using a grease gun

[mikeyd]

I have been using grease guns my whole life, so you would think I would know the definitive answer to this question, but I don't. Sooo, here goes. When putting in a new cartridge, you have to pull the plunger handle on the bottom of the gun and lock it in the detent. Unscrew tube, pull out the old cartridge put in the new, screw tube back. Release plunger handle.

Now, what the heck are you supposed to do with the plunger handle because it is hanging out several inches from the bottom of the tube. Are you supposed to force it all the way up the tube or just enough to get the air out. If not forced all the way in it gets in the way when greasing and with my new electric lincoln I can't get it back in the case. On my manual guns I have always forced the plunger in, on the lincoln when I do that it won't pull the grease past the plunger so I am left with a mess when I want to switch out cartridges.

I did read some previous post. Some say just release the plunger and others say "push it all the way home"

 

[Builder]

I have been using grease guns my whole life, so you would think I would know the definitive answer to this question, but I don't. Sooo, here goes. When putting in a new cartridge, you have to pull the plunger handle on the bottom of the gun and lock it in the detent. Unscrew tube, pull out the old cartridge put in the new, screw tube back. Release plunger handle.

Now, what the heck are you supposed to do with the plunger handle because it is hanging out several inches from the bottom of the tube. Are you supposed to force it all the way up the tube or just enough to get the air out. If not forced all the way in it gets in the way when greasing and with my new electric lincoln I can't get it back in the case. On my manual guns I have always forced the plunger in, on the lincoln when I do that it won't pull the grease past the plunger so I am left with a mess when I want to switch out cartridges.

I did read some previous post. Some say just release the plunger and others say "push it all the way home"

On my Lincoln, I just unlock the handle from the detent and let it go in as far as it can. usually after greasing my backhoe or my dumptruck, I go through so much grease that I notice the handle goes all the way in anyway. Try rotating the handle and applying some grease, then try to push it in some more. It should work its' way in once the tube gets depleted.

 

[DieselPower]

I have a couple of Lincoln's, manual and air operated. I have alway's just pushed the handle back in. Can't say I have ever run into that problem before. Here's something you might want to try. If you still have another gun around try pulling the tube off of it and sticking it on the new one. I think the thread pitch on the tubes is universal.

 

[Soundguy]

I've never had a problem just pushing the tube in.. I've got 2 napa guns.. and old one that is lever action and has a hose.... and a newer one that is hand grip pump and has a ridgid tube. Both have an air bleed screw.. however i usually screw the caps on a couple threads.. then release the grease plunger and then tighten it up.. all the air comes out and hardly EVER any grease makes it out the threads as long as you don't mess around tightening that cap..

Soundguy

 

[schiker]

The only time I have had that problem is when the catridge side wall is damaged or something is wrong with the piston/plunger?seal. I had one hang up and not want to slide up the cartridge as grease was used. I think a bad cartridge bent and creased the seal on the piston and then it did not want to smoothly "climb into the cartridge". So I just bought another one. If everthing is ok I just push the rod in all the way.

Next time take everything apart and clean it up really good and see how it fits in a good empty cartride to make sure its seating in the cartridge correctly.

 

[MadDogDriver]

Plunger should be fully retracted.

Sometimes you need to "burp" your gun. You can either use the bleed button, if available, or do like Soundguy has mentioned.