Stupid darn grease guns

[skargo]

Why do I always have issues with getting grease guns to work properly?

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

If you're referring to it getting airlocked, pull the follower rod out and rotate it until it locks w/ piston. Then grasp the head in your left hand(assuming you're right handed),pull the follower rod handle hard into your stomach and pump until it starts pushing grease out the end of the hose. This has always worked for me, maybe someone else has a simpler solution.
HTH,
Mike

 

[skargo]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

I can never tell if the rod locks onto the piston or not.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

Don't know what brand you have, most good guns(alemite,lincoln,NAPA) have the setup to lock rod to piston. Pull the rod out 'til it is against the piston, then rotate rod 'til you feel it pull out a fraction of an inch further, then turn it a 1/4 turn. Then see if you can push the rod back in w/ gentle force. If not, you have it locked to the piston. If you can't find the notch using this method the gun probably doesn't have this feature. I know the chinese air powered guns don't have it. In their case you have to unscrew the hose or pipe from the gun head and pump 'til it works the air out.
I have a cordless Lincoln I bought at a yard sale for $10 w/o the batt. It's never had grease in it. I just need to remember to pick up a batt for it for about $70, which still makes it about half the price of new. I'll see how it deals w/ the airlock problem. Before I retired my job at times required hand pumping a lot of grease over 32 yrs. and I haven't seen a gun yet that didn't get airlocked w/ cartridge loading.
HTH,
Mike

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

When you load a new cartridge into the grease gun start threading the head back onto the tube but do not tighten it.Release the pressure on the spring that compresses the grease in the tube and pump the grease gun a few times 'till it starts pumping grease.By leaving the threads loose you allow it to bleed the air out as you are loading the grease gun.Once it starts pumping grease you can tighten it and you should be good to gccasionally you may need to loosen the head to bleed some more out before the tube of grease is empty and it is easily done now that you know what to do and why you are doing it.
I have had 45+ years of practice as an heavy equipment operator greasing my own equipment to refine my routine of loading and using a grease gun.
Among my grease guns is one that I bought at NAPA in 1968 to complement a new truck which I still have and use occasionally..Ron G

 

[skargo]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

Thanks guys. 10 out of 10 times I end up with grease everywhere.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

If you have a compressor, I can recommend a pneumatic grease gun. They only cost ~$25 for the cheapo version (which mine is) and mine has lasted me 15 years without ever an issue. I put in grease, it comes out, every time.

 

[skargo]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

If you have a compressor, I can recommend a pneumatic grease gun. They only cost ~$25 for the cheapo version (which mine is) and mine has lasted me 15 years without ever an issue. I put in grease, it comes out, every time.

Hmmm, that might be the ticket, I have a big honkin IR compressor.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

I have a battery powered grease gun and I will never go back to a pump model. Air models are fine in a shop but the battery type will go any where.

 

[KRS]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

Hmmm, that might be the ticket, I have a big honkin IR compressor.

How big is that model.... the 'honkin' ?

 

[skargo]

Re: Stupid darn grease guns

How big is that model.... the 'honkin' ?

Not super big, but beats the old craftsman 33 gallon I used for years, the IR is 80 gallon.