Let's Talk Grease and Grease Guns



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Grease guns are essential tools for lubrication in various fields, including agriculture, automotive, and industrial applications. The importance of proper greasing cannot be overemphasized as it extends the lifespan of machinery and equipment. While greasing might not be the most exciting topic for many, understanding how and when to grease your equipment can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

Why Do You Need to Grease the Tractor?

The bearings on the tractor need grease to keep running smoothly. The fittings the grease goes into are called zerks. It’s a funny name, but the inventor was a Wisconsin fellow named Oscar Zerk who worked for Nash Motor Company.

How Does a Zerk Work?

Inside the zerk is a little tiny ball with a spring behind it. When there’s no grease coupler on that fitting, the ball is out at the front, keeping the grease from coming out. When you put that coupler on, it pushes the ball back and allows you to apply grease through the fitting.

What Does the Grease Actually Do?

Did you know that grease is oil with a thickener in it? The grease comes out of a bearing when it’s in use, to keep the fitting lubricated and eliminate friction. But since the grease is coming out, you’ll need to add more as you use the machine. If you don’t do this regularly, you’re going to have excessive wear.

What About a Grease Fitting That Won’t Take Grease?

If you’re trying to apply grease with your lever gun and the grease just won’t go into the zerk, you might have some rust accumulated down in there. Some grease or dirt could be preventing the ball from coming out of the zerk. A little bit of grease coming back out is normal, but it’s important to keep it clean around those grease fittings.

Unfortunately, it could even be a cheap grease zerk installed by the manufacturer. In that case, you’ll need to replace those zerks with ones that work properly.

Is There a Set Greasing Schedule for All the Tractor Fittings?

Not all grease fittings need to be greased at the same intervals. Some can just be touched once a year because they’re not used that much. If you’re using your loader a lot, you may want to grease it more than the recommended intervals. For machinery with PTO shafts like brush hogs or tillers, it’s better to grease the U joints every time you use it.

For more information, please visit How Often Should You Grease A Tractor.

How Do You Know When You’re Done Greasing?

If you didn’t grow up on a farm and you’ve never been around grease fittings, you might not be familiar with how to use a grease gun. You’ll know you’ve got enough grease in there when it starts coming out of the grease area. However, be cautious to stop before too much comes out to prevent wastage.

What if I Can’t See the Grease Zerk or Grease Area?

If you can’t see it, you might hear it. When you’re pumping, it’ll make a crackling sound when the old grease material starts coming out. These sounds are identifiable after you’ve greased that area a couple of times.

Can You Grease with One Hand?

If you've got a hand or wrist problem, you can use a quick coupler and lock it on with your good hand. Then, with a pistol grip grease gun, you can lock it on and let it hang there while using your other hand to grease.

What's the Best Kind of Grease?

For most small tractors or lawn mowers, a good-quality, basic multi-purpose grease will work fine. If you’re using heavier equipment like a combine or skid loader, consider moving to synthetic or polyuria grease. You can see my selection of greases here.

How Do I Know if My New Tractor Has Been Greased?

Most of the time, grease zerks get a little paint on the top during the painting process in the factory. If you see paint on the zerk, it hasn’t been greased. Scrape the paint off, make sure it’s clean, and then grease it.

If a Used Tractor Has a Lot of Grease Around the Zerks, Is That Okay?

If you’re shopping for a used tractor and the zerks have a lot of grease around them, that’s a good sign. It indicates that the previous owner kept the machine well-greased. If everything is dry and clean with no evidence of greasing, that’s a bad sign.

What Sort of Grease Gun Should I Use?

If you do a lot of greasing, consider an electric or battery-powered grease gun, like those used in dealerships. Lube-Shuttle offers one with a screw-in canister, which could be the best grease gun for tractors and will make your greasing tasks easier. While not cheap, these tools will help you avoid hating the greasing process.

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