Grease Zerk Issues

Years ago in high school, I used to work in what was called a "filling station" out West. We used an air powered grease gun, and the tip mounted on the zerk fitting with somewhat of a snap or click.

I just bought the linked gun to grease the U-Joints on my 2011 4-WD. It does not snap onto the zerk, and the grease just oozes out around it.

I've pushed to fitting on to the zerk with a fair amount of force, but it won't click on - it stays loose. I am guessing that's the reason for the oozing.

Am I doing this wrong? Can someone give me some advice? The truck is only 2 years old, and I can't believe that all three fittings I've tried are clogged. I tend to think I lost my touch.




http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...l-grip-grease-gun-performance-tools_7070489-p

 

Most grease guns have an adjustable coupler... might check that?

 

I have the same grease gun. Sometimes I have the same problem of grease coming out around the fitting and not going into the zerk. I usually move the fitting on the grease gun around on the zerk until it works right.

 

might be the wrong size tip. i know on the farm we ran into different sizes on the occasion ???

 

Do I have the part about the gentle snap onto the fitting right? They don't seem to be mating up.

 

Yes, you should feel it 'snap' into place if everything is lined up correctly and you're using the proper sized tip.

 

I bought this one and a rubber hose to fit it from NAPA and it works fine. It's actually kind of hard to get it back off the zerks:

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...ide-Welding-Lubemax/_/R-BK_7151241_0361178637

 

I have the same problem. I back off the adjustable collar until it just gently snaps over the zerk fitting, then tighten the collar, pump the grease, and reverse the process.

Could be the ball on the zerk is hung up. Take a small, flat punch and gently push on the ball to make sure it move freely.

 

Thanks - that was the problem. I loosened it, then thightened it until I got that snap of which I have fond memories.

 

I ended up going down to my local Napa store to buy the Napa gun. The guy told me what I was doing wrong - i.e. I just need to unscrew the tip slight to loosen the aperture. I didn't buy anything from them this time, but next time they'll be my first stop.

 

Good to hear you got it working... knowing about the adjustable coupler makes the job alot easier and less chance of breaking a zerk off during removal (don't ask me how i know that.) When adding the grease do it slowly... the seals where the excess grease escapes around the joints are thin plastic with 2 very small holes (at least that's how the one on the front driveline under the small skid plate is.) If the grease is pumped in too fast it will break the seal...again, don't ask.

 

do most grease guns come with adjustable couplers? I am having a tough time pin pointing which grease gun to buy that will work with our trucks

 

For you guys that are having issues getting the grease gun fitting on the zerk properly . I am going to throw you a curve ball . You can directly inject grease into the ball of the zerk using a needle greaser . This would save you from slopping grease all over the place and they are only 7 bucks . I have a bunch of these ..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lincoln-580...84507667?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item2c53cd0b13

 

That looks promising! How do you attach that to the grease?

 

The needle greaser adapter snaps on to the grease gun fitting . They work very well and no mess from missing the zerk with a regular grease gun fitting