Grease gun question

[fuzzydawg]

Need advice on what kind of grease gun you experienced guys are using.

I've been diligently greasing all the zerks on my 'Bota, FEL, and rotary mower (aka brush-hog except I don't think I'm supposed to call it that...). I was doing some maintenance yesterday on the mower, replacing the tail wheel fork (got a little hasty backing into brush and rammed a stump) and discovered the fork shaft was bone dry. So, I put my grease gun on the zerk and gave it several squeezes, watching to see what happened inside the shaft tube. Nothing came through, although some grease oozed out around the zerk on the outside.

So, now I'm worried that all the places I've been greasing may not have actually gotten lubed. Been using a non-pneumatic grease gun. Do most of you use a pneumatic gun? Thoughts? Thanks...

 

[PA452]

I've never used a pneumatic grease gun, so I can't speak to that. But in general if grease is squirting out around the fitting, it's not going where it's supposed to go. You should see it come out at the pivot point (or somewhere other than the fitting).

I would say if you have grease just squirting out around the fitting, it's usually one of four things:

1. You don't have the grease gun on the fitting straight or the nozzle on the gun is worn out (more likely the former than the latter).
2. The fitting or item you're greasing is full of dirt or it's dry and the grease can't penetrate it. But if it's being regularly greased this isn't likely. I tend to find this is the case with something that hasn't been greased in a long time.
3. The fitting is loose and needs tightened.
4. Sometimes if pressure is on the part you're greasing it can prevent grease from entering. Not always the case, but it happens depending on what you're dealing with.

In the case of your brush hog since you said it was bone dry, I would remove the fitting, make sure the hole to the inner shaft is clear. Then examine the fitting. Does it look damaged? Is it clogged with dirt? Maybe you can clean it up, maybe it would have to be replaced. If you have the wheel out, I'd clean everything up and grease the shaft directly before reassembling too. Then from then on keep it greased with the fitting and your grease gun.

 

[Lil Foot]

I use both a large & small hand operated grease guns. If you go pneumatic, stay away from Harbor Freight. I've had two, and two buddies each had one- they all worked great when we got them, but as soon as they sit for a while, the diaphragm shrinks, will not seal, and so they stop pumping grease. I have heard nothing but good on the battery-op guns.

 

[zippyslug31]

I actually picked up one of those small Harbor Freight manual jobs, along with the flex hose add-on. So far, so good but I wouldn't depend on it for heavy use.
Side note, it does help to break the adjustable tip free and open it to connect, and then twist it close around the zerk. This extra "grab" on the nipple seems to help force the grease in.

 

[bh115577]

I've got this one: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2646-22ct for the shop at home. I do a lot of greasing and this gun makes it almost fun.

 

[GWD]

Two recommendations:

1. http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-1162-Air-Operated-Grease/dp/B0019COQ6C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1448046835&sr=8-4&keywords=lincoln+grease+gun

2. http://www.amazon.com/LockNLube-Grease-Gun-Coupler-Lock-/dp/B00H7LPKKU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1448046927&sr=8-3&keywords=grease+gun+fittings

I have three of these Lincoln pneumatic guns and they are great. The "LockNLube" is perfect for tractors...especially in joints where it is difficult to get a coupler off because of a recessed Zerk.

The "LockNLube" has a bit larger diameter and is longer so one of the Lincoln guns has a regular coupler just in case something doesn't fit up right. A couple of Zerks on my chipper are examples.

If you have a Zerk that doesn't want to take grease, remove it and try to pump grease through it while removed.

If the grease goes through then it is not the Zerk. No grease going through = replace the Zerk.

Most guns will become very hard to pump if grease is not being taken by the joint. If it is easy to pump and no grease (or very little grease) is coming out around the Zerk then the joint is OK.

I tend to pump grease until it can be seen oozing out of the ends of the joint. Not all joints work that way, but most do.

 

[85Hokie]

GWD made a great suggestion

My wife bought me the lincoln grease gun for my birthday several years ago and it is worth every cent.......

got a lock-n-lube on the end and hell greasing is fun!! wellllll almost!

I can hit all 40+ zerks on my BX25d without too much of a fuse.....some are tricky.

Fuzzy dog - you will find that sometimes a zerk is frozen - tap a small nail and press on the tip and see if it moves....or sometimes you have to replace the zerk.

 

[PA452]

Compared to a lot of tractors I've greased, my BX23 is a treat. Every zerk is really easy to access.

 

[William1]

Too many zerks on the Kubota to use a manual one. I too, bought a Lincoln 1162. I also got a lock N Lube tool so I can attach the gun to the hard to get to ones and the fire at will. The only one the tool cannot get onto is the fitting at the pedal. For that one I bout a 2" long zerk, attached the regular press and hold fitting on the other end and use it as an 'adapter' for that one spot.
If a zerk does not take grease, either the zerk is damaged or clogged. You can see if it is damaged (nicks or bent). If it is clogged, they sell hydraulic, hammer operated 'cleaners' that a rap with a hammer, force thin oil in and flushes what ever was blocking it. Or for a dollar, replace the zerk.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I have a couple lincoln grase guns, one made in germany. Alemite is good too.
I had a economy brand air powered gun, didnt get one tube of grease through it.
Cordless is the way to go.

Lever type guns produce an incredible amount of pressure.

 

[Bulldog]

My most used gun is a 1162 lincoln, very nice dependable gun. Just guessing but I would say it's had at least 10 cases run thru it so far and not a minutes trouble. I also use a lincoln electric gun when I need to grease away from home. I keep a hand pump at my shed for greasing drive shafts and such on my hay mower that way I can hook it up and be ready to use it. Have a big high volume gun with a 8' hose to grease under the belly of my dozer. It's easier to let someone pump from the outside. Also keep a cheap pneumatic at my shop just in case.

Hands down the 1162 is my favorite but they all have their uses. That and the electric are by far the best guns I've ever owned.

 

[yamatitan]

I've got this one: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2646-22ct for the shop at home. I do a lot of greasing and this gun makes it almost fun.

I use the same one its awesome.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Dittos the Lincoln and the EZ clip. Very nice combo.

 

[wv bc owner]

I found a C H brand pneumatic at my local tractor supply for around 20 bucks. Works real good for greasing my deck and other equipment. Same price as H F but better made.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[skeets]

I always like this one

https://youtu.be/iooEFLPHZx4?t=86

 

[Daren Todd]

I use a blue point continuous duty grease gun. More out of convenience then anything else. I've had really good look with it. And if you have a zirc fitting that's being stubborn. You can just squeeze and release the trigger repeatedly force grease through it.

 

[Cottonwood]

I have had an battery operated one for years, and just bought a tool only 18v DeWalt, since I already had the batteries. Works like a charm!

 

[rentthis]

I saw the lock and lube mentioned on this site a couple of years ago. That with a good quality grease gun was an answer to a prayer.

 

[Billdog350]

I work for DeWalt (Stanley) and love their 20v Max 10,000 psi grease gun. I use it on my Takeuchi and Kubota often and I'm VERY happy with the build quality. I had two Harbor Freight ones and an Amptron or something like that...all were junk compared to the Dewalt. Paired with the lock and lube and greasing becomes fun!

 

[Burt]

Need advice on what kind of grease gun you experienced guys are using.

I've been diligently greasing all the zerks on my 'Bota, FEL, and rotary mower (aka brush-hog except I don't think I'm supposed to call it that...). I was doing some maintenance yesterday on the mower, replacing the tail wheel fork (got a little hasty backing into brush and rammed a stump) and discovered the fork shaft was bone dry. So, I put my grease gun on the zerk and gave it several squeezes, watching to see what happened inside the shaft tube. Nothing came through, although some grease oozed out around the zerk on the outside.

So, now I'm worried that all the places I've been greasing may not have actually gotten lubed. Been using a non-pneumatic grease gun. Do most of you use a pneumatic gun? Thoughts? Thanks...

fuzzydawg,

Lock n Lube.

Burt