Dewalt Grease Gun - How to know tube is empty?

[KennK]

I'm relatively new to using a Dewalt cordless grease gun. Yesterday I was greasing my JD tractor & front end loader, and after finishing with the FEL fittings I realized that even though I'd run 8+ pulses on each fitting, I hadn't actually seen grease oozing out of many (most) of them as is typical. I pumped the grease gun into the air, and sure enough no grease came out. I put in a fresh tube, and finished greasing the tractor. I found myself air pumping every few fittings just to be sure, but that creates a messy paper towel in one hand.

Thinking back, with a manual grease gun, when the tube is empty, I clearly feel no trigger resistance. With the Dewalt grease gun that is not possible.

Is the only way of knowing that a Dewalt grease gun's tube is empty is a lack of grease ooze and doing air pumping? Any advice is appreciated!!

 

[sea2summit]

Just pull on the plunger before you use it to see what’s left is what I do with my manual pumps.

I also have two because I hate switching in the middle of machine prep

 

[4570Man]

You can hear a difference in the sound it makes. It makes more of a slapping sound when it’s empty.

 

[Hay Dude]

I hold the flexible plastic tube and can feel a difference in the pulsing in the tube between grease and air. As 4570 said, I also notice a sound difference and a difference in the sound of the motor.

 

[RjCorazza]

It's mostly the sound change for me also, however, the "hammering" or pulsing feel also smoothes out when empty. I can feel the change on the first or second cycle.

 

[Tinhack]

Hmmmmmmm. I wonder how he knows when the oil can is empty.

 

[Patches]

Just pull on the plunger before you use it to see what’s left is what I do with my manual pumps.

I also have two because I hate switching in the middle of machine prep

This is a guaranteed way of knowing just how much grease remains in the tube

 

[bdhsfz6]

I usually just hit the prime valve on my DeWalt gun before and after doing each fitting to see if grease oozes out. Not much waste or mess doing it that way.
As others have said, I can also hear the difference in sound made by the motor when it's out of grease.

 

[dodge man]

I also am not 100% sure when it’s empty. I just do a little in the air if I have doubt.

 

[KennK]

Thanks all - except Tinhack - for your input.

Tinhack, it's snarky replies like yours that stop people from posting to forums.

 

[deezler]

The mean man made a joke about me, I can't handle this forum any more.

Kenn, you got a good set of answers to your query, and one little joke at your expense. It's not personal, just a gentle ribbing. Jokes are what make the internet more enjoyable for the rest of us. Just get him back some day! lol.

But I'm glad you asked because I want one of these dewalt guns too, and was curious about this.

 

[Fallon]

I grease until it oozes out of the joint. Works well for the common zerks with no seals. Bearings with seals like my flail, tiller & stuff I guess i rely on calibrating my ear with the open joints.

 

[Williy]

I will stick with my hand pump don't
need to add more weight in a grease
gun and then you have to take the time
to charge it. I have had my grease gun
since 1971 and it works fine think it will
out last me!

willy

 

[4570Man]

I will stick with my hand pump don't
need to add more weight in a grease
gun and then you have to take the time
to charge it. I have had my grease gun
since 1971 and it works fine think it will
out last me!

willy

If you want to keep the old fashioned gun that’s fine but don’t try convincing anyone it’s better.

 

[RjCorazza]

If you want to keep the old fashioned gun that’s fine but don’t try convincing anyone it’s better.

Well..... Not a single one of our electric grease guns will be working in 50 years, so he does have a point!

 

[4570Man]

Well..... Not a single one of our electric grease guns will be working in 50 years, so he does have a point!

The batteries no, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the tool itself last 50 years. Even if it doesn’t I don’t really care. It adds enough value to me that I’ll pay to replace it.

 

[kevin37b]

Grease and oil starts a war here !

 

[LouNY]

That hand pump grease gun will be gone in 50 years also, I'd say they average 3-5 years of use before they quite working.

 

[5030]

I will stick with my hand pump don't
need to add more weight in a grease
gun and then you have to take the time
to charge it. I have had my grease gun
since 1971 and it works fine think it will
out last me!

willy

Bought a DeWalt and returned it. Too heavy, too cumbersome as well. I much prefer my Plews manual lever gun with the clear grease tube I bulk fill. I can always tell how much grease is left by looking at the clear barrel.

 

[5030]

That hand pump grease gun will be gone in 50 years also, I'd say they average 3-5 years of use before they quite working.

Maybe a cheap Chinese one, my Plews is at least 25 years old and I grease 2 tractors , a round bailer, a square bailer, my rotary rake and my tedder and my discbine plus my pickup truck and the wife's suburban and it's still trucking along, just fine.