Bicycle Mechanics - faulty grease gun

On a previous thread, I received a link to a grease gun(http://www.harborfreight.com/3-oz-mi...gun-93486.html), provided after I inquired on purchasing an injector to apply bike grease. I purchased this gun, packed it with marine grease, and followed the instructions for application including pressing the trigger, and it won't work. I was curious onn wether someone owns a tool like this one, and can make a suggestion on troubleshooting it. Thank you.

On a previous thread, I received a link to a grease gun(http://www.harborfreight.com/3-oz-mi...gun-93486.html), provided after I inquired on purchasing an injector to apply bike grease. I purchased this gun, packed it with marine grease, and followed the instructions for application including pressing the trigger, and it won't work. I was curious onn wether someone owns a tool like this one, and can make a suggestion on troubleshooting it. Thank you.

I can't get to your link. If it is the small HF grease gun that you are referring to, I just bought that gun, and it works perfectly. You need to pack the grease in with a spatula or plastic knife, put the lid on, then push up from the bottom with a solid object ( a beefy screwdriver works well) to get the grease up. I had to drill the orifice on my gun to really get a good flow (was suggested by poster CACycling). He had drilled his gun with a 3/32" bit, but I did mine with a 7/64" bit. The flow is great and the gun is a very good cheap and functional gun.

Good luck.

As previously stated, you have to push up the grease to prime the pump. Once you've done so it'll continue to suck fresh grease and the piston will move up on it's own.

If you have an air bubble in the piston area you could pump all day and get nowhere.

BTW- if the pump won't prime by pushing the piston up with a screwdriver, remove the cylinder from the pump and push some grease directly into the pump area then, reassemble. This is messy and shouldn't be needed, so save it for a last resort only.

Where on a bike do you use a grease gun ?

Where on a bike do you use a grease gun ?

My personal bike has grease fittings in hubs, BB, headset and pedals, simplifying maintenance. none of the components require disassembly in thousands upon thousands of all weather miles.

Even on bikes without grease fittings I find needle applicator gun to be a good way dispense and apply grease exactly where I want it, while keeping it clean and uncontaminated. When I was Campy's east coast service tech I used the gun to dispense grease for ergolever rebuilds, keeping it exactly where I wanted it and keeping my fingers cleaner.

Even on bikes without grease fittings I find needle applicator gun to be a good way dispense and apply grease exactly where I want it, while keeping it clean and uncontaminated.

+1. I know it's a spendy way to go, but I use a Finish Line gun that screws onto those tubes of Park grease. I like it a lot, because I can just pump some out by pushing the thumb-button. It's a luxury, but an inexpensive one.

As FBinNY said in post #5, even if all the grease gun does is allow you to buy grease in $4 tubs, instead of the more expensive tubes, and also prevents the grease from getting contaminated by making sure the unused portion is protected from contamination, then it is worth the $5 price.

The HF grease gun is very functional, and I recommend it, if you are in the market for a small grease gun.

It took a bit of work to get mine primed.

Like others, I got it for the grease guard hubs, but also use it to apply grease to seatpost, bolt threads, spoke threads, when packing regular hubs, BBs, headsets, etc.

I reckon I should note how I primed mine. I held it upside down and smacked it a couple of times (like you would a ketchup bottle) to get the grease to settle in. Then just started pumping away, still with the gun inverted.

Where on a bike do you use a grease gun ?
The HF grease gun just pumps out grease it does not snap on to zerk fittings. Just an easy way to get grease where you need it (on threads, in bearing cups, etc.).

What's the "orifice"? Is that the tip of the gun? Or is it the hole on the inside in the cup part?


I can't get to your link. If it is the small HF grease gun that you are referring to, I just bought that gun, and it works perfectly. You need to pack the grease in with a spatula or plastic knife, put the lid on, then push up from the bottom with a solid object ( a beefy screwdriver works well) to get the grease up. I had to drill the orifice on my gun to really get a good flow (was suggested by poster CACycling). He had drilled his gun with a 3/32" bit, but I did mine with a 7/64" bit. The flow is great and the gun is a very good cheap and functional gun.

Good luck.

What's the "orifice"? Is that the tip of the gun? Or is it the hole on the inside in the cup part?

I am referring to the hole at the tip of the gun.

BTW- if the pump won't prime by pushing the piston up with a screwdriver

So THAT's what the slot on the bottom of my Dualco is for? Those things need instructions for geniuses like me.

The version with instructions costs twice as much.

So THAT's what the slot on the bottom of my Dualco is for? Those things need instructions for geniuses like me.
Right!!! Notice how it's shaped exactly right for a wide bladed screwdriver? :)

To Homebrew01: I have Speedplay pedals that are relubricated using a grease gun to force grease through a small port on the outboard edge until clean grease extrudes from the inboard side. There is no other way to lube them properly.

I also use the gun to meter grease into hub and other bearing races and as a dispenser for greasing seatposts, etc. It gives me just the right amount in the right place and keeps the bulk grease in the tub or 14-oz cylinder clean since I only dip into it to refil the gun.

The version with instructions costs twice as much.

I've got an ancient version of this gun (made in the US by plews or lincoln). It had, when it was new, a bleed port at the top, to one side of the plunger. Push down on it, and air could get out. It's pipe threaded, so I took it out and put a zerk in it. That lets me fill it from a regular sized grease gun, which is a lot less messy. (I did the same thing with my regular guns, so I could fill them from the bulk gun when I worked in auto repair.) The other feature it has that I've never seen anyone mentin is that the needle tip unscrews and you can put a normal tip to grease zerks.

Do the modern chinese versions still have these features?

Do the modern chinese versions still have these features?

My Dualco does have a replaceable tip. I just have the stock short tip and got a longer tip so I can reach the Grease Guard hub ports. Haven't shopped for a zerk tip.

My Dualco does have a replaceable tip. I just have the stock short tip and got a longer tip so I can reach the Grease Guard hub ports. Haven't shopped for a zerk tip.
The Duelco's tip has standard 1/8" NPT female pipe threads so you can use anything threaded compatibly as a replacement. I bought a 1/8" NPT male to 1/8" tubing adapter and made a 4" extension out of 1/8" copper tubing to let me add grease to bearing races more easily. The standard Duelco tip works very well as a grease injector for my Speedplays.

Thanks, worked perfectly after drilling the tip.


What's the "orifice"? Is that the tip of the gun? Or is it the hole on the inside in the cup part?