Grease and handling
Grease gun accuracy: weigh the stroke, or better, meter the shot
Counting strokes is not measuring grease. Back pressure and gun wear change the quantity per stroke, and both over- and under-greasing damage bearings.
The problem with counting strokes
A manual gun delivers a different quantity per stroke depending on the grease, the temperature, the back pressure at the fitting and the wear inside the gun. Even weighing a few strokes on the bench does not tell you what happens at the bearing.
A meter fixes the quantity
- An in-line grease meter measures the volume actually delivered, so the amount per point matches the calculated regrease quantity.
- Meters suit most greases from NLGI 0 to 3.
- Battery grease guns with a built-in meter, a two-speed flow control and a grease-level indicator speed up the round and record the dose.
- A lube trolley carries a drum, pump, hose reel, metering device and air control, so grease can be dispensed from the drum anywhere in the shop.
Both errors hurt
Too little grease breaks the film and wears the surfaces. Too much grease churns, heats the bearing and pushes through seals. In both cases the cost is a bearing replaced early, which is why delivering the right quantity matters more than delivering a lot.
Takeaway. Calculate the regrease quantity, then deliver it with a meter. Do not trust the stroke count.
Put it to work in the tool