How to fill a grease gun

[Anonymous]

One of the messiest jobs on a boat is refilling the grease guns or stern tube greasers. It usually involves me in sourcing at least one broadsheet newspaper (hard to source in Spain), a spoon, a dark corner where I won't get caught doing boaty things with the spoon, disposable latex gloves, kitchen roll, and several supermarket bags to dump greasy waste in during and after the operation.

At the moment I would like some advice on the easiest and cleanest way to load the standard old-fashioned grease gun without a cartridge (I cannot easily get appropriate cartridges here and in any case I have several pots of good quality waterproof grease). My grease pots have the disc with a hole in the middle - reputedly to make filling of guns quick and easy, so that should help? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Many thanks, and it will be my pleasure to buy the winner a nice cold beer in a clean glass when they are next passing my part of the Med!

 

[Orla]

Check this out.......
www.reluctantmechanic.com/using-tools/grease_gun.php

 

[michaelh]

The grease gun should have a sprung plunger. Pull back the plunger and lock it in the notch. Unscrew the nozzle end. Place the open end of the grease tube over the hole in the grease tub disc and push down firmly, forcing grease from the tub into the gun. When the gun is full lift it from the tub and screw the nozzle end back on. Release the plunger. Using a pice of kitchen roll clean up any stray grease from the gun.

shouldn't be messy at all.

 

[Captain Coochie]

The hole in the middle of the lid is normally to let out gasses , some glues and paints have this but not being a grease monkey i'm not sure if the same applies . I pack it in with a spoon like yourself but i dont do it in a dark corner , normally in the bedroom with the latest Mrs Cuchilo /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[bazobeleza]

Oh it looks so easy! I still get the stuff everywhere.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Ahhhhhhh , well thats no fun /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[peterb]

Unscrew the top of the gun. Place the now open tube of the gun over the hole in the disc and push down. The grease will extrude into the gun. When enough has been extruded remove the gun from the tin and replace the top.

System varies a bit with the design of the gun, but the basic idea is to open up the grease reservoir of the gun and then to extrude the grease into the reservoir by pushing down onto the disc in the tin.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, guys - we have three distinct techniques (both of which I have used with equally messy results over the years)

a) Use the plunger to try to suck the grease out of the pot (seldom works for me)
b) Pull the plunger up to make a cavity and try to force grease up as far as it will go (only ever fills gun 1/3 full for me and leaves loads of air)
c) Use a spoon (seems like a good idea but is invariably the worst of the lot)

Why is it that you guys make it sound as though there is no mess? I am not particularly cack-handed, used to handling tools, and it always seems to end up with a lot of mess and a partially-filled gun, with air. Not good for my gun that is permanently attached to the stern tube.

Thanks for the help but I am not sure that I am any further ahead - a magic ingredient is missing!

 

[michaelh]

OK, you didn't specify that it should not have air. To do this you need to push down on the tub whilst at the same time drawing the plunger back. this has the potential to be a little messier, but should not be too bad

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

Michael,
You are exactly right. Place the the open end of the grease gun body (unscrew the top/nozzle assembly) firmly over the hole in the disk inside the grease tin and push down with a pressure equal to the rate at which you pull the plunger out of the body of the gun. You will wind up with a nicely full gun and clean hands. Sounds rude I know, but it does work.
Nicki

 

[futurama]

There is no none messy easy fill solution, that's why they 'invented' the cartridges.

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

I made no statement about it being easy, merely that a neat, clean fill is possible.
Nicki

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
I made no statement about it being easy, merely that a neat, clean fill is possible.

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, that sounds like fair comment and also Fry's comment that that's why the cartridge was invented.

The trouble with cartridges is that I have never found them with an appropriate grease. Seems that people don't realise that trailer bearing grease is not necessarily rated for submersion 24/7/365. Judging from what I've seen on the chandlery shelves, most yachties just buy general purpose grease in cartridges. I know that the full range is made because I've seen it on the internet, but it doesn't seem to be on the shelves.

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

Yup no question about it; you have to use the right grease, and yes most of us use a very general purpose item. I've never used a cartridge, to be honest I had no idea they existed, but I'm sure they are great. Bet they cost more though.
Nicki

 

[reeac]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, you didn't specify that it should not have air. To do this you need to push down on the tub whilst at the same time drawing the plunger back. this has the potential to be a little messier, but should not be too bad

[/ QUOTE ]

I've had a Wanner grease gun for about 40 years and it has a bleed nipple which you use to get rid of any trapped air. Seems to work well. I fill by retracting the plunger first and then pressing the barrel onto the hole in the "washer" in the grease tin ... never thought that it was difficult.

 

[BobE]

Hang on gang.... Surely there are two queries in this thread..
The grease gun used to fit automotive etc grease nipples best to use a cartridge...
And the horrible job of refilling the remote stern tube greaser which one gives a wind to every now 'n again...
The second is a real pain for me 'cause it's mounted with the handle/cap assembly lower than the outlet.. so I have to use the "Spoon" method..and there ain't that much room above 'n behind the ond Bukh..
I'll get round to changing the mount one day but there's more important things to be done first... Ho Hum
Cheers Bob E...

 

[Vara]

It helps if using spoon/finger method to have the grease as cold as possible.

 

[robstracey]

On my last ship, we had a big pnumatic greaser machine in the engine room, and each of the grease guns for the deck had a nipple on it, we just filled them up that way, which made life easier. I'm sure many garages must have a similar machine, so maybe see if you can come to a friendly agreement.

Personally, i buy the cartridges. they make life so much easier, and you dont have half empty greasy tubs rolling round your boat.

 

[Anonymous]

Good tip. Prepare to be handbagged by Mrs L /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[PCUK]

Why not make your own cartridges? Simply spoon the grease onto a piece of polythene, roll it into the appropriate diameter and stick it in the grease gun.