# Anyone Own a Grease Gun? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570 "2016-11-20T19:33:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/21 "2016-11-21T02:18:39Z")
Cars and some machine tools; especially if you use and work on older models but even some of the modern ones require one. Another use, although not applicable to the average Doper, are amusement park rides. Almost all of them require regular, if not daily, use of a grease gun. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/22 "2016-11-21T03:02:49Z")
I just bought one this past year. I had moved and I have no idea where any of the ones I used to have are. I needed it for my lawn tractor, but will also use it on my vehicles when I do oil changes. While most bearings and suspension joints are sealed these days, not all of them are. A sealed suspension joint is expected to last about 10 years/100,000 miles. A grease-able joint may only last a year or two or 10,000 to 20,000 miles after the last time it was greased, or essentially forever, or until the boots/seals are damaged or torn, probably because a grease monkey (no pun intended) pumps too much grease in them. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/23 "2016-11-21T03:10:37Z")
I have two. A pneumatic that I use on the tractor and associated attachments, and a small manual one I use on my chainsaw and other small equipment. It also gets used on my ammo reloading machines. Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/24 "2016-11-21T03:34:42Z")
I have one [of this style](http://www.harborfreight.com/grease-gun-with-pistol-grip-66664.html), although NOT a HF model. I bought it back in the early 1990s, and used it up through the early 2000s, when the vehicle I bought at that point had sealed ball joints and no zerks on the suspension, and none since have needed its services either. Since then, it’s just been taking up space in the garage. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/25 "2016-11-21T05:29:15Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I own MGs, so yes. I’m coming over. I’ll bring a bunch of 45. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/26 "2016-11-21T05:46:10Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah. Grease nipples on my lawn tractor. Is it getting hot in here or is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/27 "2016-11-21T14:15:48Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I think grease guns are in the same box with oil-can spouts. _poonka poonka_ ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/28 "2016-11-21T16:23:48Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah. Grease nipples on my lawn tractor. > > Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. Unless you’re driving on concrete, how do you keep from getting grease all over your chest? Is this the male version of putting on makeup in the car? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/29 "2016-11-21T16:48:02Z")
I do. You need one if you maintain a vintage railroad signal, like this one. But not down below, oh no. You climb up a spindly ladder to hit the bearings on the rotating heads. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/30 "2016-11-21T18:28:38Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > In my very slow, intermittent decluttering process I see a grease gun in my basement which I haven’t used for quite a few years. > > It seems like a lot of consumer products where you used to use grease guns now have sealed bearings. > > So for those of you who own a grease gun, exactly where do you use it? > > Thanks. On my '67 Mustang. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/31 "2016-11-21T20:41:30Z")
I think Dad inherited his brother in law’s. I had a Honda CD 150 with grease nipples, and I used the gun. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/32 "2016-11-21T21:00:15Z")
I have two. I first bought one with a lever handle and that sucked so I then bought one with a pistol grip. I use it on my riding lawn mower. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/33 "2016-11-21T21:01:24Z")
Yup. Use it on the lawn tractor and the metal working lathe. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/34 "2016-11-22T00:06:31Z")
I haven’t used my grease gun in years until just a few weeks ago. A neighbor has an 80’s Buick and it had a grease fitting on a tie rod end. Probably a replacement part. ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/35 "2016-11-22T01:42:24Z")
Use them all the time at work on industrial motor clutches, pumping units, salt water pump packing, valves… ---
**Author:** ![bubba001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f17d59/32.png) [@bubba001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba001)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/36 "2016-11-22T02:24:48Z")
I own 3 or 4. The pneumatic gun gets used the most, then the small one. The lever action ones get used only if I don’t want to hook up the air gun. Things like tractors, even new ones, have a lot of grease zerks. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/37 "2016-11-22T02:28:19Z")
We have 7 lathes in my machine shop. Use several guns with different greases for different applications. The pneumatic one can really get away from you if you aren’t watching. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/38 "2016-11-22T02:53:33Z")
I might still have one laying around. I think I sold the last thing with a zerk fitting a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/39 "2016-11-22T03:07:14Z")
Zerk fitting? I always heard “grease nipple”. ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570/40 "2016-11-22T04:37:51Z")
From here > [@](#): > > The patent for the Zerk fitting was granted to Oscar U. Zerk in January 1929, and the assignee was the Alemite Manufacturing Corporation[1] (thus the eponymous names for the fittings). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-a-grease-gun/772570.md?page=3)