I have a new Toro self-propelled mower with grease gun fittings on the rear wheels. I don't own a gun.. . So: I was intending to buy the cheapest one I can find and one cartridge of lithium grease since I'll never use it for anything else. Do those cartidges stay soft and usable once started (because I'll use only a few quirts a year)? And is there any reason to spend more on a gun?


Thanks, Sam

<moved from Lawn & Garden >

I have a new Toro self-propelled mower with grease gun fittings on the rear wheels. I don't own a gun . . . so: I was intending to buy the cheapest one I can find and one cartridge of lithium grease since I'll never use it for anything else. Do those cartidges stay soft and usable once started (because I'll use only a few quirts a year)? And is there any reason to spend more on a gun?


Thanks, Sam

As a machinist, I'm going to have to recommend against the use of a grease gun at all.
That way, your bearings will seize, and in time, you will be forced to have the rotoating shaft re-built... Job Security. J/k lol:D lol

Seriously though, there is nothing wrong with a cheap grease gun, so long as it gets the grease into the bearings, and no, I have never seen grease harden unless it is way over heated, and cooked so that the viscosity is just gone... this is usually caused by not using a grease gun at all. However, I recommend mystic jt6 grease, not white lithium... of course, I am usually recommending that for farm use.

Happy Mowing...
9287

You can get a small hand one in most hardware stoes and small ones in a lot of auto parts stores.

But reason to spend more, to be proud and show off a monster one to your friends

So you would not recommend any lubicration of the rear axle/wheel bearings?

Sam

No he was joking, to not use it and let it tear up so he could fix it,

Did you not read the entire post he did. Buy a cheap one for 10 to 15 dollars and do it when needed

Shux, and I almost had some more work to do!

Thanks for the advice and the good-natured ribbing. I guess when I first read your response I thought you were saying that using the grease gun would cause the bearings to seize. I did scratch my head for a few moments. Maybe I should have taken my head out of my ***!

In any case, appreciate the info.

White Lithium grease is a high pressure lubercant. Good for hood latches, not bearings.

The gun is necessary, because you push the old grease out and put in new grease. Old grease with particles is like sandpaper. In other words, you want to keep pushing untl clean grease emerges.

Look around the aisle where they sell chain saws. You can get a very small grease gun that looks like a large syringe that will inject the grease where it needs to go.