grease gun - what am I doing wrong?

Joe W.

Member
I have this pistol grip grease gun that is used only once or twice a year. It uses 3 oz. tubes of that black, messy lithium grease that seems to get on everything within 3 feet of the gun. Guess I'm not smart enough to figure out how to change the grease tubes without getting a bunch of the grease all over. After I pull the old tube out of the top of the gun with a pair of pliers, I pull the plunger down to the bottom of the gun and that's when my mess happens. Apparently there is at least 1/4 of the grease from the old tube left in the gun and the plunger brings all of this left over grease out of the bottom of the grease gun through a couple of small openings around the plunger shaft. Every time I change grease tubes I lay down a black plastic garbage sack, pile on newspapers, and have a roll of paper towel handy before I begin. What a mess. Am I doing something wrong in my method of changing grease tubes? Is there a method of using all of the grease in the tube or is this just the way it is?
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Mine is the same way. Must be the cheap china design. About 50% waste. Need a hazmat suit to change a tube!
 
take the pressure of the tube when not in use (pull and lock the plunger). Then store it by hanging on the plunger handle, upside down. Hanging it this way will keep it from getting air in the piston.
 
It is all in the plunger style. GO buy a better gun Lincoln will operate without a problem in bulk grease if you turn the lip of the plunger over.
It sounds like you have a piston not big enough to seal around the side of the barrel. Have you tried turning the lip over on the piston. It is more like a plate with a rubber lip on the edge. With bulk grease the lip should be towards the grease. With tube grease the lip should be away from the grease. Though with the problems you are talking about you might just try turning the lip towards the grease.
If you were near I could give you an old plunger from a none working gun to try.
 
I totally "abhor" (I think this word means you have a real serious dislike for something) greasing and hand held grease guns. Everything you said happens to me and I can't grease anything without getting it on me somewhere even using the blue plastic gloves.

Totally agree on relieve the pressure and store upside down. That will stop the accumulation and the drip caused by the pressure forcing the oil out of the soap (in the grease). What you didn't say and I don't know if you do or don't is to crack the top....partially unscrew it so that it will leak some air (when replacing the tube) and pull the plunger down and lock it before you completely unscrew the top. That will help some of your problem.
 
I have two hand pump guns, that came from my fathers farm. I do not have the problem.
must have something to do with 'new technology'...
 
(quoted from post at 16:01:31 08/16/15) I pull the plunger down first, makes the tube easier to get out.

Yup. The point the barrel into the trash and release it, tube should drop out. Still going to be messy.
 
I think I read once on this site that one thing that can help a lot, especially on seldom used grease guns is to pull out slightly on the plunger and hold it out with vise grips during storage. I need to do that on my own grease gun, and this is a good reminder for me to get that done.
 
i agree.. grease getting past seal during storage.. relieve pressure by pulling plunger slightly before storing.
 
(quoted from post at 00:15:05 08/17/15)
(quoted from post at 16:01:31 08/16/15) I pull the plunger down first, makes the tube easier to get out.

Yup. The point the barrel into the trash and release it, tube should drop out. Still going to be messy.

me three
pull the plunger back, lock it, unscrew the top, pluck the tube out....don't bump the rod or it will throw the tube 20'..lol
One of mine has a pressure release button, the other I just loosen the hose fitting to pull the plunger back.

I have a far more important question.....How come every time I grab my greasegun...it's [i:14fceed1bf]empty[/i:14fceed1bf] :D
 

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