Leave the cartridge housing loose by a couple of turns when you release the plunger lock after adding the new cartridge. This helps release trapped air😉

Around my shop guys just hang it back up when it’s empty and it mysteriously is full next time they grab it.

I just LOVE "greasing" my truck/equipment. its the best job, ever. Rolling around on the ground, keeps me well grounded, and humble.

I’ve never had an airlock happen and I use every bit of grease too. Pull out and lock plunger rod, unscrew and install new cartridge, screw in 2 turns and reseat plunger rod, pump 4-5times until grease comes out and screw in the rest of the way

I definitively like my Milwaukee M18. Best investment ever for a grease gun. It has a nice bleeder valve to prime it after it ran out of grease too. Since I’m paying for the grease I m using it all. 🤣🤣

I was today years old when I learned some important grease gun stuff's.

I've been using grease guns since 1964 and never had an air lock that 4 or 5 pumps wouldn't fix. Don't worry about the 2 inch air gap at the bottom and pumping the shaft in and out helps nothing. I have 8 guns but only use 6 which have different ends. I store them upright in 4" pvc tubes with caps on the bottom to catch any oil that drips out. They are screwed to to two large standing cabinet doors on the outside. I use Green Grease now because it doesn't seem to dry out and cake up like some others. Thanks for the video,

I was 5 minutes away from buying a new grease barrel, I thought it was broke. I didnt know this was the problem. You just saved me some money and headache. Thanks bud!

My Dad taught me the art of filling a grease gun straight from a 5 gallon bucket, before the convenience of cartridges. It's not as difficult as you might think and is actually more efficient IMO.

Thank you for showing those tricks! I never watched a how to video on a grease gun. But I have all those issues you talk about. Makes sense now why that happens.

Not going to lie, this is hella more useful than you would think. I usually go through 4+ tubes of grease when greasing the insane amount of rollers on conveyor belts.

Thank you for a basic but very complete explanation on this. It works fine. It was a good step by step editorial. I liked how you explained how and why it was best to do it the way you were showing . You didn't talk over people's head trying to sound like a know it all like a lot of people.....well done! Keep up with the basic clear cut lessions. I personally appreciate them.

This came recommended in my feed, I swear that you tube reads my thoughts! Thanks for the info, got mine airlocked just last week but haven't fixed it yet. Now I know how thanks!

Using grease tubes is new way of filling a grease gun. I remember buying grease by the pail. I’d stick the tube in the grease halfway up the tube and pull the plunger to pull the grease in. You would then screw the pump back on and clean the grease off the outside of the tube. Or next upgrade was to an air powered grease system. The pail sat inside the tank and air pressure would pull the great out the trigger end. These were prone to blowing grease seal apart if the regulator was set too high. Finally on to grease tubes in the 70s.

Thank you sir! I learn something everytime I watch your videos.

I bought that smart saker lock on grease fitting end for my grease gun, total game changer. Less mess, less frustration.

This is the best video. This am I was prepping my new grease gun for some trailer work. Nobody mentions how you can lock the plunger rod to the plunger to put pressure on the grease. Nobody mentions disengaging the rod from plunger to get the air out of the back of the tube.

After 10 different videos you helped me with my problem. Thank you!!!

Spin on cylinder a couple threads and pump a few times ( listen for grease beginning to escape the loose threads as air bleeds) ..tighten, if still air locked, smack it on the lug of a rubber tire or 2 x 4 ( if you can afford one ) don’t smash the pistol grip mechanism while tapping it, use the solid portion to avoid wear/damage. Can easily do in short period of time with less mess, no purge grease to clean and no latex gloves required. Field tested in -30 c with graphite/or + 30 honey 🍯

Ya i use the extra long grease hose , actually i get custom length hoses made up and i use a locking grease coupler , but the new cartridge method you show is something I will try , Thanks

I didn’t know, what I didn’t know about grease guns, thank you for this information it will be put to use 🇺🇸

I have found that different tricks work with different guns. In an attempt to help fellow viewers I make sure outside of new grease tube is clean so I am not introducing contaminants, when I peel the metal seal off I scrape the grease left on the seal on the inside of the tube rim so the product goes to a good home, thread the gun’s tube housing 1.5-2 turns into the grease gun cap then push long plunger rod back into the tube housing to initiate pressure on the new grease and give it 20-30 seconds as that much grease moves slow then wiggle the tube housing around a little and sometimes I have noticed a burp from the gun from doing this, now thread the tube housing the rest of the way into the cap. Today I learned to not run the gun out of grease. I will try this concept at work. It sounds as simple as starting a diesel engine that was not run dry of fuel vs starting a diesel that was run out of fuel. Thanks for another good vid!

After years of greasing trucks and heavy equipment manually the company I work for now has all self greasing equipment. The only thing you still have to grease by hand are the U-Joints and also fill the self greasing reservoirs about twice a year. Before this I had no idea such things existed, it sure makes life easy.

After peeling the metal seal off I use it smooth the top side of the grease tube it came off of. It helps create the initial vacumm to get it going. I always run my gun bone dry, approximately 5 tubes a week.

Been doing all of this for years, thought I was going to see a new way.

The guy I work for now uses Milwaukee battery powered grease guns, they’re amazing! My dad would’ve stayed in the trucking business if he’d had one of them!

Definitely appreciate the video bud, keep up the great work.

Holy cow. I I didn't think of putting the shaft sideways to lock it. I thought a piece was missing. Thanks alot!

The preferred method for changing grease tubes in my shop is to leave it for the next guy. Same with oxygen tanks, acetylene tanks, refrigerant tanks, soap dispensers and towels.

Good tips. I solved my grease gun issues. I got a milwaukee M12 graese gun. It works great. Even if theres air it purges it quick.

This is a great 'So now I know what I'm doing wrong video.' The LOCK n LOAD is a must-have for any grease gun. If you don't have one, you are living in the DIY dark age. I'll need to rewatch your video, so I've placed it in my Save Video file.

Been using the same gun for the past 13 years. Just learned it could “air lock” but I’ve never had any problems. Guess I’ve been doing it right the whole time? Lol good info brotha!

25 yrs of learning how to purge the air and I still learned some helpful tips. Thanks!!

I have been greasing farm tractor s for 50 years. I always remove the end off the hose and give it a few pumps air will come out. I look forward to trying this method.

we need more videos like these.

5 videos later and yours was the one lol. Thank you!

I have a zerk fitting in the port on the pump end of the gun, I fill off the 120 lb keg air op grease gun, one can also open the check ball on the zero to release the air.

I learnt something. Didn't know about locking in the shaft. I've had to use some gear oil to help get my old gun working, but the new one is ok with leaving a few threads unscrewed to purge.

Thanks for the tech tips!

Great information, I've had this problem a few times, 😃😃😃 Thanks again

Thanks AA for the tips. Yea, I'm the guy, under the equipment, standing on my head and grease gun has an air lock............every time. Ha This will help me greatly.

The puller rod in my gun can be locked into the piston by turning 90 degrees then the air can be forced out of the valve at the top of the head. Works really well every time

No way crazy, I was just thinking about greasing my digger tomorrow, but I always forget my Milwaukee electric grease gun, and the lads always keep a bent rusty asf grease gun in the side cabinet, that never has grease in it. So it's so hard to change the cartridge on the fecking thing! Great timing on the video.

Very informative and well said

Just bought a smaller 3oz pistol grip grease gun for my mower and it's my 1st grease gun so im trying to learn how to use it and some tips/tricks to make it easier to operate. Thanks for the video

Thank You for posting!!!

Thanks for sharing this! 👍

Thanks, this was super helpful!

Great information, just subscribed. Thanks

Your video are educational .If a person has the right stuff ( talent) Your video's are helpful in all applications make or model new or old .In short You got the Right Stuff next time

Hey been watching your channel for some time I finally got a KZfaq account. Awesome 😎 this is a good one.

Awesome. Thanks for that one!!

good vid. ill usually install the new tube and screw the holder onto the head just a couple turns and then release the plunger and itll shoot the air out of the threads between holder and head and ill pump the handle a few times till its primed and then finish tightening the holder onto the head and go to work. also if it stops working ill loosen the holder from the head a few turns and then turn the gun upside down and tap the head on something a few times and pump it till its good then ill tighten the holder to the head again and go back to work. you can get a little more of that last bit of grease out of the tube this way. also one more thing some people might not know, if you have a bucket of grease you can remove the holder from the head and spray wd40 outside of the holder and then simultaneously push the holder into the grease bucket while pulling back on the plunger and itll suck the grease into the tube. and then the wd40 will keep to much grease from sticking outside of the holder. so just clean the holder and screw the head halfway on release the plunger and pump till its good then tighten the head. i work offshore and im surprised how many new guys come and dont know that trick or general grease gun procedure.

Excellent video. Thanks

That's a good-looking grease coupler! :)

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I remember my Dad would get so MAD with the grease gun that he would throw it !! A few cuss words to

Thanks for the info 😎

This is awesome! I definitely needed to know this now that I’m servicing my own truck. Thanks

Best video I’ve seen on this

Excellent Demo!

Great video. Thanks!

Thank you

I use all my grease. Unscrew top, rack the plunger back, and eject empty tube. Rack and lock plunger back, place new tube in, pop the top. Screw top back on, depress and hold purge valve then release plunger to home. Done. Simple, never had issues. I have greased a lot of heavy equipment as the young kid on the crew.

Where I work as a mechanic, in a vegetable processing plant, we use 4 different types of grease in pistol grip style of grease guns that we must keep separate but, they still get cross contaminated from time to time with the wrong grease and they rarely work without messing with them. I got fed up with all of the bullshit one day and went out and bought me 4 Milwaukee cordless grease guns and color coded them. I now look forward to greasing equipment so much, that within 4 months, the whole crew has them and thus, the old pistol grip guns became obsolete, we cuss less and we change out bearings and bushings much less frequently now. It's the best investment I made next to divorcing my ex-wife👍.

How did you know that I needed this video right now? My dad has 3 grease guns that all don't work. Maybe this will fix one of them

Thanks for this.

I was about to throw away my 2 lincoln air power hand grease guns after watching some videos I cleaned them and they’re now working pretty good

Good morning idol thanks for sharing this video watching her from Philippines

Thank you for the video

Chamber thread method works every time for me.

IDEA: save a suitable amount of the type of grease you use in a clean, sealable, separate container. When a change is almost due, spoon the grease out of the separate container into the empty section of the new cartridge so it is now full to the brim with no air gap. Reassemble grease gun and carry on greasing with no air locks or bleeding required. Or use your grease gun to directly fill the void of a new cartridge ahead of time before it needs changing. Sounds easier than spooning it out of another container. (I dont own a grease gun so have never tried this but my thinking meat seems to reckon it will work)

Great tips!

Always keep the grease and cartridges in a warm place, facilitates greasing and facilitates cartridge change

Been doing this a long time, on occasion will have to pump it a few more times than normal but it always pumps back up ok. I always take the pump off first, pull the rod out, let the rod go and push out the old tube, pull it back out , put in new tube, put on the pump , push the rod in and pump it up. rare to have a problem.

After installing the new grease I will partially thread the it back on then release the plunger. I might tap the plunger down a little. Then finish threading the cylinder on. I haven't had any problems since doing it this way.

Great! Thanks!

I have bought a case of cartridges that have a big hollow hole through the center of the tube from being filled to fast when made. And you have to constantly purge air of smack the gun upside down to get it to pump

Nice video. Thanks

after peeling off the metal tab/lid, i use it to pull the grease up around the lip of the container, leaving just a pocket of air in the middle near the top/ thread on the canister just alittle. enough its in but enough to force air out, and push on it while pumpin. easy peasy.

Good tips thanks

a video i was waiting for lol, my m18 had a lot of air issues, after this video i know i shouldn't run it dry

I always buy a bleeder for the gun. Helps alot

Thank you Great job

I was taught to not screw in the tube all the way on and pump the handle. Air will purge a lot faster

That air pocket at the back isn't your problem. That's fine. What is the issue is the air pocket at the front. The best way I found is use the lid that you broke off and bend it into a scoop shape and pull out some of that grease from the back and fill up the front.

I’ve got a dewalt 20v battery grease gun, use about 6 tubes a week, never airlocked since the initial priming.

another informative video...I have no need for a grease gun....but now I want one!

I just pull out the t handle fully and pinch it gently in a shop vise. Reassemble and release t handle and push back in. Easy peasy.

Many thanks.

Most informative video on KZfaq! Grease guns certainly tried my patience more than once!

Some grease guns have a zerk fitting on them. You pump grease from a bulk drum through that fitting to refill the grease gun.

I had a Lincoln battery grease gun ,I a tough time priming it a lot of time . My millwaulki always primes quickly. I always run the grease gun dry.

Good tips

Hey Josh, thanks for making me feel like an amateur. Appreciate that bud. I am totally joking of course. Thanks! This video is gonna save a bit of frustration!

Good public service announcement ApeMan. I can't say how many times I've effed this job up...

been using a squeeze handle last few years,,but really miss the lever style...never have a problem,using the dont tighten all the way method ....untill later

During my Navy contractor days in my Aviation cadre I was with used to have fun with all the newbees when they came on board. There was what I describe as a booby trapped grease gun where the rod would more likely than not fly forward with such force the grease cartridge could fly a good 25ft at times. it was a hoot watching the kids faces and our comedian Master Chief had such a routine for the scenario people laughed their cans off. it became a tradition on our boat to do it to as many folks as we could. My favorite scene was when the cartridge launched and landed square in the cockpit of a Majors plane. I had tears in my eyes at the kids expression. usually the idiot Ensign in our tool room was supposed to be the one changing the grease carts out but we had such fun with that grease gun which shoulda by rights been thrown out. It just became a tradition with new recruits to torture em a little.

As a lifetime backyard mechanic this is a subject I must admit I knew little about, I got an air pocket the other day and was mystified as to what was happening. Now I know.

Could you do a video on the use of hydraulic test tees?

My father has been filling those up from a large bucket of grease using an old used saw blade... For decades! I didn't know there are cardriges for it until last year