Since mechanical joints are crucial parts of any automated mechanism, greasing them is critical to ensure friction-free movement between them. A grease gun is a tool that allows you to lubricate these parts easily and comfortably. Continue reading the article below to learn how to use a grease gun.
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While many people may need to learn how to use a grease gun, it is easier than many think. First, you must know how to load it properly. Then, you can load the grease gun by inserting a new grease cartridge in the gun’s barrel or loading the gun by suction from a tub of grease. Afterward, you can use the hand press on the gun to press grease into the gun’s nozzle and down the channels.
What is a Grease Gun Used For?
A grease gun is a tool mostly present in workshops and garages. It is used for lubrication. Its main purpose is to grease a specific point or join through an aperture, usually from a grease cartridge to a grease fitting. Grease guns are more effective than manual greasing processes and enable you to grease automotive components cleanly.
Types of Grease Gun
There are different types of grease guns and three ways to power them: by hand, air, or electricity. Each can benefit people based on their intended application and personal preference. Another significant variation in the grease gun is how it is loaded, i.e., by cartridge, suction fill, or bulk.
Let’s discover different types of grease guns.
- Lever Gun: These are the most common grease guns and a version that requires low technical knowledge. However, lever guns are usually difficult to use and require you to use two hands.
- Pistol-Grip Gun: This variation of the lever grease gun enables you to use one hand to pump. Pistol-grip gun is usually recommended when dealing with more complex or compact machine components.
- Cordless Grease Gun: As the name suggests, it is a cordless grease gun and is easier to use. The cordless grease gun comes with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and is convenient and portable.
- Pneumatic Gun: These grease guns use air pressure from a built-in air supply that constantly delivers grease to automotive parts. You have to pull the trigger to use these guns.
How to Use a Grease Gun?
Understanding how to use a grease gun is critical. However, knowing how to load a grease gun is essential since it is the first step toward using it.
Let’s discuss how to load a grease gun.
Using a Cartridge
The process of loading a grease cartridge is simple. Follow these steps to fill the gun using a grease cartridge.
- The first step is to hold the grease gun and remove its head from the barrel.
- Secondly, pull the rod handle back and lock it so that you can fill the gun.
- Now open the new grease cartridge you have bought and insert it into the gun barrel.
- Ensure pushing the grease cartridge enough to touch the grease gun’s rim.
- Now, reinstall the barrel’s cap, keep it loose, and press the rod handle to force any air out.
- Pump some grease out and clean it before attaching the gun’s nozzle.
- Now that you have attached the nozzle tighten its cap and push it again to force out the remaining air.
The grease gun is properly loaded, and you can use it to grease your required automotive component.
Using a Suction Pump
The next method to load the grease gun is to load it by sucking the grease from a tub of grease. Follow these steps to load your grease gun using the suction method.
- Remove the barrel head as mentioned in the above method.
- Take a tub of grease and push the gun’s barrel two inches down into the tub.
- Firmly exert force on the barrel while pulling back the barrel’s plunger or rod handle.
- Keep pulling the handle until it is fully extended, and lock it at that position.
- Slowly remove the barrel from the tub while cutting off extra grease from the barrel.
- Clean the grease off the barrel with a towel and attach it to the rest of the gun unit.
- Unlock the gun handle and press the grease gun to let the grease flow.
Once the grease gun is loaded, you can use it to grease the desired parts.
Greasing the U-Joints in Automotives
The U-joints are the widely used joints in Automotives and require proper lubrication to keep moving without friction. Here, we will discuss how to grease the U-joints in automotive.
It is recommended to grease U-joints at every oil change to keep them lubricated and prevent them from getting dry or degreased.
Follow these steps to grease the U-joints in your car.
- Access the Rear Axle: Lift your car with a floor jack and let it sit on the stands. Using a creeper or wood, slide under your car and locate the rear axle.
- Finding the Grease Fitting Point: Find the fitting where the driveshaft meets the rear axle under your vehicle to locate the U-Joint. The fitting you should grease is located in the U-Joint center.
- Grease the Fitting: Start greasing the filling using the right size grease gun and continue doing so until you see clean grease coming out.
This is how you grease the U-Joint in your vehicles and other components.
The below table consists of different types of grease guns and their characteristics.
