grease guns

James has had it with the two grease guns he had. Neither were cheap (sorry, don't know the brand), but he was spending more time getting the grease gun to work than it took to grease the piece of equipment.

He needs a pistol grip and flexible hose. He does not want air powered.

What brand do you recommend?

Not looking for a fight here, just want to see what others have that they are happy with.

This would Be my choice.
Lincoln® Extra Heavy Duty Pistol Grip Grease Gun, 15 1/2 in (L), 14 1/2/16 oz Bulk Cartridge
Model: 438-1134 Jim

Pistol grip is the only way to go - can operate the gun with one hand and the zerk with the other.

I have one that I bought for myself back in around 1990 when I was working my way through college in an Auto Parts Store. It is a Plews Tools brand. I did add a radiator butterfly brass valve to it for the air bleed as it was easier than fighting their plastic air bleed plug that it came with for letting the air out on initial priming.

I have another pistol grip one that I bought at an auction - I think it may be a Lincoln. It has a large metal thumb screw plug for letting out the air.

Note 1: Most new units come with either a fixed rigid pipe extension or a very short hose. I buy the extra long hose and add it to the gun myself.

Note 2: I like an actual air bleed port of some type -even if I have to add it. On the cheap guns, you simply leave the whole top of the gun loose to vent the air which works less than ideal and makes a mess - especially when the whole top flies off. Much easier to prime a gun that has a vent bleed screw and the mess is much less.

Don't know the brand of my pistol type, it old, but has developed a problem. Let it sit for a few days and the grease comes out by itself on the floor. What a mess.

If I ever have difficulty getting the air out of mine when I change grease cartridges, I remove the flex hose and squeeze it until the grease somes out. This has always been a problem with grease guns. Don't think there is a way around an air lock in a grease gun.

Don't really thinnk there is anything that lasts for ever. Don't really think that brand makes a big difference, they are most likely not made in the USA.

George

Nancy I got tired of old grease guns also. I bought two NAPA high quality pistol grip grease guns for the house and the farm. Work very well.

remember the tip are rated, 5000psi 7000psi and 10,000psi, always good to have a 10,000 on hand. The smaller ones work on most everything. but the 10,000 will work when a smaller one will just leak by...

Lincoln works for me.

My experience is that if a grease gun (pistol grip or lever) doesn't work (usually after changing tubes) it gets air locked.
My solution is when changing grease tubes to screw the cartridge holder not all the way home(leave it loose a couple turns) so trapped air can escape via the treads, then release the rod and pump till you get new grease at the nipple before tightening the tube.

A long hold out for the lever action type, I have become a convert to the pistol grip type in recent years.

Always working by myself, I've encountered too many zerks that I simply cannot grease with my two hands and a lever action gun with or without a flexible hose.

A battery powered grease gun with flex hose is on my list of wants.

Dean

I've always wondered what those battery powered units are like. I love my air powered one like it was my own child, and I guess the battery would work the same just more versatile. Nancy, I'd plan on getting him a couple. That's one thing you can't do with just one. That way you can grab the full one.

Lincoln is all I will own. Grease cartridges need to be stored in the upright position.

In my excavation business I supplied all the grease guns (Lincoln) hoses and tips.
I keep one of each, pistol and lever. Using a lever gun is easy IF you have a good tip on the hose.
Never had any problems with my guns unless they wore out or the handle broke. For bleeding, I never fool with the dinky air releases, just leave the top untightened a tad until the grease comes out. Never grease without a rag or paper towel and keep the gun clean.
The main thing is to never bargain basement grease. Expensive good grease is a lot cheaper than bearing replacement.

Was not that long ago on tool talk you mentioned this, darned simplest things always cause the most trouble.

I can recommend Lincoln, the pricey battery powered model, was very reliable, I used it to grease a '08 JD 637 disc, lots of fittings, all the tractors, 3150, 4440, 7420 JD's, a mack tandem sileage body truck, and not to forget the 6620 combine, + 315 NH baler. Not to forget the ole 620 JD, and all the other equipment, NH rake, the tedder, and so on, only trouble was if you forgot to recharge a battery, we had 2, this was a good tool, thats a lot of fittings, forgot the 550 JD dozer left on the farmers land, contractor was dumping clean fill, we had use of it and I always take good care of equipment in appreciation. Same contractor would stop by the shop with an excavator on the trailer, I would grease it, very nice people, always helped us if we needed a dozer, or excavator, I felt like a good natured old school service attendant when he stopped in. That Lincoln sure did the job, saved me time, and made short work of the job, often times the farmers son would be coming in after the day job, and I'd have whatever was going to the field, ready, just get in and go.

Alemite was always a good quality brand, look at the history of the company, long time in that business. Napa used to sell a good quality gun, I have had 2 one was '91 or so, another in '05, no issues with either of those. This is a tool I use very often, so I know the frustration. I had found the darned ends or tips were a pain in recent years, so tight they pull barbed fittings out, (I am not a big fan of barbed fittings) or have other problems. Depending on what I am working on, I like a rigid hose or flexible, sometimes one gun with each, especially when you have to use both hands to hold it so it does not leak. Thats the bonus with the battery powered model by Lincoln, if you need a hand to hold the tip, say for a funny angle, where it will just leak if you don't hold it just right, you have a free hand to do both, hold the end, and squeeze the trigger. A cartridge hand pump gun can be a pain, flexible hose, or rigid, when you need an extra hand and you end up having to line up the pump handle to something you can push it against, to pump grease. I've had some of the pump type cartridge guns get air bound or something where fiddling with the release, pumping etc. these can be really frustrating. Right now I am using one from our service truck that was from the late 60's, ford tractor dealership, it always works fine. Keepsake cause it has our sticker on it, but the darned thing works just fine.

Nancy, I have several good quality pistol grip grease guns and one Lincoln battery powered gun. The battery powered one is the one that gets used. I would hate to see it go. Mike

Been covered pretty extensively on the other much traveled ag site. The more expensive JD gun has many Kudos and the heavy duty Alemite versions are also well liked. Also NAPA's heavy duty grease gun has positive comments. Can't remember if Alemite makes them all. Heard too many negative comments about Lincoln, maybe just the cheap models, but I wouldn't take the chance.

My solution to the airlock is to scoop some grease out of the bottom and fill the top of the gun, then screw it back together. Haven't had any airlocks since I started doing that.

Just one more comment here. Arthritic hands do not fare well with pistol grip grease guns.

I've been a groundman at a hot mix asphalt plant for close to 20 yrs. The best grease gun I have used is the Alemite A500 lever type. I have 2 of them. On most days I go through 5-7 tubes of grease and average 10+ cases a year. That's over 250 tubes per gun. They are extremely durable. The only negative thing I can say about them is that I wear the lever pivot hole out. This usually happens towards the end of the season but that's also after thousands of pumps. I've had other brands that were junk in a few months. I never liked the battery powered guns because you can't tell if grease is coming out or not. With a lever type you can feel the pressure. Pistol grip types are ok for something that only needs a couple shots here and there but I have several fittings that take 25 shots per hour. The lever style is much easier on the forearms.

Nancy, I have an 25 yr old Alemite lever pump grease-gun It has been hauled a Bunch used and abused I have a 18 in flex line on it. If this old girl quits I just hope my next one will last so long. I do keep a needle tip on it, or right close to make those hard to get to Zerks easier to service!
Bought a cheapie at Tractor Supply to put Corn Head Grease in one of the gearboxes on my Batwing shredder. Filling the Gearbox the first time it proved to be a POS Grease-gun. Anyway, Hope this helps.
Later,
John A.

You can leave the barrel of the grease gun a bit loose, that lets the air out.Only problem I have with grease guns, they always seem to be empty when I go to use them.

NANCY Not but ONE way to go he will love it. LINCLON Electric, I bought one and we ended up getting three they are just so much better than anything we have ever had. Easy to use and battery will last for over an hour of solid greasing.

36 coupe, I do what you suggested first. When that fails, then I remove the flex tube.

Remember the day before cartridges? You filled the gun from a 5 gallon bucket. That was a mess.
George.

I don't think I would buy a new g-gun today. Look for an old alimite gun at tag or auction sales.

(quoted from post at 17:36:21 07/05/13) 36 coupe, I do what you suggested first. When that fails, then I remove the flex tube.

Remember the day before cartridges? You filled the gun from a 5 gallon bucket. That was a mess.
George.

Click to expand...

I use the air powered one the most.
George, I have a 35 gallon drum I load from yet. It is kinda sloppy, but cheap.

"Cheap"...??????

Last 35 lb Bulk I bought last fall was $95.00 from NAPA and it was "on Sale"..

I do still fill my guns fro a Bulk bucket..they stay filled longer...

Ron..

Cordeless Lincoln with battery

Try this site {zeeline.com}. I have a pistol type gun from this outfit. Don"t remember when I got it, but I"m guessing it might be 30 plus years old. It rarely air locks with the good stiff spring in the barrel. Big charge of grease with each pump. It"s been a dandy.

Yes I to am looking for the holy grail of grease guns. I have the heavy duty Lincoln and some Alemites.
I had a old black pistol grip that worked great, you squeezed the front part of the grip instead of the back part like new guns but it plum wore out.
My problem with new grease guns is the follower seal letting grease bypass. Could the cardboard cartridges be thinner these days? Sometimes a 1/4 to a 1/3 of the tube will bypass and what a mess when it is time to reload. And no I am not going to be bothered with locking the follower back when not in use.
New guns will not push up thick grease(wimpy spring)? And thinner grease I have used like Lucas Red & Tacky goes by the seal.
So I have had the best luck experimenting with different greases till I found one thick enough to not run by the junk seal and thin enough for the junk spring to push it up.
And no I do not want a electric gun. I want to feel the pressure start to build in a bearing so I do not blow out the seal. Just refill the bearing. Sometimes I count the strokes and give each the same.
If you can't tell by now grease guns are my pet peeve. I do not believe a good grease gun is built today. But I keep hoping someone will build a good one again. Mark

Always store grease tubes on end; NEVER on their sides and this will element a lot of air locks! Armand

Lot's of good advice here, especially about bleeding air and quality grease and hoses and tips. For a gun I strongly recommend a Lincoln battery powered. Mine replaced a pistol grip that i plum wore out. But while your wrist can cramp up and weaken or tire out, that battery always pumps. I never have had any trapped air problems either. It's one 'best buy'! Mark

Nancy,

My husband recommends a high-pressure grease gun. Said that if a zerk won't take grease then you cannot squeeze the trigger, or pump the lever.

He got his at a John Deere shop years ago. Does not remember how much it cost, but said he paid good money for it. Works well.

I had a grease gun that the cartridges wouldn't fit into. Only used bulk grease. My step dad gave it to me and some grease but when that ran out I quit using it. Somehow it got lost or misplaced. Wonder what brand it was? Looked the same size as all others.

Am I the only one that never saw the draw to pistol grip grease guns? If you need one hand to hold the tip on, then brace the gun against your leg!

As someone else said, pistol grip grease guns and arthritis don't mix well.

I bought two partial 5 gallon drums of grease at auction and got one from my FIL he'd been using for 35 years that I know of. I'm STILL hand loading grease guns. Bought a barrel grease pump at one auction but didn't realize it was busted. I'm seriously considering getting a new one. At a buck a tube or more on sale, grease is getting dear. Wonder what a barrel pump costs?