manual" in any language. and I had to put it in a vise and take a pair of vise grips to the knurled portion to get it to loosen up. It is like they have this gorilla employed to tighten them. If you may remember I was on another thread quite a bit about grease gun couplers. You would think there would be some instruction on this. And even after stoning the jaws my new coupler is still a little difficult to get off, you have to unscrew it a bit.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/203295-grease-gun-screwdriver.html

James K0UA

 

[Dadof3]

I have this problem too. Real PITA. I find that if I replace my tip about once a year it helps. Got the last one at TSC for $4.98 and it's doing well.

 

[Chilly807]

I bought a hand operated grease gun from TSC and the coupling will NOT come off the zerk unless I unscrew it. I've heard a few people complain about this problem with new guns (made in China no doubt). Does anyone know whee I can buy a coupling that works? Are there any that are made differently?

Thanks!

The Lincoln couplers are good quality, but still tight fitting. I got mine from Acklands. Made in India I think