Why won't my grease gun hold onto the zerk?

[PandDLong]

I've been challenged in the past with being unable to remove my gun from the zerk but through the many posts on that topic here on TBN, I am on the road to being able to do that without breaking things. Part of that solution was learning to adjust the end of the gun by twisting the knurled portion.

BUT when I greased my FEL recently, 4 (out of 16) fittings wouldn't hold the gun. If it was vertical and the gun underneath, the end would just slide off the fitting. In the other cases, when I squeezed the trigger, the grease would push the gun off the fitting and just put grease all over the outside of the fitting. Trying to hold the gun onto the fitting didn't work either as the pressure of the grease just squeezed out around the fitting instead of into it and when I let go the gun just fell off the zerk. I tried it with having the knurled portion of the gun adjusted to the max (in each direction) but it didn't seem to make any difference - it still just slipped off.

I will add that my tractor is new and this was only the second greasing - I didn't have this problem the first time.

Is my gun worn out? Are those fittings worn out? Do I just need more practice?

Help!

 

[murphy1244]

either the zerk fitting is clogged or your full up

 

[Bird]

If tightening the knurled portion of the gun didn't keep it on, and it was all the way on before you tightened it, then I'd say the grease gun fitting is work out; never heard of a zerk being worn out, although as Murphy said, if it's clogged, that might account for the problem.

 

[Baby Grand]

Try this:

Put the grease gun onto the zerk fitting.
Turn the knurled part until it won't let go of the zerk.
Squeeze the gun.
Readjust the knurled end to release the gun.

On my L3240 there seem to be slightly different sized zerks.
Adjusting the knurled bit to fit one doesn't guarantee that it will fit the next one.

If you can get it on the zerk and lock it on, but the grease still won't go in (lever of gun will be very hard to squeeze) then you have a blockage in the tractor end of the grease circuit. May need one of these tools:

Rejuvenate Stuck Grease Fittings And Joints | Toolmonger

-Jim

 

[Soundguy]

if it's on a pin joint.. exercise the joint.

otherwise if it is a removeable zerk.. remove it and see if a new zerk helps.

 

[murphy1244]

I have fittings that I raise the loader then grease

 

[JD 4520]

if it's on a pin joint.. exercise the joint.

otherwise if it is a removeable zerk.. remove it and see if a new zerk helps.

Or remove. The zerk and using you grease gun see if you can clean it. Then you'll know if its the zerk or gun or something else

 

[sixdogs]

Tighten the end of the grease gun connection. If not loose it has to be sloppy from wear. My guess is the end of the grease gun connection just needs to be tightened.

 

[PandDLong]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will retry tightening the end of the gun. I don't think the zero is blocked as the gun won't lock onto it, with gravity or a light pull it just slides off.


If tightening the end doesn't work, I'll buy a new end (if that's even possible in today's disposable society, I might need a new gun). I didn't know the ends could wear out and the gun isn't very old - but it was cheap!

 

[lew61]

Cheap gun = cheap end. Replacement ends are available. I might add, that on my new tractor, several of the zerks were loose. I found this out when one of them broke off because it wasn't threaded snug. Something to check. Good luck.

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will retry tightening the end of the gun. I don't think the zero is blocked as the gun won't lock onto it, with gravity or a light pull it just slides off.


If tightening the end doesn't work, I'll buy a new end (if that's even possible in today's disposable society, I might need a new gun). I didn't know the ends could wear out and the gun isn't very old - but it was cheap!

most guns with hoses or rigid tubes DO have replaceable ends.. in fact.. I don't recall seeing one without.. even the 5$ ones at Harbor freight.

 

[sixdogs]

Thanks for the suggestions. ...

...

I didn't know the ends could wear out and the gun isn't very old - but it was cheap!

Bingo...I think we have a winner.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Also not mentioned, make sure the gun is going on fully. If you have been using it, there may be dirt gathered around the zerk and not allowing the gun to get fully on especially if the zerk is in a cavity. Clean around the zerk to remove all dirt and try that before replacing the gun end or the zerks. I have rarely seen a grease gun used enough by hobbist to wear them out.

 

[Deere Dude]

What about heating the zerk with a propane torch for a few seconds to loosen things up?

 

[Soundguy]

I have rarely seen a grease gun used enough by hobbist to wear them out.

i've worn out 3 myself, all napa models.. many from years back before china mart was open. my current 2 guns i'm using, a hand grip pump and a lever gun. the hand grip is chaina mart.. and the lever is my last napa gun.

it's lower seal plunger is on the way out but still works.

both have been thru 2 hoses.

I havn't worn any ends out.. but then I use about 4 ends. 1 right angle.. 1 45 slide on, and 2 straight on, plus a needle type.. forgot tht one. so each end gets less use then each gun in whole.

 

[rd_macgregor]

So, when adjusting the grease gun nozzle, which way tightens its grip? Mine will grab on to some zerks so hard that its a struggle to get it off; on a clogged zerk, it becomes seriously stuck after I've applied a bunch of pressure to the hose. Without changing the nozzle adjustment, the nozzle just pops right off some other zerks -- even matching ones on the FEL (ie, so they should be the same size)-- or sometimes will hold onto the zerk just fine, but grease oozes out around the nozzle rather than going into/through the zerk. Man, what a frustrating mess when that happens!
BOB

 

[kevin37b]

Yes you can get different ends . I had a buddy show me the difference between a 4 jaw coupler and a 3 jaw , the fingers inside the coupler . T HE FOUR JAW IS SUPERIOR . You may need to relax the the load on some pins or rotate them some .The problem is they fit these pins very tight without a machined groove for reliefof grease , saving money . I have noticed this on cheap builds . On most of what I run, the zerks are centered in the end of the pin and machined to accept lube . The problem you are having is the old drill a hole in the sleeve technology , stick a zerk in it that looks good . PROBLEM is they get very hard to deal with , they won'ttake grease . And a cheap grease gun is you're worst enemy .

 

[jinman]

Yes you can get different ends . I had a buddy show me the difference between a 4 jaw coupler and a 3 jaw , the fingers inside the coupler . T HE FOUR JAW IS SUPERIOR .

Yes! Let me be the first to agree. The 4-jaw type is superior to the 3-jaw models. I have a $200 Lincoln electric that came with a 3-jaw. I changed to the 4-jaw and it works better. There are always tough zerks, but a 4-jaw is the best in my opinion. Also, I think sometimes electric guns are their own worst enemy. With a manual grease gun, I can feel when there is back pressure and apply gentle force that often breaks the clog. With an electric, it's all or nothing and the jaws spew before the zerk has a chance to clear. Everything has it's pluses and minuses.

 

[timswi]

Yes! Let me be the first to agree. The 4-jaw type is superior to the 3-jaw models. I have a $200 Lincoln electric that came with a 3-jaw. I changed to the 4-jaw and it works better. There are always tough zerks, but a 4-jaw is the best in my opinion. Also, I think sometimes electric guns are their own worst enemy. With a manual grease gun, I can feel when there is back pressure and apply gentle force that often breaks the clog. With an electric, it's all or nothing and the jaws spew before the zerk has a chance to clear. Everything has it's pluses and minuses.

Very true...mine is an air gun and you really don't know what kind of resistance your getting...pluses and minuses I guess.

 

[Gary Fowler]

i've worn out 3 myself, all napa models.. many from years back before china mart was open. my current 2 guns i'm using, a hand grip pump and a lever gun. the hand grip is chaina mart.. and the lever is my last napa gun.

it's lower seal plunger is on the way out but still works.

both have been thru 2 hoses.

I havn't worn any ends out.. but then I use about 4 ends. 1 right angle.. 1 45 slide on, and 2 straight on, plus a needle type.. forgot tht one. so each end gets less use then each gun in whole.

I sure hope you don't consider yourself a hobbist person with all the tractors and equipment that you run (I count 23 in your avatar) Even when we farmed, ran cotton pickers and combines, I never wore out a grease gun tip. I would go thru 4 or 5 of the 5 gallon pails of spindle grease per year plus what ever we used with tube type grease guns. The gun I used to grease the cotton picker held 5 gallons of grease but it wasn't the type that used the pail. It looked like an army Gerry can with pump and hose on it.