Grease Gun Question
I recently bought a grease gun at O'Reilly's. It has a flexible hose, takes a full-size grease cartridge, and has a pistol grip, designed to operate with one hand. I bought it to replace an older lever-action grease gun that I had misplaced, and had given up looking for. (Do you ever do that?)
I tried to use the new gun to lube my mower, and it will not force grease into the fittings. The grease just flows out around the fitting. I thought maybe my grease fittings are stopped up and need to be replaced.
Then, I found my old grease gun and used it to lube the mower. It worked as it is designed to, putting grease into and through the fitting.
So, what's the deal with the new gun? Is it defective? Poor design? I hate to throw it away. It looks like decent quality, but it doesn't put the grease where it needs to be.
Comments
I had the same problem. I think they just don't have the power the old ones did. I got a pnumatic greese gun now and that dude rocks.
There is a tool to clear out the fittings. it's a metal tube with a plunger inside. The end will fit firmly on the fitting. You fill the tube with oil, put the cap back on, and whack it with a hammer. It will force the blockage through the fitting.
Joe
Your heading took me back to the days of Viet Nam. I carried one for a long time.
some of those can be very picky on how they fit over the zerk. since its new are you sure it is fully snapped on the fitting some of them are quite hard to do. also some want to be on the fitting pretty straight. also you can buy just the fitting on the bottom of the hose, in fact the one from your old gun should fit your new gun. i would bet its not fully snapped on the fitting. i too have an air gun, my arthritic hands i find it very hard to work the manual ones.
return it, if it honestly won't work, and ask for money back........
On my mower there are a couple of fittings that I really have to tighten the nozzle after I attach it to the zerk. Almost like they were manufactured a little smaller than the others. All the rest I snap on the nozzle and give a half turn to snug it up but for those couple I have to turn that nozzle to its limit to get it to seal. Bob
The "Pistol grip" grease guns are "High Volume" and the lever types "High Pressure"
I was only one in family that had the "grip strength" to use the pistol grip grease gun on our tractors.
So unless you got "Popeye" forearms stick to the lever typed.
Check out LockNLube, replaces the original hose fitting, firmly grips the zerk fitting, no more issues. You won't be sorry.
The fittings are not blocked. I thought they might be, and was prepared to buy new ones, when I found my old grease gun and, as previously stated, it works perfectly. I may put the new one in the church rummage sale.
Sounds like the new one simply needs adjusting. You can tighten the end that goes onto the zerk fitting. If its too loose, then the grease takes the path of least resistance and flows out the sides of the fitting on the hose. You simply twist the fitting on the hose end, righty tighty. If you get it too tight, then it will not fit on the zerk. Cheaper guns also have a process, install the hose fitting on the zerk, tighten the hose fitting around the zerk, fill with grease, loosen hose fitting around zerk, remove hose fitting.
Try adjusting the hose fitting. If adjusted right, and decent quality, then it will snap on with minimal force, fill the zerk with grease, and then pop off with a slight tug.
You probably have an air bubble in the gun where the pump is or a bad check valve in the pump.
When you press it onto the zerk it should "lock" on there and not require you to hold it on, did it do that? If no, then press it on harder. If yes, then it is probably and cheapo grease gun end, I use the lock and lube end on my grease guns, they are like 15 dollars at most places and you will not want to grease anything ever again without one.
If you need any 30 round mags for your grease gun let me know. I have a case of them sitting here in front of my desk. 😀
Another vote for Lock n Lube...........best thing EVER for grease guns!
Merc
The fitting on the end of the new gun is poorly made & does not seal properly on the zerk. Switching the fittings between old & new guns (assuming they can be switched) will show this.
Have you tried to tighten the end of the new grease gun yet? I assume that is the only problem.
Since the old gun works, and the new one spews grease around the Zerk fitting, I'm guessing that you are not pressing the new one onto the fitting hard enough so that it snaps on.
You grease the mower? 🛴
i have both old and new adjusting the ends clamping force depending on the fitting is not to uncommon
I bought a one hand version and as stated ( lucas ) I would guess some would not be able to use it the leverage is just not there as on a long handle so I still use the old ones also . I did buy another one a few weeks back lucas just to keep on my tractor and for 3 point mower but it has a lever that can be used as a short one hand or it extends to the longer handle ( slides over its self ) to have the longer leverage advantage . I like it
they also make quick release couplers now some are a bit large but they now have smaller ones easier to lock on and release with a small lever
""I may put the new one in the church rummage sale.""
Good cause David, but don't pass the problem on to someone else, hoping they can fix it.
Damn ! I opened this thread, thinking it was going ton be about :
😋😆🤣
Agree lock and lube is the real deal. Worth every penny and then some.
You say:
I may put the new one (grease gun) in the church rummage sale.
Might think about throwing it in the Preacher's hat next time he is passing his hat around for donations.
Another vote for nozzle/coupler problem.
Lock and Lubes are nice and all, but $5 will get you a decent one at autozone.
https://www.autozone.com/grease-and-caulk-application-tools/grease-gun-accessories/p/performance-tool-grease-gun-coupler/142104_0_0