Zerk/grease gun 101

[dragoneggs]

Great thread! Was thinking of starting one on this topic, but wasn't sure if there would be an interest or if it would be considered too basic. Here's my question: does every grease gun leak? Are some better than others when it comes to leaking, changing cartridges, general usage? I've picked up several over the years (all cheap ones) and I'm just wondering if its worth "investing" in a good one - will I notice any difference? My only frame of reference was when I went from always getting/using a cheap caulk gun to a "professional" model, it made a world of difference!

Keep the posts coming!

Thanks Kubota Tee! I started this thread thinking the same thing... too basic? Hence Grease Gun 101 title but the conversation is what I was hoping for!

 

[farmgirl19]

Great thread! Was thinking of starting one on this topic, but wasn't sure if there would be an interest or if it would be considered too basic. Here's my question: does every grease gun leak? Are some better than others when it comes to leaking, changing cartridges, general usage? I've picked up several over the years (all cheap ones) and I'm just wondering if its worth "investing" in a good one - will I notice any difference? My only frame of reference was when I went from always getting/using a cheap caulk gun to a "professional" model, it made a world of difference!

Keep the posts coming!

I think the grease you have in the gun is the key on how much it leaks. (Provided you aren't using a really cheap gun.) I have one that has not leaked at all, this summer, and used to leak enough to make a big mess. If you get a grease that doesn't separate as easily, it will stay in the gun MUCH better.

 

[ENC]

Also some times a Zerk wont take grease, because the pin joint is in a bind, you can move the joint or take pressure off of it by moving the backhoe or letting it rest on the ground. When you hold the tip on good and tight and straight, and attempt to pump grease do you feel resistance? In other words you cannot pump? If so then it could be stopped up like we have all mentioned but it could be you need to move the joint relieve pressure on it. I hope this made some sense.

James K0UA

Thanks but the loader is on the ground and a lot of time I have been able to move the loader arms back and forth on the pin so resistance is minimal. The gun shows no resistance at all on these zerks. Like if i try to grease the serks on the turnbuckle that adjusts the height of my lift arms the resistance is huge and you can't pump the gun. I always just figured that was because it never gets adjusted from level and stays full of grease. I am thinking the zerks are just clogged.

 

[k0ua]

Thanks but the loader is on the ground and a lot of time I have been able to move the loader arms back and forth on the pin so resistance is minimal. The gun shows no resistance at all on these zerks. Like if i try to grease the serks on the turnbuckle that adjusts the height of my lift arms the resistance is huge and you can't pump the gun. I always just figured that was because it never gets adjusted from level and stays full of grease. I am thinking the zerks are just clogged.

On that particular Zerk, take the tip of your pocket knife and press on the tiny check ball on the Zerk, If grease oozes's out, you are good to go. Some items have no outlet for the grease to come out, and if they are full, their full. End of story.

James K0UA

 

[murphy1244]

On that particular Zerk, take the tip of your pocket knife and press on the tiny check ball on the Zerk, If grease oozes's out, you are good to go. Some items have no outlet for the grease to come out, and if they are full, their full. End of story.

James K0UA

Kioti DK series has a center steering zerk like that, only needs greasing once a year I'm told.

 

[Ross71]

Funny that you find the flexi hose to be such an improvement. I had constant trouble greasing round machinery. I'm no weakling, but I could never seem to get the grease to go in through the fitting. Everywhere else, just not into the thing that needed greasing. a side lever grease gun is difficilt to operate one handed if you have to use the other hand to hold the grease gun nozzle onto the nipple. On my chinese tractor, some of the loader pins had the grease nipple recessed a 1/4" into the end of the pin, but the diameter of the recess was too small to get the end of a grease gun into. It used to be such a daunting and frustrating task, and even when I had greased round I never had any confidence that I'd done it properly. Not a good way to be. I didn't actually use the tractor that much or often the first couple of years I owned it, and I probably used it less than I would have if I'd felt that it was at least getting basic servicing.

Then everything changed and I was using the tractor 30 hours a week instead of 30 hours a year.

I solved these issues by buying a pistol grip grease gun with a straight delivery pipe, which seemed to solve the first problem. Then I bought a spare grease nozzle and got a friend to turn 40 thou off the diameter at the end(but leaving the knurling intact) which gave enough clearance on the recessed grease fittings.

I replaced the (far east)grease nipples everywhere they didn't want to work with fittings from the german tractor dealership. Then I pulled all the pins which wouldn't take grease, and cleaned out the accumulation of dirt/dried on grease, cleaned the pin, cleaned the bearing that it sits in, new grease, reassemble and no more problems.

Some of these issues were due to my inexperience allowing the problems to persist unsolved, some were I think due to poor manufacturing in the first place. The upshot is that there's about 32 grease nipples on my tractor and loader and it takes less than 10 minutes to do them all, and check oil and coolant.

 

[Wagtail]

Oscar Zerk invented an improved design for grease nipples hence the name, his design was licensed to the Alemite Co., which was already making another fitting that was less successful at sealing out dirt, and letting grease in.

Grease fitting and grease nipple are also used.

Thanks wikipedia.
Thomas

Ta, Mate. I'm glad (and relieved) that it's not Political Correctness rearing its ugly head! :laughing: I reckon that you in North America would've been just as confused were I to refer to a ball-point pen as a "Biro"... for the same reason that he invented/patented it.

OK! Back to Grease nipple/Zerk FUN!

 

[allen6634]

On that particular Zerk, take the tip of your pocket knife and press on the tiny check ball on the Zerk, If grease oozes's out, you are good to go. Some items have no outlet for the grease to come out, and if they are full, their full. End of story.

James K0UA

i have found that a air operated gun will push the grease out harder so the stubborn ones end up taking grease.

 

[BXpanded]

What do you do when the grease come out around the tip and zero area instead of flowing through the zero to the area that needs greased?

If the coupling is adjusted and seated properly on the fitting, there should be no grease coming out of the connection. If the fitting is stopped up or the pin is plugged, you might not be able to pump the grease, but it really should not leak. Check the Alemite (another common term for grease fittings) for damage. A tiny nick in the end will cause it to leak as the coupling can't seal. Also, if the grease fitting is slightly loose, the grease will come out of the threads and appear to be coming from the coupling. I ran into the situation last week where a fitting on a machine in the shop had been hit with a piece of metal. The fitting was nicked on the end and the fitting was cocked slightly in the threaded hole. Grease was coming out at the coupling and from the threads where the fitting screwed into the machine. We replaced the fitting using hydraulic fitting sealant on the threads and took care of the problem.

 

[ENC]

If the coupling is adjusted and seated properly on the fitting, there should be no grease coming out of the connection. If the fitting is stopped up or the pin is plugged, you might not be able to pump the grease, but it really should not leak. Check the Alemite (another common term for grease fittings) for damage. A tiny nick in the end will cause it to leak as the coupling can't seal. Also, if the grease fitting is slightly loose, the grease will come out of the threads and appear to be coming from the coupling. I ran into the situation last week where a fitting on a machine in the shop had been hit with a piece of metal. The fitting was nicked on the end and the fitting was cocked slightly in the threaded hole. Grease was coming out at the coupling and from the threads where the fitting screwed into the machine. We replaced the fitting using hydraulic fitting sealant on the threads and took care of the problem.

Might be another thing to check maybe the easiest because like I said the tractor only has 80 hours which means this is the 8th time these fittings have been greased which seems a little early for failure.
While we are on the subject I included a picture of what I use for our trashcan. Got it form a service shop I used to work at in my college days.