Bulk grease gun filling!

[pfarber]

I have 3 MVs and two trailers and more nipples than a coon hound nursing a litter of pups.

I used to buy the prefilled tubes... but that got expensive QUICK. I currently do the 'suction fill' method where you plunge the barrel into the grease to fill it up... messy, wastes a lot of grease and time.

I just ordered this:

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Zee Line Grease Filler Pump, Model# 328
Item# 109020
http://www.northerntool.com/

I can't post a link to the item.... its session based and gives an error.

Cost to the front door was $52. The math:

A 5 gallon pail of CG-LB NGLI #2 grease is about $100 from NAPA.

Figure a 14oz tube is $5

35lbs * 16oz/lb = 560oz / 14oz/tube = 40 tubes * $5 per tube = $200

So for $152 I am getting $200 worth of grease. ($152 because grease + pump vs 40 tubes of grease)

Next pail I should save even more.

[pfarber]

http://www.napaonline.com/default.aspx

Wheel Bearing Grease, 35 lbs
Part Number: SL SL3115
Product Line: Sta-Lube - Regular States

Attributes:
Container Size : 35 lbs
Container Type : Pail
Grease Primary Applications : Premium Lithium Complex NLGI GC-LB Certified, For Use On Drum & Disc Brake Wheel Bearings, Chassis, Suspension & Universal Joints, Typical Drop Point 500 Deg F

Its the cheapest one.... $99.99!

Plus I got 10% off by reserving it online! Double WOOT!

[pfarber]

CRAP! The pump is backordered.

Oh well, so much for the weekend lube-a-thon.

[pfarber]

Just got an update from Northern Tool that the pump is shipping! WOOT.

Can't get here quick enough... I have to suction fill my pistol grip grease pump and although I'm pretty good at it you still have a lot of grease thrown away cleaning the barrel up after jamming it into the grease. I buy the 7lb pails so I have to suction the grease twice to fill it up. PITA.

[pfarber]

Got an email and someone pointed out that they can get 14oz tubes of grease for $2 each.

Yeah.. tractor supply sells them around here... $2 house brand grease. I looked at them when I first got my grease gun and there is a SIGNIFICANT issue with them.

They do not have the NLGI GC-LB logo on it. So they do not meet NLGI GC-LB specifications. Technically, they might, but they have not been tested in an NLGI facility that says they do.

I pass on them. They might work, but for another $1-2 you get the real deal.

"NLGI established a standard for the classification of automotive service greases. To facilitate easy identification, NLGI created an identifying symbol, the NLGI Certification Mark, which identifies acceptable greases for use as a chassis lubricant (LB) and greases that are acceptable for both chassis and wheel bearing lubrication, GC-LB"

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[pfarber]

Got the grease pump! Assembled it and filled my pistol grip grease gun.. man was that EASY!!!

The only downside was that my grease gun doesn't have a separate air bleed port. It only has a single 1/4in FPT hole and I had to put the fill adapter in that.. so I can only fill it about 2/3rd of the way... I plan to drill /tap another hole in the head for an air vent. Once I use up the grease in it that in it now I'll tap the hole and do a video on the refill pump.

Only other issue was that I had to prime the pump. The instructions said to, but who reads instructions? I had to put in about a cup of oil (I used gear oil as it was on the shelf) to prime the pump and get the grease moving. Once I did that the pump worked effortlessly.

All told I am $52 + $116 = $168 into this.. but now I have 35lbs of grease at my beckon call!

[pfarber]

I posted my review on NorthernTools.com

One thing I forgot to mention here... the pump rod leaks a little bit. Its like an o-ring is missing or damaged. I'm gonna take it apart and see if I can fix it.. its not enough to spend the $$$ to send it back, but it does let the grease out of the top.

Still, for the price (~$60 delivered) its still a good deal. Heck check out what Miller charges just for a follower plate!