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How do you fill a grease gun

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:58 pm
by MGFmad
I have not had much need for a grease gun before owning the Minor and when I did, I borrowed a friends cartridge type.

I got a gun as a Christmas present
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But cannot get it to work :roll: Machine Mart have thoughtfully not bothered to include instructions.

Whats the procedure for filling these devices....thanks :D

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 6:19 pm
by Matt
normally you unscrew the top (bit with the handle attached), put the tube into the tub of grease and pull the handle on the bottom.

Generall either a chain or a bar will come out and it can be "notched" into position, you then screw the top back on and unnotch the chain/bar

There are also ones where you pull the handle and there is a little tab which catches and you have to push it down to get the gun to push on the grease

I hope that helps?

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 8:04 pm
by bmcecosse
It 'can' be filled from a tub of grease - but that's a messy business. The cartridge- as above - is the best option.

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 8:15 pm
by MGFmad
Thanks for the replies.

I had another look at the gun - there is a small valve on the top - I think it acts as a sort of bleed valve (ball bearing on a spring) I think this is stuck as if I blow the airline through where the grease would come up from the 'tank' nothing happens - If I cannot get air through at about 90psi, there is no way that any grease will come out!

Looks like a trip to Machine Mart is on.

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 9:30 pm
by bmcecosse
The grease gun can develop very much more than 90 psi!

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 9:34 pm
by Lukey
I've been wondering when I put oil in the steering rack do I just fill a normal grease gun with hypoid 90 oil?

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 11:33 pm
by MGFmad
bmcecosse wrote:The grease gun can develop very much more than 90 psi!
True but this was putting air through the inlet or pick up hole from the grease 'tank' which should then exit through the outlet that feeds the tube that attaches to the grease nipples. I could not get any air to come out. If I put air in through the outlet (like reverse flushing!) air will come out of the bleed valve on top of the gun rather than the pick up from the grease tank - I think that because of this, the little valve is blocked.

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:53 am
by bmcecosse
To answer Lukey - just use grease in the rack! The later identical design Mini racks were all specified for grease - it's much less messy, and less likely to run out. And it may quieten any rattles more effectively! If you really feel you must use oil - the yes, you need to get it into the gun which is a messy business, and then clean it out afterwards. Or have a dedicated gun of course - but it does tend to leak out!

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:13 pm
by Lukey
Ta bmc, It's the one thing I had neglected on the minor because I wasn't sure.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:01 am
by mike.perry
How much grease does a rack take?

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:00 pm
by bmcecosse
Just a few strokes now and again - being grease it doesn't run out.

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:10 pm
by MGFmad
An update on the grease gun problem!

I took it back to the shop and got a replacement. The new one is working fine - glad there was something wrong, thought I was going mad, not being able to get a simple grease gun to work!

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:59 pm
by bmcecosse
Great success!

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:57 am
by Dean
bmcecosse wrote:To answer Lukey - just use grease in the rack! The later identical design Mini racks were all specified for grease - it's much less messy, and less likely to run out. And it may quieten any rattles more effectively! If you really feel you must use oil - the yes, you need to get it into the gun which is a messy business, and then clean it out afterwards. Or have a dedicated gun of course - but it does tend to leak out!

Thank you Bmcecosse... I was having the same thoughts as Lukey.... now I can just "get on with it". :)