Greasing your equipment is an important maintenance task to provide proper lubrication to crucial points helping to keep your machines running smoothly, preventing costly breakdowns, and extending their lifespan. This should be done on a regular basis for your equipment which means having the right grease gun can make all the difference in the application of the grease. There are a few options to choose from and especially when you are going to use it regularly you may want to invest in something that is not going to break on you in a short period of time.
Best Manual Grease Gun
Manual grease guns require you to pump the grease using a lever or grip as opposed to have a powered grease gun that with the pressing of a button it will do it for you. Each of these different manual grease guns have pros and cons which should be discussed to decide which manual grease gun is best for your application.
Pistol vs Lever Grease Gun
The difference between a pistol grip and lever grease gun is obviously how they are operated, but also how much grease they deliver per stroke. This has an impact on their ease of use, control, and suitability for the application.
Pistol Grip Grease Guns are squeezed like a trigger with one hand much like a caulking gun would be. These allow one-handed operation which is ideal if you need to use the other hand to stabilize the coupler or hose. This also makes them slightly more compact and maneuverable which is perfect for greasing in tight spaces. They are the perfect choice for light-duty greasing, in tight spaces, and when less pressure is needed. The downside being that they deliver less pressure and less grease per stroke than a lever grease gun.
Lever Grease Guns use a long handle to pump the grease rather than a trigger and require two hands to operate. One to stabilize the barrel and the other to use the handle to pump the grease. These deliver higher pressure (often up to 10,000 psi) which is beneficial when pumping grease into tight or clogged fittings and it pumps more grease per stroke. This does make them bulkier and less convenient when pumping grease into tighter spaces.
If you are greasing lighter-duty equipment that have tighter spaces, it is likely a pistol grip grease gun would be more beneficial. If you are greasing heavy-equipment often that has good access to grease fittings, then a lever grease gun may be your best choice.
Best Pistol Grip Grease Gun
The LockNLube Premium Pistol-Grip Grease Gun combines ergonomics with high pressure capability suitable for tight spaces and one-hand operation. It features a maximum operating pressure of 8,000 PSI, flow rate of 50 strokes per ounce, a hose length of 20 inches rated to 14,000 PSI and in-line hose swivel, and weighing 3.5 pounds. It comes with a 1 year warranty and the LockNLube grease coupler that latches on and simply unhooks with a lever. It also has a port to loop the hose and lock it in place for storage purposes. This will work with all Zerk fittings both SAE and Metric. With a cast aluminum head and other options to choose from that are more economical in the pistol-grip lineup that have a lower output per stroke and lower PSI rating, this grease gun lineup is well-built and easy to use.
Best Lever Grease Gun
The LockNLube Professional Series Lever Grease Gun is a heavy-duty robustly constructed grease gun similar to the pistol grip grease gun previously mentioned, but in a lever grease gun format. The differences being that it has a maximum operating pressure of up to 10,000 PSI. Additionally, the head is machined zinc to reduce air pockets and improve priming with a brushed steel barrel and heavy-duty handle built for durability. The benefit to the lever grease gun as previously discussed is the increase in strokes per ounce when dispensing grease compared to a pistol grip, but is not great for tight space greasing.
Best Grease Gun Coupler
The LockNLube Grease Coupler can be attached to grease guns using the 1/8″ NPT female thread and comes installed on LockNLube grease guns. It is designed to fit SAE and Metric Zerk grease fittings providing a secure and leak-free connection. It locks on and stays on by squeezing the lever to open up the four hardened steel jaws and clamping onto the grease fitting when releasing the lever. It is rated up to 10,000 PSI. Additionally, the unit comes with a rebuild kit that allows you to replace the seals and jaws rather than having to replace the whole coupler.
Best Battery-Powered Grease Gun
The obvious benefit to a battery-operated grease gun would be that it takes no physical exertion to pump the grease into your fittings and will grease much faster. This is extremely helpful if you have a fleet of equipment to grease regularly as it will drastically reduce the amount of time spent greasing while also preventing operator fatigue. Additionally, the grease output is consistent.
The downside to using a battery-powered unit would be that if you do not have a charged battery at the ready, but need to grease equipment you will need to find a way to get that battery charged or use a manual grease gun. Whereas the manual grease gun is always ready to go without a battery until it breaks. Speaking about breaking, the powered grease guns are going to have more parts to break but a manual grease gun is more simple in its design. Not to mention the higher upfront cost for the unit itself and the batteries and charger. The also will weigh more and have a higher potential for over-greasing as you do not get the immediate feedback that you get when manually pumping grease into your equipment.
The best electric grease gun currently seems to be the Milwaukee M18 Battery-Powered Grease Gun. This is based on the number of features that the unit offers from the output, legs, built-in light, loop and store, speed change, and stroke control. That being said, if you already are on a different tool platform it is best to stick with that tool platform rather than switching to another and needing to buy new batteries and chargers. The other various major tool manufacturers still have good grease guns, but the Milwuakee M18 stands out for the numerous additional features. Or you can opt for the M12 unit which is smaller with none of the additional features.
Why You Should Grease Equipment Regularly
Greasing your equipment is important for maintaining important areas that will wear down if preventative maintenance is not performed. Inspect your equipment every day and apply grease when necessary or follow your equipment guidelines to maintain it to keep it from breaking down which will cost money to fix, the waste in production cost, and the cost of possibly needing to rent a piece of equipment to replace it in the meantime.
Here is why greasing your machine matters:
- Reduces Friction and Wear
- Prevents Corrosion
- Extends the Life of Components
- Improves Equipment Performance
The grease forms a film that will protect between moving parts like pins, bushings, and bearings. Without the grease, metal components will grind against each other causing heat, friction, and will prematurely wear. Regularly greasing these areas will minimize the friction and keep the motion smooth and efficient.
Grease also acts as a barrier against moisture, dirt, salt, and other particles that can corrode metal. This is important for equipment that is used outdoors and regularly exposed to rain, mud, salt, and other elements that will cause metal to corrode over time if not maintained properly.
Greasing will extend the life of costly components such as pins, bushings, and bearings so that you do not have to source those components as much when the machine does break down. It will also lessen the amount of downtime that you equipment will have if you maintain it regularly which is another costly aspect including the cost to repair, the cost of not producing, and the cost to potentially replace the machine in the short term with a rental.
Greasing helps to keep joints and bearings to move freely and efficiently with minimal friction. That allows for a smoother operation, less strain on the hydraulic system, and reduces the fuel consumption.
Tips When Using a Grease Gun
- Bleed the air from the grease gun before use to ensure consistent grease flow and no air pockets. An air bleeder valve should be at the face of the gun to allow those air pockets to be released.
- Clean the coupler and grease fitting before attaching one to the other. Dirt and debris will compromise the seal.
- Check your equipment manual for the correct grease grade and find a high quality grease for that grade.
- Clean the coupler, loop and lock the coupler to the grease gun, and store it to avoid grease dripping.
- Inspect the hose, swivel, and coupler for wear and damage to ensure it is still in working order.
- Keep track of your greasing intervals and keep a consistent schedule of greasing for your equipment. If you use more than one grease, label each grease gun with the corresponding grease.
How to Use a Grease Gun
- Select the Correct Grease
- Load the Grease Gun
- Prime the Grease Gun
- Attaching the Coupler to the Fitting
- Pump the Grease
- Remove the Coupler
Ensure you are using the correct grease for your equipment by checking the manual. If you are switching grease types, clean out the gun or use a new cartridge.
The most common way to load grease is using a cartridge. Simply unscrew the barrel of the grease gun. Pull back the plunger rod on the barrel and set it into the smaller grove to lock it. Remove the plastic cap on the new grease cartridge and insert the open end of the cartridge into the barrel first (confirm the right side up on the cartridge). Remove the pull-tab on the end exposed and reattach the barrel by screwing it in. Release the plunger rod by pulling back and up out of the small groove to unlock it and push the plunger rod forward.
Air pockets can keep the grease gun from flowing through the hose. Every grease gun show have an air bleeder valve typically at the head of the gun. Loosen this valve and pump the trigger / lever until grease start flowing smoothly out of this valve. Tighten the valve once air bubbles are gone. Models without a bleeder valve like the battery-powered units, simply pull the trigger until grease is flowing smoothly out of the coupler.
Clean the coupler and Zerk grease fitting before attaching them. Push the coupler into the grease fitting or use the lever to open up the jaws of the coupler and then loosen the lever to allow the jaws to close on the fitting. There should be a click to know it is secured in place. If you are not using a coupler that has a lever and is just pushed onto the fitting, you can loosen the coupler by unscrewing or tightening by screwing it. This makes putting the coupler onto the fitting easier or pulling it off the fitting easier.
Use your grease gun’s method of pumping and watch for resistance when the joint is full / fresh grease pushing out from the seals showing that is is lubricated and stop to prevent over-greasing.
Pull the coupler off by activating the jaws with the lever or pulling it off of the fitting if there is no lever. If there is resistance when trying to pull it off, you can unscrew the coupler to loosen the grip and then pull it off the fitting. Wipe excess grease off of the fitting and the coupler.