Les Burt[1

wrote on Wed, 13 December 2017 07:39]Generic grease gun couplers are a PITA, unless you understand how to use them. For a simple trick, keep reading.

When new, grease gun couplers can be hard to engage the zerk, and harder to remove. If under pressure during removal, you risk breaking the zerk if you force the coupler. Under these circumstances, you often damage the jaws, and this is why the coupler won't stay engaged on older grease guns.

The above is because we are not using the generic coupler to its full potential.

SIMPLE TRICK

The coupler jaws are held in place with a threaded collar. When new, the collar is quite tight. Before first use, loosen that collar with pliers, and re-install barely finger tight.

Now, if your coupler is hard to remove, don't force it. Loosen the collar first, and the coupler will release the zerk without effort and frustration.

I was changing couplers every few months until I started doing the above. Now the couplers have lasted several years without problems, and they no longer fall off the zerk by themselves. I now rarely need to hold the coupler while greasing, and can operate my guns with both hands. Most of my guns have 14" hose wips and long levers, which require both hands to operate.


I can't take credit for the above trick as it was posted on GMCNet a while back.

Les Burt
Montreal

Les,

I have been tending to the couplers I have carefully, but the problem with the two handed gun was that working even with the coupler hard to get on, the effort of working the gun would sometimes pop it loose. So, I got a good one handed gun and I can hold the coupler straight while pumping, but pumping takes at least twice as long.

What all of this has me wondering is if the fittings are maybe too worn to hold the coupler well. As I will soon have most of them out from under the coach, it am going to look for this case.

I am concerned that the new locking coupler will be too large to get on the fitting in cardan joint in the bottom of the steering shaft. That one is tight.

Matt