Learning how to fill a grease gun with a cartridge is a fundamental skill for anyone who works on cars, machinery, or equipment. It’s the cleanest and easiest way to load your grease gun, and this step-by-step guide will make the process foolproof. Don’t let a simple task like this intimidate you; we’ll show you how to do it quickly and without the mess.
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Choosing the Right Grease Cartridge: Not All Grease is Created Equal
Before you even think about how to fill a grease gun with a cartridge, it’s crucial to select the correct type of grease for your application. Using the wrong grease can be just as damaging as using no grease at all. Grease cartridges come in a standard 14-ounce size, but their contents can vary dramatically.
The most common type you will find is a multi-purpose lithium grease. This is an excellent all-around choice for general automotive and shop use, such as lubricating chassis components, U-joints, and wheel bearings. However, for specialized applications, you may need something different. For example, equipment operating in very wet conditions (like boat trailers or farm machinery) will benefit from a marine-grade grease, which has superior water-resistance. High-temperature applications, such as disc brake wheel bearings, require a specific high-temperature synthetic grease that won’t break down or melt under extreme heat.
Always check the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations or the grease’s product description to ensure it is suitable for your specific task. Choosing the right cartridge is the first step in a successful lubrication job.
Grease guns can be differentiated by the way they are powered. They can be powered manually, by air, or by electricity. The hand-powered or manual grease guns are manufactured with a lever or a pistol grip. There are also three ways the grease gun can be loaded. They can be loaded by suction fill, cartridges, or bulks.
How To Fill A Grease Gun With A Cartridge? 8 Easy Steps
- First, you have to take the grease gun in your hand and unscrew it from the head by rotating the barrel counterclockwise.
- Then after unscrewing the head, you have to pull the follower rod back and make sure that it’s securely snug so that the follower and the plunger are all the way back into the barrel.
- Then take the cartridge, which has two sides. One is the plastic side, and the other is the cap side. Be sure to store the grease cartridge cap size down so there are no air bubbles.
- After taking the cap off and putting that open side into the barrel, ensure it’s securely fit down there.
- Then pop the top. Sometimes there might be some grease on the cap; make sure to get that into the barrel too.
- Next, you screw the barrel back onto the head of the grease gun. Make sure it’s securely fit and then move it around about half a turn to let out the air. Check and see if the threading is correct because you don’t want to cross thread.
- You’ll be pushing the air bleeder valve while letting the follow rod go back into the gun. Engage the follower rod to start moving around up into the barrel while pushing the air bleeder valve.
- After it’s all the way through, you would want to tighten the barrel. And then, finally, you take the cap off of the piston and get ready to lubricate.(So Now now you know how to fill a grease gun with a cartridge.”)
Can You Use A Grease Gun Without A Cartridge?
A grease gun is the most efficient tool to transfer grease to the application level and lubricants to various mechanical and moving parts. Filling a grease gun with a cartridge is the most popular option. But you can also load it by suction fill or by bulk.
Though the process can be a bit complex, it can be made easy by following the right directions. Learning how to fill a grease gun with a cartridge
How Does A Cartridge Grease Gun Work?
Cartridge grease guns are used to apply lubricant through an aperture to a specific point, usually from a grease cartridge to a grease fitting.
After loading a grease gun with a cartridge and letting out the air with the help of the air bleeder valve, your gun is good to use. Now the question is, how does a cartridge grease gun work. “Now you know the complete process of how to fill a grease gun with a cartridge.”
Once the piston is primed, the grease will easily come out from the end. Snap the end of the gun to the grease fitting or the ‘nipple’ of the machine you’re greasing. You can pump grease in here at an angle. You got no reason to worry about it coming off.
Now, for how much grease to put in the machine depends. If you’re greasing your machine regularly, you have to give one pump for a smaller pivot point, and for a bigger one, you have to give two or three pumps.
If you’ve got grease that’s squirting out between the joints, it’s almost too much. Over greasing your machine will only result in wasted grease and your machine getting dirtier. Then when you’re done with the greasing, you can pull it off, and you’re good to go.
Need to know how to fill a grease gun with a cartridge? Our easy, step-by-step guide makes this messy job clean and simple. Learn the pro technique in minutes
How Do You Remove A Grease Cartridge From A Grease Gun?
After finishing up all the grease from a cartridge, you would need to remove it from the grease gun. These are the steps to remove a grease cartridge from a grease gun:
- Take the grease gun with the used up grease cartridge in your hand and pull the follower rod back and release the air. Lock it in place.
- Unscrew the head of the gun off of the barrel.
- Then, pull out the old cartridge and remove it from the gun with two fingers.
What Is The Standard Grease Gun Cartridge Size?
Grease gun cartridges can be of many sizes. There are plenty of variations in the market. You can start with small or large ones to your preference.
But the standard grease gun cartridge size is 14 ounces, 2.03 diameter x 9.25 L.
How Many Ounces Are In A Grease Cartridge?
In a standard grease cartridge, there are about 14 ounces.
Final Words
A grease gun is a popular tool for everyday life. It’s a standard workshop and garage tool that is used for the purpose of lubricating pieces of machinery.
Grease guns are used in auto maintenances, agricultural vehicles, types of equipment, factories, plants, and processing systems. They are also used in gardening and landscaping. To work a grease gun properly, you have to know about its functionalities well. These tools can be loaded by cartridges, suction fills, and bulks.
Cartridges are by far the most convenient and easiest way to load a grease gun. That’s why it’s the most popular option. But you have to follow the steps to fill a grease gun with a cartridge appropriately. You have to make sure that no air gets into the gun. Only then will you be able to use your grease gun to your advantage. “Now you know the complete process of how to fill a grease gun with a cartridge.”
Frequently Question & Answer
Question 1: What do I do if the grease gun won’t pump after loading a new cartridge?
Answer 1: This is usually caused by an air pocket trapped inside the gun head. To fix this, loosen the grease gun barrel by one or two turns from the head to allow trapped air to escape. Then, operate the plunger or lever a few times until you see a small amount of grease emerge from the loose threads. Once the air is purged, tighten the barrel back up, and it should start pumping.
Question 2: How do I know when the grease gun cartridge is empty?
Answer 2: You will know the cartridge is empty when you can no longer pump any grease out of the nozzle, and the handle or lever feels like it has no resistance. You can also visually check by pulling the plunger rod all the way back; if it comes back easily and fully, the cartridge is likely empty.
Question 3: Can I use a partially used grease cartridge?
Answer 3: Yes, you can absolutely use a partially used cartridge. If you remove a cartridge that is not yet empty, simply place the plastic cap back on the open end to keep the grease clean. You can reinstall it and use it later.
Question 4: Is it okay to mix different types of grease cartridges in the same gun?
Answer 4: No, you should avoid this. Different greases have different chemical compositions (base oils and thickeners). Mixing them can cause them to break down and lose their lubricating properties. Always use up the old cartridge completely or clean out the gun before switching to a different type of grease.