Loading and Priming Your Grease Gun Like A Pro

Understanding Your Grease Gun

Before we dive into the process, let's quickly identify the main components of a typical grease gun:

• Barrel: Holds the grease cartridge.
• Plunger Rod/Follower Rod: Pushes the grease forward.
• Plunger Handle/T-Handle: Used to pull back the plunger rod.
• Head/Pump Assembly: Contains the pumping mechanism and nozzle.
• Air Bleeder Valve: A small valve, often a screw, used to release trapped air.

Loading a Grease Cartridge

Prepare the Grease Gun

1. 1. Unscrew the Barrel from the Head: Hold the head and unscrew the barrel counter-clockwise.
   2. Retract the Plunger Rod: Pull the Plunger handle as far back as it will go and allow the catch to keep this in place.

Insert the Cartridge

1. 1. Remove both Caps off the Cartridge: Peel off the pull-tab lid from one end of the grease cartridge and remove the plastic cap from the other end.
   2. Insert the Cartridge in the Barrel: Slide the cartridge, open end first (the end with the pull-tab removed), into the barrel of the grease gun.

Reassemble and Release Pressure (Prime if New)

1. 1. Screw the Head back on the Barrel: Screw the Head back onto the Head until it's tight.
   2. Release the Plunger Rod: Press the plunger release button or move the plunger handle slightly to disengage it from its locked position. Gently push the plunger rod into the barrel until it makes contact with the grease cartridge.

Priming Your New Grease Gun

Pump & Bleed

• • Pump the trigger: While holding the nozzle against a rag or waste surface, pump the trigger of the grease gun several times.
  • Loosen the bleeder valve: As you pump, slowly loosen the air bleeder valve (if it's a screw, a quarter to half-turn is usually enough). You should hear or see air escaping.
  • Tighten the bleeder valve: Once a steady stream of grease (without air bubbles) begins to emerge from the bleeder valve, tighten it back down.
  • Continue pumping: Keep pumping the trigger until a steady, consistent flow of grease comes out of the nozzle. This indicates that all the air has been purged