Grease Guns

[seal oil]

Canadian Tire has a 12volt one on sale this week . I don't know if it is a good one or not .

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . Seems hanging the grease gun bottom up during warm weather has eliminated the problem.

^ yeah, that.

 

[ovrszd]

I have a bunch of Dewalt Cordless tools, but they are all NiCad. I wanted to try Milwaukee brand tools and also switch to Lithium batteries. To keep the cost down, I bough a refurbished gun through CPO outlets. I have purchased a couple other tools from them, and been very pleased.Paid about $125 and liked it so much, a week later I bought an impact driver to go with it. If you do much greasing, and you know you should, battery operated is so much easier and cleaner. One hand still has to get greasy from the Zerk, but the pump hand stays clean. Is applies good pressure, and is easy to load and doesn't seem to get airlockks like the hand pump did. Plus no hand cramping . I'm wishing I had got this thing 10 years ago.

Yeah, my Dewalt starts a new tube every time with no bleeding. Just pull the trigger and wait a few seconds and it'll pump out all the air.

 

[alafarm]

I had a cheap grease gun, it air locked all the time. So, I bought a nice 50 dollar one a few years back. It air locked just as bad as the 16 dollar one! I have tried everything, including taking the pressure off when not in use. Bottom line if it sits for a couple of months without use it air locks! I have been thinking of trying one of the pneumatic ones or electric?

 

[k0ua]

I had a cheap grease gun, it air locked all the time. So, I bought a nice 50 dollar one a few years back. It air locked just as bad as the 16 dollar one! I have tried everything, including taking the pressure off when not in use. Bottom line if it sits for a couple of months without use it air locks! I have been thinking of trying one of the pneumatic ones or electric?

Interesting, I have 4, I have never had this problem with any of them..

 

[ovrszd]

I'm like James. I don't understand the constant air lock problem. I'm suspecting the grease more than the gun. I bought some grease at the local farm supply store several years ago, can't remember the brand or type. In warm conditions the guns would drip oil out the bottom of them. I can only imagine how ineffective that grease was as a lubricant on anything that created the slightest bit of heat. But I still don't recall them air locking.

 

[newbury]

Loosen the jaws of the nozzle. Perhaps putting it on a little loose and applying pressure to keep it tight.

all the grease guns I have you can adjust the end by turning it so it isn't to hard to get off some Zerks.

Yep. Sometimes with use they'll get out of adjustment but a quick turn with your fingers and everything is good again.

I bought one of the lock n lube ends. I pumped a couple tubes of grease thru it and took it off. Too bulky. Too slow. A properly adjusted normal end works better for me. I am a grease freak and use a LOT of grease in a year.

And for the neophytes what they are writing about is the 2 section end of the tip which often seems to be screwed together by an 800 pound gorilla with a 4 foot wrench. I've had several that I've had to use my biggest vice grips on them to loosen them the first time.

I had a cheap grease gun, it air locked all the time. So, I bought a nice 50 dollar one a few years back. It air locked just as bad as the 16 dollar one! I have tried everything, including taking the pressure off when not in use. Bottom line if it sits for a couple of months without use it air locks! I have been thinking of trying one of the pneumatic ones or electric?

Try hanging it where it's warm.

 

[Sodo]

Great info on the DeWalt. Electric sounds like adding a 3rd hand! DeWalt sure has made a difference whether I pick up the screwgun or the hammer. My eqpt will get greased more often - I'm gonna order one ASAP.

I have all 18v tools, they are NiCad. Is there an adapter to put 20v Li batteries on an 18v tool? Or some other 18v battery? Sure seems like there would be a market for tool battery adapters to mix & match brands. Gotta wonder if the mfrs are preventing such devices somehow - is there a DeWalt lobbyist in DC? Almost makes me want to buy a 3D printer!

+1 on the lock-n-lube coupling, that made a huge difference in ease and minimizing the mess (and the waste).

 

[Coyote machine]

There are good directions on how to load a grease gun to eliminate airlocks on the net. I searched a while back and printed out the directions for reference. I have both a lever and pistol grip gun. I use the lock n lube tip most often on a flex hose lever action TSC gun. It works well. I load by removing the head unit, inserting the cartridge of grease with the plunger locked in full out position. Then I screw the head unit on, BUT don't tighten it tight, release the plunger to push out any air, then after grease starts to exit the threaded section of the gun's threads, I tighten the head on tight.
I use good to high end grease from wherever, mostly TSC, and hang the gun upside down on the overhead door jam extension. I clean each zerk before attaching the Lock n lube end, then put the gun somewhere where I can push down toward the gun with both hands on the lever arm, for difficult to grease zerks.
Since using the Lock n lube end, I'd say there are no zerks that will not submit to my superior intelligence.

Grease guns are mostly devoid of instructions, and I did fight with mine until I figured out that the nozzle tip would release from the shrouded zerks, and other difficult to disconnect from zerks by adjusting the 3-4 jaw tip pieces, by undoing the nozzle end and adjusting the jaws so they will actually release.

My suggestion is to write down or print out what works well for you and post it, as I did near the grease gun hanger for easy reference, especially if you use your gun infrequently.

Grease guns in general are a PITA, but keeping them clean, and the OP clean is easier with paper towel rags and neoprene disposable gloves and the Lock n lube end, IMHO.

Here's a very through video of how to load, purge air, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4FeaYOZGoo

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Great info on the DeWalt. Electric sounds like adding a 3rd hand! DeWalt sure has made a difference whether I pick up the screwgun or the hammer. My eqpt will get greased more often - I'm gonna order one ASAP.

I have all 18v tools, they are NiCad. Is there an adapter to put 20v Li batteries on an 18v tool? Or some other 18v battery? Sure seems like there would be a market for tool battery adapters to mix & match brands. Gotta wonder if the mfrs are preventing such devices somehow - is there a DeWalt lobbyist in DC? Almost makes me want to buy a 3D printer!

+1 on the lock-n-lube coupling, that made a huge difference in ease and minimizing the mess (and the waste).

I actually like the 18v NiCad, you can take them apart and rebuild them, haven't because can find cost effect, Dewalts 18v bare tools were cheap, looks like getting rid of them and going to 20v?, had all dewalt 18v impacks, saw the 18v grease gun as bare tool, same issues with hand grease gun, should have gone too electric grease gun long time ago. I actually buy my tools based on the availability and the cost of the battery. I don't know how many times I have thrown out a perfectly good tool because the replacement batteries cost too much. Now we have gone to buying the tool around the battery and buy a whole bunch of replacement batteries. Looks Dewalts 18v bare tools are cheap right now.

 

[alafarm]

Interesting, I have 4, I have never had this problem with any of them..

Like wise, I don't understand not having trouble with them! I have used all kinds of manual grease guns at work loaded by myself and others and they all air lock to some degree. Like wise with the grease. I have used everything on the market I assume, from the cheapest to the 10 dollar a tube stuff and If I let it sit under pressure for a few weeks they all drip oil, especially in the summer.

 

[murphy1244]

Like wise, I don't understand not having trouble with them! I have used all kinds of manual grease guns at work loaded by myself and others and they all air lock to some degree. Like wise with the grease. I have used everything on the market I assume, from the cheapest to the 10 dollar a tube stuff and If I let it sit under pressure for a few weeks they all drip oil, especially in the summer.

Mine have a bleeder plug on the hose side of the gun. Load it up loosen the plug, let go the plunger and tighten and go.

 

[sixdogs]

I don't have airlock issues but I do have a question. My grease gun has a plunger button on the top of the gun. Is that button to be used as in post #53 above in that it purges air when you push the plunger forward?

 

[murphy1244]

I don't have airlock issues but I do have a question. My grease gun has a plunger button on the top of the gun. Is that button to be used as in post #53 above in that it purges air when you push the plunger forward?

Yes sir.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I have all 18v tools, they are NiCad. Is there an adapter to put 20v Li batteries on an 18v tool? Or some other 18v battery? Sure seems like there would be a market for tool battery adapters to mix & match brands. Gotta wonder if the mfrs are preventing such devices somehow - is there a DeWalt lobbyist in DC? Almost makes me want to buy a 3D printer!
<snip>

Of course the mfg's are against it! An adapter might break all kinds of patents.

Just google dewalt ryobi battery.

For a 3d Printer app look at what this guy did
How to make a 3d Printed Cordless Drill Battery Adapter

 

[oldtimer 66]

FYI, here is what I do with my grease gun. I had already posted this info else where. It has nothing to do with LockNLube adapter and the electric battery grease guns. I had an electric/ battery grease gun and gave it away because I prefer the air one. but it is what I did to make greasing anything easier. Maybe this will help other members and or this is a common thing that everybody does. I do not know. I have an original pistol grip grease gun from the 60"s which I used all of the time. Maybe about 15 years ago I added and extension hose, 3 of them in fact to the grease gun. Sure makes it easier. No need to worry about getting the grease gun into tight places. One hand on the hose and one hand on the grease gun. I thought about putting another length of hose on but this works good. I have had to replace the end hose a couple of times because it takes most of the abuse. Five or six years ago I upgraded to a air driven grease gun, a low cost from Lowes. It still works. It surprises me. Like I said maybe this hose extension stuff is a common thing that everybody does. The second item is the grease adapter. I purchased this back in the 60's for my mothers Buick convertible at the time. The Buick had a split drive shaft with a carrier bearing that needed greased occasionally and this was the adapter I bought. It is an aluminum body with an hardened tip. It was designed for the carrier bearing application but it fits almost perfectly into the ball check on a zerk fitting. I use it on those tight spots where you cannot get coupler on, AKA u-joints, axle shafts etc. Hold it straight on and pull the trigger. I am not saying you will not pop out a ball check once in a while but it sure saves a lot of aggravation. Somebody may make this style of adapter now, I do not know. I have other grease adapters but this one with the hardened tip works great as noted. Also I was never in love with those lever arm grease guns. If you want a mechanical grease gun a pistol grip to me is the way to go. Hopefully somebody can benefit from my post. Later-

 

[Sodo]

I just ordered an 18v DeWalt grease gun, $157 with case. You guys better not be foolin'!

This Lucas drill powered grease gun on Amazon looks like its about half the size of the DeWalt, and $100 less. But the reviews on the DeWalt are generally 4 or 5 stars. DeWalt has a 42 inch hose. And a case to leak into.

 

[oldtimer 66]

If it has the 42" hose you will really like it. That in it's self will make it a lot easier to grease things. Another thing about the grease that you use. I have been using John Deere grease probably for over 25 years. I buy it in the 10 cartridge package, maybe 2 to 3 cases a year at the most. It has never separated. That's it. Later

 

[MacLawn]

What a relevant post for me! Just yesterday, I was trying to grease the few fittings on my truck. No go. old-timer, that air compressor gun you show there looks like it'd work good. I'm spoiled because I worked at real Service Stations way back where we had huge air compressor grease guns. Never saw a fitting I couldn't grease with that thing. I've researched a long time to find a good grease gun. I think I'll check out that air compressor type like you show there. What say y'all boys?

Oh, one other thing. When I was trying to grease me truck yesterday, it came to me that there needs to be an L shaped grease gun end. I cannot get those long metal tips on so many fittings very easy. Do they make such a thing?

 

[Professor Marvel]

I just ordered an 18v DeWalt grease gun, $157 with case. You guys better not be foolin'!

This Lucas drill powered grease gun on Amazon looks like its about half the size of the DeWalt, and $100 less. But the reviews on the DeWalt are generally 4 or 5 stars. DeWalt has a 42 inch hose. And a case to leak into.

I think you will like it. Make sure you tighten all connections before you hit the button. I had 1 loose fitting and on my first zerk i ended up with a pile of grease all over me before I realized it. That wasn't a surprise to me its just the way I roll.