Grease Gun Question
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
Grease Gun Question
Is a grease gun a good investment? From years of personal experience, I'd have to say "NO". Every gun works the day you install the cartridge. After that, if you are not using it daily, all it does is leave a mess and when the time comes, it doesn't have any charge and you have to get a new cartridge.
All in all, I am not sure what to do except to get a Lube Oil Filter every so often and get them to grease it as the most economical option. I am sick and tired of oil drips all over and not being able to use it when it counts.
Any ideas? I have seen a catcher for the oil drips but all that does is catch the oil. Meanwhile, the gun is worthless except for 1 use then buy another cartridge.
All in all, I am not sure what to do except to get a Lube Oil Filter every so often and get them to grease it as the most economical option. I am sick and tired of oil drips all over and not being able to use it when it counts.
Any ideas? I have seen a catcher for the oil drips but all that does is catch the oil. Meanwhile, the gun is worthless except for 1 use then buy another cartridge.
Melting Slicks
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From: Delta B.C. Canada
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Not sure why yours is only good for 1 use. Get a small manual grease gun that uses a pump handle to force the grease out.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
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From: New Jersey
I have two old manual grease guns and an air operated one - none of them have ever leaked the grease out. I have one of the old ones with a cartridge I put in a few years ago -used it last year with no problems. The air one has had the same cartridge since 2011 when I used it to pump grease into a wheel bearing greaser. It has not leaked since then.
Quick question - do you have the spring loaded plunger at the back (usually has a T handle)? If so, try pulling it back (and leaving it in the notch for when you reload) after each use to relieve pressure.
Quick question - do you have the spring loaded plunger at the back (usually has a T handle)? If so, try pulling it back (and leaving it in the notch for when you reload) after each use to relieve pressure.
Last edited by Silver96ce; Apr 2, 2013 at 02:52 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Leland , North Carolina
Is a grease gun a good investment? From years of personal experience, I'd have to say "NO". Every gun works the day you install the cartridge. After that, if you are not using it daily, all it does is leave a mess and when the time comes, it doesn't have any charge and you have to get a new cartridge.
All in all, I am not sure what to do except to get a Lube Oil Filter every so often and get them to grease it as the most economical option. I am sick and tired of oil drips all over and not being able to use it when it counts.
Any ideas? I have seen a catcher for the oil drips but all that does is catch the oil. Meanwhile, the gun is worthless except for 1 use then buy another cartridge.
All in all, I am not sure what to do except to get a Lube Oil Filter every so often and get them to grease it as the most economical option. I am sick and tired of oil drips all over and not being able to use it when it counts.
Any ideas? I have seen a catcher for the oil drips but all that does is catch the oil. Meanwhile, the gun is worthless except for 1 use then buy another cartridge.
I store mine in the basement so the summer heat doesn't cause it to drip.
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Team Owner
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From: Hartford WI
I have gotten them from Wal*Mart or parts stores. It isn't the grease that drips it is some sort of lighter liquid that seems to be squeezed out of the oil. Not sure what it is.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: I celebrate their entire catalog
I thought it was just me. My grease gun constantly dripped oil on the floor making a mess. But....... if you want something done right you have to do it yourself and wiping up some oil drops once in a while is a small price to pay for knowing that I actually lubed those ball joints.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
I thought it was just me. My grease gun constantly dripped oil on the floor making a mess. But....... if you want something done right you have to do it yourself and wiping up some oil drops once in a while is a small price to pay for knowing that I actually lubed those ball joints.
I have used cheap stuff and the best the auto parts stores have to offer and still I lose the prime and lose the oily stuff on the floor. I was so pissed I threw the gun in the garbage and went down and got GM to grease my 6 zerks in front of me.
What does the future hold? Do I have to constantly get new tubes or what?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Leland , North Carolina
Not only the oil on the floor, it loses it's prime. Seems like the best thing is to buy it, use it and toss the tube of grease and when you need it again, buy another tube.
I have used cheap stuff and the best the auto parts stores have to offer and still I lose the prime and lose the oily stuff on the floor. I was so pissed I threw the gun in the garbage and went down and got GM to grease my 6 zerks in front of me.
What does the future hold? Do I have to constantly get new tubes or what?
I have used cheap stuff and the best the auto parts stores have to offer and still I lose the prime and lose the oily stuff on the floor. I was so pissed I threw the gun in the garbage and went down and got GM to grease my 6 zerks in front of me.
What does the future hold? Do I have to constantly get new tubes or what?
Race Director
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From: Kingman AZ
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Good idea about relieving the pressure when storing. I buy the same kind of grease guns and have a special spot on my shelf where I store it. It is lined with a towel and I have a shop towel wrapped around the tip. It does leak some goop but not too bad.
In one of the C4 maintenance classes I attended the instructor said to beware of taking your Corvette to an oil change joint. The instructor said that they use so much pressure when they lube your ball joints that it blows them out. Sounds like it is best to do it yourself even if it is messy and inconvenient.
In one of the C4 maintenance classes I attended the instructor said to beware of taking your Corvette to an oil change joint. The instructor said that they use so much pressure when they lube your ball joints that it blows them out. Sounds like it is best to do it yourself even if it is messy and inconvenient.
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I always store mine after use with the pump handle open and hung on a peg never had any issue with it leaking or dripping.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: Hartford WI
Race Director
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Unless you use it often, forget the pressurized unit and get a simple pump grease gun with a handle. They last forever. I've had mine for decades with no problem. Cartridges are only a couple bucks.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
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Mine gets a coating of grease all over it that makes it a disgusting mess that I keep in a plastic bag. It's my own faut though, get my greasy fingers all over it. I use it once a year to grease all the cars. No idea what brand it is, I've had it a while. I haven't noticed any leaking just the greasy coating. Reminds me to get a new cartridge 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
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From: Hartford WI
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
383Vette, Did you mean this?
http://www.acehardware.com/family/in...goryId=1258977
I have THIS:
http://www.legacymfg.com/products/dy...umberID=L1185L
http://www.acehardware.com/family/in...goryId=1258977
I have THIS:
http://www.legacymfg.com/products/dy...umberID=L1185L
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Leland , North Carolina
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
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From: Hartford WI
Is there any difference between the pistol and the lever? They both seem to have the pull spring at the bottom which pressurizes the grease.
That said, if the lever one doesn't pressurize the grease, I might just switch.
Does it pressurize the grease then? It looks like it since it has the "T" shaped thing below.
That said, if the lever one doesn't pressurize the grease, I might just switch.
Does it pressurize the grease then? It looks like it since it has the "T" shaped thing below.