Dewalt Grease Gun - How to know tube is empty?

[5030]

SURPRISE SURPRISE I found an air operated
grease gun, I forgot that I purchased it to
grease my new Dodge pickup back in the 80's
I can only use it at the shop being its air
operated

willy

I have a couple of them but my air grease hose is 150 feet long so reach is a non issue and they all have clear polycarbonate barrels on them. Easy to see the amount of grease left inside and they all have bulk load fittings on the top.

 

[dodge man]

So my Dewalt grease gun ran out today. When it’s working correctly it makes a distinct clicking sound every 2 seconds or so. It stopped doing that when empty.
Mine is an 18 volt and I got the 20 volt adapter and a couple of batteries. It works fine with my grease gun and drill.

 

[5030]

The HF 20 volt cordless gun is a lot less and is a dead ringer for the DeWalt. Probably made in the same shop too, in China of course.

 

[Tinhack]

The HF 20 volt cordless gun is a lot less and is a dead ringer for the DeWalt. Probably made in the same shop too, in China of course.

Not even close on any of your claims. DeWalt is made in Mexico. Only ~$30 more than HF. Longer hose, better battery, better warrantee, better everything.

 

[5030]

Not even close on any of your claims. DeWalt is made in Mexico. Only ~$30 more than HF. Longer hose, better battery, better warrantee, better everything.

Really? Could have fooled me. I prefer not to buy Hencho Mexico if I can avoid it. Far as warranty, the HF is better, you can return it anytime to any HF outlet and not have to deal with some box store. Just returned mine (bad motor). No questions asked, just a replacement. Far as DeWalt batteries go, I'll take the Bauer battery over the prone to fail DeWalt packs anyday and the Bauer packs are about half the cost. I always replace the whip hose and the coupler anyway. I use a McNaught coupler and a longer whip hose.

next... 30 bucks is still 30 bucks last time I checked.

Ever bother to price a rebuilt DeWalt pack? Bet you haven't. Not that I use it a bunch because I don't. I use my bulk air greaser. It has a 100 foot grease hose with a 150 pound open head drum. I still prefer my Plews lever gun in the field and all my powered implements have a lever gun in the toolbox (and they all have clear polycarbonate barrels as well and get bulk loaded. I despise grease tubes in general.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

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

That don't mean it's empty, could be an air pocket in the tube of grease.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

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!!

Always wear leather gloves when using electric grease guns. If it gets a minute pinhole in the hose, and that pinhole spew of grease sprays into your skin, BAD. Grease guns can do 3500 lbs of pressure. I tighten tracks on big dozers with grease guns. I've seen men stay in the hospital for two months while they tried to save their arm. Just because grease got sprayed through his skin on a finger. I've known four people and I know it's bad. I can't stress enough to be careful.

 

[5030]

same applies to airless paint sprayers as well as hydraulic hoses and pipes on tractors. Have a buddy who had to have his lower arm amputated from a close encounter with an airless sprayer

 

[Tinhack]

I prefer not to buy Hencho Mexico if I can avoid it.

It's Hecho En Mexico by the way. I don't either but helps keep some of them in Mexico.

 

[Citydude]

I found out that removing the tin cap before screwing the tube into the grease gun makes worlds of difference.

 

[5030]

It's Hecho En Mexico by the way. I don't either but helps keep some of them in Mexico.

Whatever.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

same applies to airless paint sprayers as well as hydraulic hoses and pipes on tractors. Have a buddy who had to have his lower arm amputated from a close encounter with an airless sprayer

Yes they don't warn the public enough about all the dangers.

 

[4570Man]

That don't mean it's empty, could be an air pocket in the tube of grease.

Technically true but if it’s making the slapping sound it’s not putting grease in the pin.

 

[workinonit]

When grease stops coming out I know either the battery is dead or the tube is empy.

 

[croquet]

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

I'm going to be finding the grease gun for my own come tomorrow. I came to the thread figuring they all were hand-pump grease guns. I know that that's going to be my go-to.

Side note: I wish I could have found a grease gun in my thickets of toolery. But I have to wait until *after* I come back from Lowes with a newly purchased one. Then an old, perfectly good one will manifest itself.

 

[croquet]

Grease and oil starts a war here !

This made my spouse laugh.

 

[Flogger]

Every grease gun I have ever owned would show you the level of grease left by simply pulling the plunger handle. If it doesn't pull out that's your sign.

 

[Flogger]

Every grease gun I have ever owned would show you the level of grease left by simply pulling the plunger handle. If it doesn't pull out that's your sign.

I also own a DeWalt and will never be without one. I charge it when I service my pickup along with my impact wrench and have never had either one die on me.

 

[Flogger]

same applies to airless paint sprayers as well as hydraulic hoses and pipes on tractors. Have a buddy who had to have his lower arm amputated from a close encounter with an airless sprayer

I use to get quite rough when I found someone running a hand down a leaking hydraulic line. All of my shops had a box that was full of flaps cut from cardboard boxes. Great way to find a leak. I consider myself lucky that in 15 years I didn't have to deal with an injection injury.

 

[keg99]

Best addition I ever added to my grease gun was a locking connector. No need to push & hold the connector to the zert fitting. Just lock it on and it never leaks when pushing grease into the fitting. For me, it has been a great addition to my electric grease gun. BTW, mine is a Milwaukee and it also makes the clicking sound different when out of grease. Pulling the handle is a better way to keep track, tho.