How to Install a Grease Canister
- 1). Make sure you have a replacement canister ready to be installed before disassembling your grease gun. Wipe the gun down with a clean rag to remove any grease and grime from the exterior, then place it on a suitable work surface. Have a couple of clean rags or heavy paper towels on hand when doing this job so that any extra grease can be wiped up.
- 2). Pull the T-handle located at the base of the grease gun as far out of the gun as possible. It will stop when the internal plunger is fully retracted. The T-handle is located on the opposite end of the gun from where the grease is dispensed. Lock the T-handle in place in this retracted position by pushing the T-handle sideways until it locks into a detente. Once retracted and locked in place, the plunger will no longer exert pressure on the grease canister.
- 3). Unscrew the cylindrical barrel by twisting it counterclockwise. The barrel is the portion of the grease gun that houses the canister. Remove the barrel by pulling it free from the gun's head once it has been fully unscrewed. Note that the T-handle will stay attached to the cylinder in the retracted and locked position. Set the barrel and T-handle aside.
- 4). Remove the expended canister from the grease gun head by pulling it free. It may seems stuck, so gently rock it from side to side until it works free. Discard the old canister. Wipe down the fender washer that sits at the base of the gun head. This washer is what regulates the quantity or flow of grease from the gun.
- 5). Prepare a new canister for installation according to the manufacturer's specific instructions. This usually means pulling off the aluminum foil seal that covers one end of the canister to keep the grease contained. Once the canister has been opened, insert the open end into the grease gun head. Align the sides of the canister so that the canister sits flush against the washer located in the grease gun head. It should snap or click into place.
- 6). Pick up the barrel assembly, then slide it carefully over the exposed canister. Once the barrel is fully attached, twist it clockwise until it is snug.
- 7). Release the T-handle from its detente by pulling it gently farther back, away from the gun head. Once the handle is free from the detente, push the T-handle straight into the barrel, so that it goes all the way to the base of the barrel as far as it can. The grease gun is ready to use again, however it may require "priming" if it has not been used recently.
- 8). Prime the gun by squeezing the dispensing handle repeatedly until grease starts to dispense from the nozzle of the gun. It will make strange crackling or popping sounds as air bubbles are driven from the gun. Use a rag or paper towel to wipe up any excess grease from the nozzle.
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