Grease Gun Fun

[steveschlutt]

I have been struggling mightily with my full size grease gun (lever operated). Couldn't seem to get it primed... tried all the tricks I've read about here-- pumping the shaft plunger, unscrewing the top, etc. but regardless, it just wouldn't pump any grease, depsite a fresh tube of JohnDeere's finest Polyurea green goop. It's been hard to understand why... I'm mechanical, do all my own fixing and am skilled in the arts of nuts & bolts. Despite this, that sucker just wouldn't work. I even resorted to placing it in front of a space heater to get the grease to flow better and "burp" the air... but even that trick didn't work. After 6-10 tries, a lot of wasted grease, plus untold rags, paper towels and lots of hand cleaner, I got disgusted and just tossed the whole greasy mess. Bought a nice mini-version, one handed pumper, and it works like a charm. I made sure that the plunger began to slide inside the back of the cartridge before I screwed the top on, and voila, it was primed. For my usual jobs (Mower deck, front end, loader, U-joints, etc.) this gun will be a good match.

 

[sixdogs]

There is a lot to be had for a high quality one-handed pumper full size grease gun. I spent years jerking around before I ponied up the $$ and went first class. Can't recall the last time I had a prime problem.

 

[steveschlutt]

With both of my guns, I have noticed that the plunger seems to get hung up in the cartridge quite often... they are poorly made cardboard tubes. this means that there is no internal pressure to push out grease, no matter how much you pump. If I hand fill the gun with no cartridge (kind of pack grease in with a spoon), there are no problelms at all, the plunger doesn't get stuck on the cartridge, the spring pushes the plunger up against the grease, and I enjoy positive flow. The John Deere Polyurea is thicker than clay when it's cold- very hard to prime when it's stiff and cold. It's been easier to prime when it's warmer. I even resorted to hanging it in front of a space heater for a couple of hours to help the grease flow better, it seemed to help. I am overdue for new grease gun, and i think the one hander will be a perfect fit for my needs.

 

[jerry shannon]

I hear you pain. I spent more on paper towel than on grease just cleaning up my old hand lever Lincoln gun. It would work great for 2 or 3 tubes then could not get it to prime no matter how many Irish compliments I threw at it. I took it and broke it down, soaked it in a bucket of solvent and it has worked great ever since. I also bought a one handed pumper, Lincoln. and it works great as well. Now I have a spare just in case.

 

[Johnp33]

I have six grease guns, wheel bearing grease, ford graphite grease, synthetic grease, #2 grease, Lubriplate #2, and a long handled gun with Synthetic grease for the units that are plugged.
Some of them are very stiff when it is cold, one pump and you have to wait.
To bleeding I remove the top plug, and pump.