3 Tips For Changing a Grease Cartridge the RIGHT WAY (No Airlocks)
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- In this video we are discussing how to properly change a Grease Cartridge without getting it air locked. @AdeptApe on Venmo or AdeptApe@yahoo.com on PayPal for donations, thank you so much for supporting the channel!
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Leave the cartridge housing loose by a couple of turns when you release the plunger lock after adding the new cartridge. This helps release trapped air😉
That's exactly what I've always done, but as the cartridge gets around 1/2 empty it usually ends up getting air-locked on me which is frustrating.
@@jasonmeyers5849 Check the rubber on the plunger, those do go bad. We had one grease gun that did that all the time, we had a spare that the piston quit working, swapped the body/plunger with that one, never had an issue afterwards. Of course, once every 2-3 yrs, we'd take all our grease guns apart and clean them.
Also when the gun is empty , fully unscrew the barrel BEFORE pulling out the plunger , this helps maintain your prime and then as Jay Arnold said
What do you use to grease a grease gun ?
Yesssss!
Around my shop guys just hang it back up when it’s empty and it mysteriously is full next time they grab it.
Yep, it's amazing how they always have just enough grease to get the equipment properly lubed.
I have an empty one ive been using for years .. 🤷♂️. Its a mystery. But I swear . Next time I need grease it'll pump out a bit lol.
😆😄
We have one of those self refilling grease guns at my shop. Or at least that is what the other guys think. Every time I grab the grease gun I also grab an extra cartridge because I know 9 times out of 10 it is out.
Do we work on the same place...
I just LOVE "greasing" my truck/equipment. its the best job, ever. Rolling around on the ground, keeps me well grounded, and humble.
Get an electric grease gun.
I have just the job for you! I would have paid you but if you enjoy it that much, I think you should pay me.
@@JasonTheMunicipalMechanic When do I start?
Cardboard is your friend and grease is cheaper than iron so eh
Makes good hair conditioner too...
I was 5 minutes away from buying a new grease barrel, I thought it was broke. I didnt know this was the problem. You just saved me some money and headache. Thanks bud!
I have literally thrown a grease gun about 50 feet across our lot before not knowing how to prime it.
Yep the most timely video. 30 years of greasing and I didn't know my a$$ from my elbow apparently. Lol
Trapped air is always the problem, 99% of the time. 1% of the problem is no grease, this will always happen.
I’ve never had an airlock happen and I use every bit of grease too. Pull out and lock plunger rod, unscrew and install new cartridge, screw in 2 turns and reseat plunger rod, pump 4-5times until grease comes out and screw in the rest of the way
Same here, maybe some guns are just more forgiving than others.
That is the same strategy that I use👍🏼
I do the same except I leave the the end loose a good one turn. This prevents any air buildup being it is not airtight and the viscosity of the grease prevents it from leaking. Seems like a waste to toss a cartridge before its empty.
Ive been greasing our equipment for years and the same is here. I've never had this problem.
Same here.
I've been using grease guns since 1964 and never had an air lock that 4 or 5 pumps wouldn't fix. Don't worry about the 2 inch air gap at the bottom and pumping the shaft in and out helps nothing. I have 8 guns but only use 6 which have different ends. I store them upright in 4" pvc tubes with caps on the bottom to catch any oil that drips out. They are screwed to to two large standing cabinet doors on the outside. I use Green Grease now because it doesn't seem to dry out and cake up like some others. Thanks for the video,
Not going to lie, this is hella more useful than you would think. I usually go through 4+ tubes of grease when greasing the insane amount of rollers on conveyor belts.
Hope it helps.
I used to work in a surface mining company, and I still get imaginary hand cramps from thinking about greasing the crushers, bearings, head pulleys and conveyor rollers
My Dad taught me the art of filling a grease gun straight from a 5 gallon bucket, before the convenience of cartridges. It's not as difficult as you might think and is actually more efficient IMO.
PLEASE make a video!!! I cant figure out my dad’s….he too used a 5 gallons bucket for all his grease guns and I never watched him fill it and I only make a HUGH mess…..MAKE A VIDEO!!!
Handy skill that I use a few times a year!
Prior to cartridges lever gins were refilled from a 5 gallon pail, there was a pump for the pail an The lever gun had a fitting in it that mated the pail pump, open the lever a pump it full.
Using grease tubes is new way of filling a grease gun. I remember buying grease by the pail. I’d stick the tube in the grease halfway up the tube and pull the plunger to pull the grease in. You would then screw the pump back on and clean the grease off the outside of the tube. Or next upgrade was to an air powered grease system. The pail sat inside the tank and air pressure would pull the great out the trigger end. These were prone to blowing grease seal apart if the regulator was set too high.
Finally on to grease tubes in the 70s.
This came recommended in my feed, I swear that you tube reads my thoughts! Thanks for the info, got mine airlocked just last week but haven't fixed it yet. Now I know how thanks!
I definitively like my Milwaukee M18. Best investment ever for a grease gun. It has a nice bleeder valve to prime it after it ran out of grease too. Since I’m paying for the grease I m using it all. 🤣🤣
Love my Milwaukee grease gun, stuck zerts don't stand a chance
It does force the dirt into the grease if ya don't clean em off. If ya never clean the grease off after greasing it is usually easy to wipe off with your finger when ya go to grease it next time. Shouldn't seize either. Plus it helps waterproof your pants when ya wipe your finger off. Lol
Bought a air powered one and then they came out with battery powered ones. 🤦♂️
When the Milwaukee works its great! When it doesn't.......whew boy!
Been using M18 milwaukee for 4-5 years on the farm. Only have had to replace the tip. Works great and with a decent battery in low range can make just as much pressure as any of my hand pumps
Thank you for a basic but very complete explanation on this. It works fine. It was a good step by step editorial. I liked how you explained how and why it was best to do it the way you were showing
. You didn't talk over people's head trying to sound like a know it all like a lot of people.....well done! Keep up with the basic clear cut lessions. I personally appreciate them.
Spin on cylinder a couple threads and pump a few times ( listen for grease beginning to escape the loose threads as air bleeds) ..tighten, if still air locked, smack it on the lug of a rubber tire or 2 x 4 ( if you can afford one ) don’t smash the pistol grip mechanism while tapping it, use the solid portion to avoid wear/damage. Can easily do in short period of time with less mess, no purge grease to clean and no latex gloves required. Field tested in -30 c with graphite/or + 30 honey 🍯
This is the best video. This am I was prepping my new grease gun for some trailer work. Nobody mentions how you can lock the plunger rod to the plunger to put pressure on the grease. Nobody mentions disengaging the rod from plunger to get the air out of the back of the tube.
After years of greasing trucks and heavy equipment manually the company I work for now has all self greasing equipment. The only thing you still have to grease by hand are the U-Joints and also fill the self greasing reservoirs about twice a year. Before this I had no idea such things existed, it sure makes life easy.
The guy I work for now uses Milwaukee battery powered grease guns, they’re amazing! My dad would’ve stayed in the trucking business if he’d had one of them!
I have been greasing farm tractor s for 50 years. I always remove the end off the hose and give it a few pumps air will come out. I look forward to trying this method.
Where I work as a mechanic, in a vegetable processing plant, we use 4 different types of grease in pistol grip style of grease guns that we must keep separate but, they still get cross contaminated from time to time with the wrong grease and they rarely work without messing with them.
I got fed up with all of the bullshit one day and went out and bought me 4 Milwaukee cordless grease guns and color coded them. I now look forward to greasing equipment so much, that within 4 months, the whole crew has them and thus, the old pistol grip guns became obsolete, we cuss less and we change out bearings and bushings much less frequently now. It's the best investment I made next to divorcing my ex-wife👍.
I have found that different tricks work with different guns. In an attempt to help fellow viewers I make sure outside of new grease tube is clean so I am not introducing contaminants, when I peel the metal seal off I scrape the grease left on the seal on the inside of the tube rim so the product goes to a good home, thread the gun’s tube housing 1.5-2 turns into the grease gun cap then push long plunger rod back into the tube housing to initiate pressure on the new grease and give it 20-30 seconds as that much grease moves slow then wiggle the tube housing around a little and sometimes I have noticed a burp from the gun from doing this, now thread the tube housing the rest of the way into the cap. Today I learned to not run the gun out of grease. I will try this concept at work. It sounds as simple as starting a diesel engine that was not run dry of fuel vs starting a diesel that was run out of fuel. Thanks for another good vid!
I'm doing it exactly this way haha
Thank you for the input.
I pull out and lock rod, undo barrel, remover cartridge, use barrel to flick off plastic cap, insert cartridge, pull out plastic seal stop, wind barrel back on, unlock rod and push all the way down, then give the valve a 4 or 5 pumps to remove air. Simples.
I use all my grease. Unscrew top, rack the plunger back, and eject empty tube. Rack and lock plunger back, place new tube in, pop the top. Screw top back on, depress and hold purge valve then release plunger to home. Done.
Simple, never had issues. I have greased a lot of heavy equipment as the young kid on the crew.
A new gun used to come with a steel ring 1 1/2" diameter. When you are done greasing, don't release the lever. Keep it squeezed and install the ring to keep it closed. This single step will safeguard against air stalling the grease delivery. 30+ years.
Been using the same gun for the past 13 years. Just learned it could “air lock” but I’ve never had any problems. Guess I’ve been doing it right the whole time? Lol good info brotha!
The preferred method for changing grease tubes in my shop is to leave it for the next guy. Same with oxygen tanks, acetylene tanks, refrigerant tanks, soap dispensers and towels.
Hey I didn't know you worked at the same place I do. Need a mop bucket? It's full of coolant, oil, mud, but no water or soap. Need the brake clean can full? The fill tank is empty! The joy of working as a team.
Yep, teamwork...
Most problems in general are best left for the next guy, especially if the next guy is someone other than you.
Same here, only 20 M8x30 bolts left? Field engineer before you when stock stocking up just swipes all 20 and doesn't tell the storeman more need ordering rather than taking 10, asking the storeman to order more and maybe leaving the other 10 for the next field engineer who might need them in the meantime before more stock comes in. 😂
😡 I ran a logging operation for30 some years and all of my employees know that if the grease gun was empty you had better fill it up or you were going to hear about it 😬
No way crazy, I was just thinking about greasing my digger tomorrow, but I always forget my Milwaukee electric grease gun, and the lads always keep a bent rusty asf grease gun in the side cabinet, that never has grease in it. So it's so hard to change the cartridge on the fecking thing! Great timing on the video.
I bought that smart saker lock on grease fitting end for my grease gun, total game changer. Less mess, less frustration.
25 yrs of learning how to purge the air and I still learned some helpful tips. Thanks!!
LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Holy cow. I I didn't think of putting the shaft sideways to lock it. I thought a piece was missing. Thanks alot!
Two purposes to greasing. First, to lubricate. Second, to get very close to things that we don't normally see, and inspect them. You can find little things that could lead to failure in the future.
This is a great 'So now I know what I'm doing wrong video.' The LOCK n LOAD is a must-have for any grease gun. If you don't have one, you are living in the DIY dark age. I'll need to rewatch your video, so I've placed it in my Save Video file.
I was today years old when I learned some important grease gun stuff's.
Today yrs old??
Thanks AA for the tips. Yea, I'm the guy, under the equipment, standing on my head and grease gun has an air lock............every time. Ha This will help me greatly.
The puller rod in my gun can be locked into the piston by turning 90 degrees then the air can be forced out of the valve at the top of the head. Works really well every time
Thank you for showing those tricks! I never watched a how to video on a grease gun. But I have all those issues you talk about. Makes sense now why that happens.
Been doing all of this for years, thought I was going to see a new way.
Finally, I know how to do at least one thing right. I may need to consult this video again next time I change the grease in my grease gun.
Another Great Video. i have struggled with these Guns for years. now i learned something new.
As a lifetime backyard mechanic this is a subject I must admit I knew little about, I got an air pocket the other day and was mystified as to what was happening. Now I know.
After peeling the metal seal off I use it smooth the top side of the grease tube it came off of. It helps create the initial vacumm to get it going. I always run my gun bone dry, approximately 5 tubes a week.
The tips at the end were the biggest help and saved me much frustration. Thanks!
One thing that is very important is for the grease be clean, in that my grease gun sometimes lives for months at the bottiom of my tool box, I replaced the plug with a grease fitting and plug the hose onto when not in use to prevent sand and dirt crom contamanating the grease at the end of the fitting.
No way. Our grease guns get covered in everything imaginable and dirty af they work fine with the right operator.
@@chadrides914 : The grease gun may work fine, but if some grit or sand gets into the female end of the coupling, then that gets pumped into what ever you are greasing.
@@johndavidwolf4239 heavy equipment application it doesn’t much matter
good vid. ill usually install the new tube and screw the holder onto the head just a couple turns and then release the plunger and itll shoot the air out of the threads between holder and head and ill pump the handle a few times till its primed and then finish tightening the holder onto the head and go to work. also if it stops working ill loosen the holder from the head a few turns and then turn the gun upside down and tap the head on something a few times and pump it till its good then ill tighten the holder to the head again and go back to work. you can get a little more of that last bit of grease out of the tube this way. also one more thing some people might not know, if you have a bucket of grease you can remove the holder from the head and spray wd40 outside of the holder and then simultaneously push the holder into the grease bucket while pulling back on the plunger and itll suck the grease into the tube. and then the wd40 will keep to much grease from sticking outside of the holder. so just clean the holder and screw the head halfway on release the plunger and pump till its good then tighten the head. i work offshore and im surprised how many new guys come and dont know that trick or general grease gun procedure.
One of the best things about making a video, is people always leave extra information or tips on how to do something a way I have never seen.
I learnt something. Didn't know about locking in the shaft. I've had to use some gear oil to help get my old gun working, but the new one is ok with leaving a few threads unscrewed to purge.
Good tips. I solved my grease gun issues. I got a milwaukee M12 graese gun. It works great. Even if theres air it purges it quick.
My father has been filling those up from a large bucket of grease using an old used saw blade... For decades! I didn't know there are cardriges for it until last year
I didn’t know, what I didn’t know about grease guns, thank you for this information it will be put to use 🇺🇸
Always keep the grease and cartridges in a warm place, facilitates greasing and facilitates cartridge change
I have a zerk fitting in the port on the pump end of the gun, I fill off the 120 lb keg air op grease gun, one can also open the check ball on the zero to release the air.
Thank you sir! I learn something everytime I watch your videos.
after peeling off the metal tab/lid, i use it to pull the grease up around the lip of the container, leaving just a pocket of air in the middle near the top/ thread on the canister just alittle. enough its in but enough to force air out, and push on it while pumpin. easy peasy.
Great explanation on grease gun cartridge changes , very informative and I learned some things I didn’t know, thanks.
Been doing this a long time, on occasion will have to pump it a few more times than normal but it always pumps back up ok. I always take the pump off first, pull the rod out, let the rod go and push out the old tube, pull it back out , put in new tube, put on the pump , push the rod in and pump it up. rare to have a problem.
I have bought a case of cartridges that have a big hollow hole through the center of the tube from being filled to fast when made. And you have to constantly purge air of smack the gun upside down to get it to pump
After installing the new grease I will partially thread the it back on then release the plunger. I might tap the plunger down a little. Then finish threading the cylinder on. I haven't had any problems since doing it this way.
After 10 different videos you helped me with my problem. Thank you!!!
I am amazed how many people don't know this. Seems most new hires are never taught this. I wish I had a dollar for everytime I picked up an airlocked greasegun.
Just bought a smaller 3oz pistol grip grease gun for my mower and it's my 1st grease gun so im trying to learn how to use it and some tips/tricks to make it easier to operate. Thanks for the video
You might check to see if it has a nozzle that screws in and out. If you have one that does, then you're in luck, because you can adjust the tightness applied to the grease fitting. Turn it out to loosen, which is the time you push the tip onto the grease fitting. Once on the fitting, tighten the tip around the fitting before you apply the grease. Once you're done, just unscrew the tip to loosen it and it comes off with no struggle.
How did you know that I needed this video right now? My dad has 3 grease guns that all don't work. Maybe this will fix one of them
I know, right? Just this morning I thought ''I should watch a grease gun video.'' Uncanny
Very, very many of us have grease guns that aren't equipped with a purge valve. After several decades of working on vehicles... I've never seen a purge valve on a grease gun before tonight.
I gave you a thumbs up 👍. But you kinda missed a step... I work as a set turd for a Kubota dealership... snap on grease gun is one of the best investments I've made.. yeah its worth more than my car.. your videos are great 👍
IDEA: save a suitable amount of the type of grease you use in a clean, sealable, separate container. When a change is almost due, spoon the grease out of the separate container into the empty section of the new cartridge so it is now full to the brim with no air gap. Reassemble grease gun and carry on greasing with no air locks or bleeding required. Or use your grease gun to directly fill the void of a new cartridge ahead of time before it needs changing. Sounds easier than spooning it out of another container.
(I dont own a grease gun so have never tried this but my thinking meat seems to reckon it will work)
Or I guess you could think ahead of time when you get a new box, load a gun and take all the caps off the new tubes and fill each one up and then replace the caps on all the tubes. Personally I do not put as much thought in when replacing a tube like this guy if it gets air locked there are tricks to get it working like what are in these comments and what he showed.
Way too time consuming and messy.
I just pull out the t handle fully and pinch it gently in a shop vise. Reassemble and release t handle and push back in. Easy peasy.
Most informative video on RUclips! Grease guns certainly tried my patience more than once!
5 videos later and yours was the one lol. Thank you!
I was about to throw away my 2 lincoln air power hand grease guns after watching some videos I cleaned them and they’re now working pretty good
Your video are educational .If a person has the right stuff ( talent) Your video's are helpful in all applications make or model new or old .In short You got the Right Stuff next time
If you have a airlock after changing in a new cartridge, place thumb over the greasegun hose end, pump so that the pressurized air/grease lifts the thumb off the end, with a tightly held thumb it creates a vacuum on stroke return drawing the air thru the line. Also topping up the top of the tube before screwing on helps.
I hate to admit this but I'm watching this because I actually forgot how to change a grease gun cartridge. I use to live and breath grease but that was in my teens and early twenties. Now in my early 50's I haven't changed one out in 30 years and for the life of me couldn't remember how to do it the other day when I was working on the suspension of my dually and my gun ran out. Thanks for the tutorial. It's funny the things you forget with time when initially they were second nature to you.
I had a Lincoln battery grease gun ,I a tough time priming it a lot of time . My millwaulki always primes quickly. I always run the grease gun dry.
That's a good-looking grease coupler! :)
been using a squeeze handle last few years,,but really miss the lever style...never have a problem,using the dont tighten all the way method ....untill later
Vice grips on the plunger arm after you lock it back. I’ve worked in shops with worn out grease guns, and they had no problem blaming the mechanics when their tool crib grease gun shoots a full load load of $2000/tube grease across the hangar. 🤘🏻
What tube of grease costs that much ?
@@johndowe7003 That would be a youtube of grease...
@@johndough9187 😂
When you have a new grease cartridge in the cylinder, make sure you fully release the plunger before you screw the cylinder to the top. 👍
I’ve got a dewalt 20v battery grease gun, use about 6 tubes a week, never airlocked since the initial priming.
Thank you for the helpful video! 🙂
Remember that God loves you, and wants you to love Him too with all your heart 🙂
You added a step, hold the check valve on top pull plunger out and lock it, unscrew unit, pull the tube, put tube in, screw unit down press the check valve on top and press the plunger in and up till it fully inserts.
Good public service announcement ApeMan. I can't say how many times I've effed this job up...
Some grease guns have a zerk fitting on them. You pump grease from a bulk drum through that fitting to refill the grease gun.
OMG! I knew I was doing it completely wrong! Your video is a godsend. I'm keeping this one around.
another informative video...I have no need for a grease gun....but now I want one!
I hate grease, but the worst part is being under an RV greasing the steering box and you get an air pocket. Hope things are going well there Larry.
@@AdeptApe thank you...next week is a big one...
I was taught to not screw in the tube all the way on and pump the handle. Air will purge a lot faster
Yep that's the way to do it
Late April in Minnesota. It's time to get the 'ol dump truck up and runnin' again for another season.
I’ve always used all the grease before changing. Also, I never pull the plunger out while it’s still connected to the gun, this will create a low pressure and suck the grease out and lose the prime.
That air pocket at the back isn't your problem. That's fine. What is the issue is the air pocket at the front. The best way I found is use the lid that you broke off and bend it into a scoop shape and pull out some of that grease from the back and fill up the front.
I buy grease by the 5 gallon pail and use a pump to load the grease from the pail into my Milwaukee cordless gun. This way no air pockets, ever. I have a long hose and a LockNLube.
How many people like myself hate people that just hit plunger rod on the ground to release it. Then it broken forever & will not hold & you must use vice grips to change cartridges on plunger rod to keep it extended.
Chamber thread method works every time for me.
I got fed up with grease tubes that had large air pockets init. So, I got a zerk fittin & screwed it into the metal tube on the pump end, took it to a service station & had it pumped up with grease, and NOT AIR. YEP i PAID EXTRA, BUT WAS FINISHED WITH THE AIR HASSEL & it aint messy.
Hey Josh, thanks for making me feel like an amateur. Appreciate that bud.
I am totally joking of course.
Thanks! This video is gonna save a bit of frustration!
a video i was waiting for lol, my m18 had a lot of air issues, after this video i know i shouldn't run it dry
I run mine dry every tube, never had an issue repriming it.
Just greased my trailer bearings a few weeks ago and had an air pocket. Good tips How to remedy before you even get going. Thanks.
Always wondered how the plunger can go fully in if the tube is full of grease? Unlike a caulk gun.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I remember my Dad would get so MAD with the grease gun that he would throw it !! A few cuss words to
I got my start working for a family owned Excavation/Trucking business, I told the owner that I had a "Hoisting license" to run a Backhoe and other earthmoving equipment. He called me the "new operator", and told me to see him the next morning at 6:30am, I operated the Hand shovel, and Grease gun the whole time I work for him, He had 3 sons, a brother, and another Heavy truck, driver. I got to move equipment, mostly on Saturday, to Grease them! Good times on the job, working for the old man, who only wanted to see asses and elbows, i.e. working your ass off and moving your arms, while shoveling or whatever manual labor, he, had in store that day.
wow!! all these years I was doing wrong but yet the grease still came out!!!
some people will make a video of anything in hopes of being a youtube star!!!
There's times it gets into the piston, hose. Have to pull the hose put finger over it like a check valve.
I just squeeze the tube to get the grease to the end of the tube before I insert it, I never have issues and I run it out every time, it also doesn't take me 5 minutes to change a tube.
Cool.
I always have issues with the mini grease tubes. The plunger gets stuck at the back of the tube. So i think its loaded.. Until it runs out.and i get air. Lol
I have a different problem, I need to put my grease gun into a vice gently or something to hold the one end because I need my whole body and both arms just to pull the "T" handle back to the lock position and I am just barely able to do it. I've used grease guns for thirty years but have never come across this problem before.
Did all that but the handle won’t push down! It worked the first time ! So I unscrewed the pressure plug and grease came out so is it still having a air lock🤔
The plunger is your indicator of how much grease is left even when its fully inserted? 🤔
Exactly . I don’t know why they’re pushing the plunger all the way up .
I've bought maybe 4 cartridge hand guns in the last 30 years and I think everyone has a different design than the old style shown here. Too bad because I prefer this one. You really have to hang on to the instructions.