@#$%^^&*%!! Grease Gun!!!

PTRich · Mar 5, 2003

I own 4 grease guns ranging in price from $10 to $100 dollars. Here is the problem. After I use a gun once the gun will not push any grease, the handles just move freely with little or no resistance. The only gun I can get to work is the small one I paid $10 for. The larger ones seem to only be good for keeping the dust off the floor under them. I am sure I am doing something wrong. I put the open grease container (yes both sides) in my gun with the plunger pulled back. After closing the gun I push the plunger all the way in and lock it in place. Please help me! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Jeff396 · Mar 5, 2003

( After closing the gun I push the plunger all the way in and lock it in place. Please help me! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )

Not quite sure I understand what you mean here. You lock the plunger back to install the grease tube. Then you screw the plunger portion back on the gun. At this point you should just release the locked plunger and the spring should take care of the rest. You then say you are locking the plunger again somehow which would then stop the spring from doing its job which is keeping forward pressure on the grease in the tube so the gun doesn't lose its prime. Did I just misunderstand? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Jeff

Anonymous Poster · Mar 5, 2003

It sounds like you have air pockets in your grease guns. There should be a fitting on the head of the grease gun that you can crack open. Pump until grease squeezes out around the threads and you feel a pressure buildup on the lever, and then tighten back up. If you hand pack your grease guns they will be prone to have air pockets. I just cleaned two of my grease guns for grease type change over and noticed that there were areas in the head where the grease hardened through the years. It is not fun cleaning grease guns, but plenty of paper towels help.

Bird · Mar 5, 2003

Hard to say for sure, but sounds like air in it; not an unusual situation. Instead of just pushing the plunger rod in and locking it, try pushing it in and out a few times to work the air out of it. Some (but not all) grease guns also have a valve at the top to let air out. The only other possibility I can think of off hand is if you put the tube of grease in backwards (how many will admit to having done that? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) The end of the tube with the metal end goes toward the top or outlet end of the gun.

Bird · Mar 5, 2003

Looks like you typed faster than me, Rob. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Anonymous Poster · Mar 5, 2003

I must still have some grease left on my fingers from cleaning those guns.

lschultz · Mar 5, 2003

This has happen to me a few times.If you can not blead the air out on top of the gun try loosening the part the grease tube goes in that screws on the trigger.It has worked for me.

CTyler · Mar 5, 2003

I have 3 grease guns. The only one I haven't had problems with is the pneumatic one. Like was stated the problem is air pockets.

Here is what I learned to cut down on problems. When you fill your gun squish some grease from the tube. You want to fill the head of the gun with grease. Yep that means getting your fingers greasy. I use latex gloves. Make sure there is no air gap at the end of the grease tube as well. Now screw them together.

PTRich · Mar 5, 2003

So I should release the rod and leave it hanging out?

cpicton1 · Mar 5, 2003

Loosen the top of your grease gun a couple turns. Pull back on the rod and turn it until it locks onto the plunger. Now push it in until grease starts coming out from around the threads of the loosened top. Tighten the top back down and release the rod and push back in. Should be working now. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

CTyler · Mar 5, 2003

Give what cpicton1 stated a try. If that doesn't do it you'll need to open it up to get rid of the air pocket thats most likely sitting next to the pickup hole.

Jeff396 · Mar 5, 2003

No, you're right. I just misunderstood what you wrote. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Jeff

utahmule · Mar 6, 2003

I've had the same problem w/ a decent Lincoln grease gun. Cracked the Fill screw on the head, burped it, and good as new. Frustrated the *%$#@ out of me until I figured it out.

5030 · Mar 8, 2003

Save up your pennies and buy a bulk greaser like me. We have a lincoln that fits a 120# open head pail. You hook it up to shop air and grease away. The delivery hose on mine is 25 feet and the thing is on casters. When I got this unit, I threw away all my cartridge guns. One pail last me about 2 years and that's greasing all the haying equipment, tractors and vehicles.

Daryl
Forage services L.P.

cpicton1 · Mar 8, 2003

Well Richard, it's been a few days since you posted about the problem you were having with your grease guns. I am just wondering if you have tried any of the suggestions given to you and if any of them worked for you? We like to be updated now and then when a fellow TBN'er is having problems. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

rdbrumfield · Mar 9, 2003

Aside from bleeding, I open the handle fully so the little ram inside is back to push the next shot of grease, then holding the gun upside down tap it on a tire to shake the grease into the void and pump it from time to time until the grease starts coming. By tapping I mean vertically downward not sideways, with the handle open, this generally works for lme.

PTRich · Mar 10, 2003

I work weekends, day and night (restaurant). I will try this afternoon.

PTRich · Mar 12, 2003

I have a push button and some kind of other thing with a small ball in it you can push in like a tire valve. Niether of these had any affect. I pulled the rod back, took off the top and pushed the rod up intill the grease was about .25" over the top. Screwed it in and it worked well. Only took me a few seconds but I sure would like to know what those things on top are for /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

cpicton1 · Mar 12, 2003

I have a push button and some kind of other thing with a small ball in it you can push in like a tire valve. 

It is for filling your grease gun with a Bulk Grease Gun Filler Unit, such as the one pictured.
The next time you put a new grease cartridge in your gun leave the top loose until you push the bottom plunger in enough to have grease start coming out around the threads. If you do it that way you shouldn't have any problem. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Mar 13, 2003

Like Craig said, the valve is for filling the gun with bulk grease (if you have the right dispenser to do it) and the other push button is just an air release. Even with the gun completely screwed together, if you hold that button down while pushing the rod in and out a couple of times, you'll usually expell the air that keeps it from working right.