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Grease Guns

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For reasons I cannot explain, I have never owned a grease gun. I have now accepted that I need one, but I am a little baffled by the range of types and prices around, so a bit of advice would be appreciated!

Firstly, I don't have an air compressor, so I need something hand operated. The local parts shop has grease guns from $8 to over $50. Is there any benefit to the more expensive ones? The pressures they achieve all seem pretty high, and they all take the same tubes of grease. The other question is about the size - there seem to be two sizes, and in the interest of saving space, I am tempted to get the smaller one - is this a bad idea? It seems like it would be easier to manoeuvre when laying under a car?

Can I just buy any gun and assume that the fittings will be right, or is there a range of grease nipple sizes? On that subject, do I just connect the gun to the nipple and squeeze, or do I need to turn the nipple to open it? (I am thinking it might be like a bleed nipple)

I know that these are probably ridiculous questions that I should know the answers to! As always, any and all advice appreciated!
 
I prefer a midrange, large tube gun with a squeeze trigger handle. I like the large tubes because I find it easier to get different types of quality greases in that size. The small tube ones seem to be for the occasional user. Most guns come with fitting adapters and needle lubicators. There really are only about two different kinds of fittings that are used in automotive service.Fittings should have a ball check valve with a spring in the nipple.
The only thing you have to do to grease a fitting is to FIRST clean it off(so you don't force any dirt into the fitting) then pump away as many times as recommended or until the grease starts coming out from the seals. It is best if you take the load off the part like jacking up for ball joints/trunnions so the grease has an easier way in. Rotating or moving the connection helps also. If the old grease is hard, sometimes I find that squeezing the trigger real hard and fast helps to start the grease.
Be aware that some greasable joints may have a plug that needs to be replaced temporarily with a fitting to grease it.
 
As far as manoeuvrability goes, I added two lengths of hose to the gun (three total) so that I can access the hard to reach places and still have the gun next to me. They sell the hoses in the same area as the guns. The choose of gun is similar to your choose of any other tool; quality tools generally cost more. They all fit the same fittings.
 
I had a cheap grease gun that fell apart on me, so I wouldn't go with really cheap. Whichever one you get, the tip needs to be straight on, or it oozes out the side and not into the joint. I agree with Craig, the bigger ones seem to have a wider range of kinds of grease to choose from.
 
And I forgot to mention--- find one with a hose and not a solid tube from the gun to the fitting. It's easier to locate under the car with that flexibility
 
I have both a large tube one and a small tube one. I keep a tube, of white lithium in the small one, for greasing light things, and a tube of red bearing grease in the larger one for all my heavier needs. For price range, I'd say go with the more expensive one. The large one I have is one my dad paid $20 for in 73, and it still works great.
 
Hi chaps, I can't help with the questions too much, I have a Wanner hand held and some un-named gun, both are giving problems when greasing up the king pins, the grease just wants to come around the outside of the nipples. Any ideas? I always thought that they should be difficult to get off the nipple but both of mine are on the easy side and I have even bought a new end for the Wanner.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif

Bob
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi chaps, I can't help with the questions too much, I have a Wanner hand held and some un-named gun, both are giving problems when greasing up the king pins, the grease just wants to come around the outside of the nipples. Any ideas? I always thought that they should be difficult to get off the nipple but both of mine are on the easy side and I have even bought a new end for the Wanner.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif

Bob

[/ QUOTE ]

This can happen when the nipple is plugged with old, hard grease. It could also be the joint internals are plugged. Some people take the nipple off and clean it(or replace it). Unloading the suspension at that corner may help as well as quick, hard pumps with the grease gun.
 
Thanks for the replies, guys. I wound up going for one that looked and felt more solid than the others for $30 at Pep Boys, and made sure it had a nice long hose instead of a solid pipe. Thanks for the advice. Sorry I took so long to say thanks, by the way - I had to head off on business for a few days without notice!
 
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