skip to main content

Grease gun help

21 years ago

I never thought of myself as being mechanically challenged, but...

I have a new garden-variety, lever-action grease gun. The coupling easily attaches to grease zerks, stays on, doesn't leak, I can grease whatever; it works great. Until... I try to detach the damned thing from the zerk. I can't pull it off, can't pry it off, and have even yanked out the zerks trying.

The only way I can disengage the coupling is to disassemble it.

What's the secret? Do I have a faulty coupling? I can't believe it's supposed to work this way.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

earthworm
21 years ago
Disassemble the business end of the gun and clean/inspect all the little pieces. There should be 3 or 4 grippers and a spring(I think)...
Check for burs or bent metal.
Assure that the zerk to be greased is also clean.
Then maybe the problem is the zerks or a lack of compatibility ???
gary__
21 years ago
In addition to what earthworm says, the end on your grease gun should be in two peices screwed together. loosen that fitting in the middle and it shouldn't grab the zerk so hard. If it still doesn't work for you I'd try buying another end for the grease gun. Should just be a couple bucks.
Related Discussions
Novice Help Needed -- Grease/Lube for 2003 Sears DLT 3000
Q
Comments (13)
Thanks for all the help. I had time today to get most of the work done. I went a bit nuts (for me) and removed the deck so I could really clean the underside really well. Took a little longer than I planned, but generally went well. The grease part was pretty easy (thanks to all of your help.) I did not changes the fuel line (didn't really need to -- I read somewhere it was a good idea to change those after 5 years, but I have not had any real problems with it .. so I left it as-is.) One problem I did have -- I could not get the old oil filter off. Not sure if it just was tightened to hard last time, or not lubed enough around the gasket. I just went ahead and put the new oil in and moved on with the old filter (Kohler actually only recommends changing it every other oil change.) I have one of the band/clamp oil removal tools, but it's really hard to get any leverage with the tight area. I was going to spray some WD40 around it to see if would loosen it, but thought I would ask around if that was a good idea or not. Any thoughts? Are there any tools that are better for tight spaces? Thanks again for all the help!
...See More
Help-How to clean kitchen grease off of top of cookbooks
Q
Comments (2)
Try a kneaded eraser. You will find it in the art supply section of stores. If nothing else it will remove the dust. You knead it and then press it on the paper and remove it then knead again. You can also use it as an eraser. I keep some of my cookbooks in zippered binders with a label on the spine that tells me which books are inside. It makes for easy organization especially of small cookbooks
...See More
Help! Christmas guests left bacon grease stains on wood counter!
Q
Comments (5)
Here's what I do on my Maple butcher block when I have a stain, (even works on red wine) cut a lemon in half, scrub the butcher block with the open lemon. Wipe excess with damp paper towel, allow to air dry, and re-coat with mineral oil.
...See More
help with cleaning grease off stainless steel refrigerator
Q
Comments (11)
Look for a product that is a degreasing agent. Any local cleaning supply company will sell you a product that is made to remove grease. Follow the instructions on the bottle. I usually liberally spray the surface with the degreasing agent and let it dwell for a few minutes. Then use a Dobie pad to scrub it before wiping off the surface with a soft microfiber cloth. In case you're wondering, a Dobie pad is a soft foam pad that is covered with a plastic net mesh (no scratches) making it great for loosening grease. They can be bought at most grocery stores, Target and Walmarts. Hope this helps.
...See More
duanejack
21 years ago
Just a thought, is it pretty easy to force the grease out? It may feel somewhat easy but you may be applying more pressure than another more easily working grease gun. It takes a certain amount of pressure to force the grease out, lets just say 20 lbs of pressure and when you stop squeezing the handle and stop forcing grease out at 20 lbs, there may be 19 lbs of pressure behind the zerk which may be enough to lock it into place. Have you removed it with pliers and has grease flowed out of the end of the gun tube where the zerk was screwed on. Just a thought and trying to apply one of those theories of hydraulic pressure.

Duane in Japan
Socalinspector
21 years ago
Bobbledoo

I have had dozens of these manual guns and all of them do the same thing. When you attempt to pull it straight off it will not budge and it appears to become a permanent fixture,lol. Quite a few years ago I was at a G.M ASE Tech course and I got to talking with another Mechanic and I was releived to hear that I wasn't the only person it's happened to. He showed me the correct way, or at least the one that works, to remove the hose from the Zerk. The trick is to ROLL or ROTATE it off of the fitting, this way the "ears" in the tip of the gun are pushed back. When you pull it straight all it does it lock those little "ears" onto the bottom of the ball on the Zerk. Hope this helps you out.
Bobbledoo
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks to all. I was wondering if it was a pressure problem. Grease doesn't come out of the gun after it's unhooked, though. But apparently, you build up a huge amount of pressure with those guns so I can see how it could be a factor.

I'll try rolling it off the fitting as Socalinspector suggested. If that doesn't work, I'll "invest" in another coupling to see if that helps.

I can't believe someone doesn't make a quick-release version that operates like an airhose fitting, where you pull back on the ring to unlock it. You'd think there'd be money to be made.

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR Houzz Tour: Elbow Grease and Steel Create a Modern Texas Farmhouse

By Mitchell Parker

Talk about DIY. This couple acted as architect, interior designer and general contractor to build a one-of-a-kind home on a budget

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 10 Low-Cost Tweaks to Help Your Home Sell

By Lurdes Abruscato

Put these inexpensive but invaluable fixes on your to-do list before you put your home on the market

EARTH DAY How to Help Your Town’s Beneficial Birds and Bugs

By Annie Thornton

Make a habitat using local materials to provide a home to the creatures that help our gardens

REMODELING GUIDES 8 Tips to Help You Live in Harmony With Your Neighbors

Privacy and space can be hard to find in urban areas, but these ideas can make a difference

LIFE 12 Effective Strategies to Help You Sleep

By Laura Gaskill

End the nightmare of tossing and turning at bedtime with these tips for letting go and drifting off

KITCHEN DESIGN Key Measurements for Your Kitchen Design

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Get the ideal kitchen setup by understanding spatial relationships, dimensions and work zones

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 10 Tricks to Help Your Bathroom Sell Your House

By Mink Home Staging

As with the kitchen, the bathroom is always a high priority for home buyers. Here’s how to showcase your bathroom so it looks its best

LIFE 12 House-Hunting Tips to Help You Make the Right Choice

By Laura Gaskill

Stay organized and focused on your quest for a new home, to make the search easier and avoid surprises later

REMODELING GUIDES Wisdom to Help Your Relationship Survive a Remodel

By Mitchell Parker

Spend less time patching up partnerships and more time spackling and sanding with this insight from a Houzz remodeling survey

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Modern Loft Gets a Little Help From Some Friends

By Mitchell Parker

With DIY spirit and a talented network of designers and craftsmen, a family transforms their loft to prepare for a new arrival

Sponsored