types of grease guns.. what's easiest?

Trev · May 4, 2003

types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

After pondering a bit, I thought this was probably the appropriate forum for this question.. sorry if I mis-judged..

Let me start by asking Muhamad if he would consider adding "Idiot Member" to his list of titles? If so, please change mine. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I was doing routine Spring maint on various implements, and my grease gun ran dry. Okay, no problem.. have a couple spare containers. Unfortunately, lost my manual for the grease gun and ended up with a *very* messy situation. Finally got it working, cleaned up my mess, and lubed everything the manuals said to lube. I think I know now what I did wrong, but will I remember it next time? Doubt it! My neighbor just had the same problem.. took off the wrong end of the grease gun to put in the cartridge. Sigh.

I've heard mention here of air-powered grease guns and how easy they are to use. Could someone tell me how these work? Do you just have a big container of grease, stick the tip in, suck some into the device, and then throw a switch from "suck" to "pump" and have at it? If so, sounds like my kind of device! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyone have any links to ones they recommend? I have realized that routine greasing can be a pain (especially if one is an idiot) and making this easier will lead to great happiness on my part. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks for any thoughts!

Bob
Idiot Member

deepsnow · May 4, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

Trev, I have an electric (rechargeable battery) grease gun. Right now I'm having a brain fart and cannot remember the brand. Almost couple years of use without any problems.
Only real concern is eventually $$ to replace a worn down battery.

Bird · May 4, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

( I've heard mention here of air-powered grease guns and how easy they are to use. Could someone tell me how these work? Do you just have a big container of grease, stick the tip in, suck some into the device, and then throw a switch from "suck" to "pump" and have at it? If so, sounds like my kind of device! )

Yes, if you spend enough money. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I see in my Northern Tool catalogue they're priced from $229.99 to $799.99 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, but if you want to stay under $50 you can get a pneumatic grease gun that works just fine, but the cartridges and changing them is almost an identical procedure to the manual guns. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Trev · May 4, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

( ( I've heard mention here of air-powered grease guns and how easy they are to use. Could someone tell me how these work? Do you just have a big container of grease, stick the tip in, suck some into the device, and then throw a switch from "suck" to "pump" and have at it? If so, sounds like my kind of device! )

Yes, if you spend enough money. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I see in my Northern Tool catalogue they're priced from $229.99 to $799.99 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, but if you want to stay under $50 you can get a pneumatic grease gun that works just fine, but the cartridges and changing them is almost an identical procedure to the manual guns. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )

Hi Bird,

Well, maybe I'd better just master the procedure for changing the cartridges then! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Preferably without getting it all over me, the gun, the surrounding ground, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm *sure* can do it right next time... (yeah, right..) /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Tks,
Bob

Justaplain · May 4, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

Lincoln Cordless 12V $180.00. The Pro Farmers swear by them. $140 at Habor Frieght but maybe earlier models that had some problems. bcs

Trev · May 4, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

( Lincoln Cordless 12V $180.00. The Pro Farmers swear by them. $140 at Habor Frieght but maybe earlier models that had some problems. bcs )

Do you still have to load those cartridges, or can is suck up grease from a big can of it?

TKs, I'll go check it out..

Bob

BillyP · May 4, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

Bob,

The kind of grease gun you're wanting, I don't think you'd want to spend that much money. Your best bet would be to stick with the cartridge type. Once you've changed a few cartridges, you'll do ok.

soarkrebel · May 5, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

When i worked for a large helicopter company we took regular cartridge type (plews) grease guns and added a zerk fitting. just drill and tap the head portion.
then we could go pull the handles back ,hook up another grease coupling attached to a five gallon bucket of grease. it had a pump assy. and we just filled our guns by pumping.

i don't have any idea how much the pump was for the bucket.
i have taken a gun and stuck it in a five gallon bucket and pull the handle back to cause it to suck grease. yeah you may have to pack it full and clean the outside but......
a cartridge type gun can be hand packed just messy. cartridges are simple............well for some people! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MikePA · May 5, 2003

Re: types of grease guns.. what\'s easiest?

Hi Trev! I have the Lincoln 12v cordless grease gun and it's worth every penny I paid for it. It's hard enough crawling around and under the tractor to find all the fittings without having to use two hands just to pump the grease in. I use one hand to make sure the hose is on the fitting, and the other one to pull the trigger. Couldn't be easier.

For changing cartridges, I always pull the old cartridge out of the tube and leave it lay there, positioned just like it came out of the tube, so if (when?) I forget which end gets the lid pulled off, I just have to look at the old cartridge. I also use Amsoil Synthetic grease, which doesn't smell as bad when I get it all over me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif