What size grease gun?

macafee2 · 12th October 2020, 10:59

I want to buy a grease gun to grease the nipples of my trailer. Had the trailer 20 years and never done it but as I have fitted "new" tyres and had some parts of the chassis replaced due to rust, caused I think by driving water spray I think greasing is well over due.

What do I measure on the nipple to work out what size grease gun?
Although quite likely the nipples are imperial, an 8mm socket fits well.

A Google search and I think 55nm is about right for the wheel nuts which are about a 10mm thread

macafee2

T-Cut · 12th October 2020, 11:59

A quick Google search indicates that there's a 'standard' size for grease nipples, which almost any gun you buy will fit. I think it's very unlikely that the trailer has a size different from standard. Any Halfords type grease gun will be OK.

TC

macafee2 · 12th October 2020, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Cut

A quick Google search indicates that there's a 'standard' size for grease nipples, which almost any gun you buy will fit. I think it's very unlikely that the trailer has a size different from standard. Any Halfords type grease gun will be OK.

TC

I was concerned about getting one to large and grease coming out around the nipple.

macafee2

Rogue · 12th October 2020, 16:15

I can't say i've ever seen different size grease nipples at least on automotive applications.

macafee2 · 22nd October 2020, 17:46

I went to look at a grease gun yesterday and came away unsure. Looking at Hilkas web site it says it will only fit 14mm nipples, which leads me to think there are a number of sizes of grease nipples.

14mm is quite some size for a grease nipple when it comes to automotive use and the explanation on the web site is unclear on what part of the grease nipple is used to measure 14mm.

macafee2

COLVERT · 22nd October 2020, 19:43

Because the head of the grease nipple and the head of the grease gun are semi-circular the two will be self centring.
As long as the grease gun is in a straight line with the grease nipple the pressure between them will stop any grease leakage and the gun will do the job.-------------

macafee2 · 22nd October 2020, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT

Because the head of the grease nipple and the head of the grease gun are semi-circular the two will be self centring.
As long as the grease gun is in a straight line with the grease nipple the pressure between them will stop any grease leakage and the gun will do the job.-------------

ok but how do you measure the size of a grease nipple? Hilka are saying it is the thread size, 14mm but that is huge. I cant imagine a grease nipple on a car being a 14mm thread.

macafee2

roverbarmy · 22nd October 2020, 21:18

I have 2 boxes of grease nipples in my garage, left over from my trucking business. The guns were all the same size (1/8") apart from the Tecalemit slide on ones. The screw in thread sizes (where the nipple screws into the part to be greased) do vary though.

macafee2 · 22nd October 2020, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

I have 2 boxes of grease nipples in my garage, left over from my trucking business. The guns were all the same size (1/8") apart from the Tecalemit slide on ones. The screw in thread sizes (where the nipple screws into the part to be greased) do vary though.

thanks for that. oh, I wonder if the Hilka grease gun has a pipe that screws into the hole where the grease nipple normally screws into and that is what they mean by 14mm.

Any idea what size the actual nipple size is?

macafee2

roverbarmy · 23rd October 2020, 09:11

Pics of my nipples!!!

More info here

12th October 2020, 10:59	#1
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,907 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	What size grease gun? I want to buy a grease gun to grease the nipples of my trailer. Had the trailer 20 years and never done it but as I have fitted "new" tyres and had some parts of the chassis replaced due to rust, caused I think by driving water spray I think greasing is well over due. What do I measure on the nipple to work out what size grease gun? Although quite likely the nipples are imperial, an 8mm socket fits well. A Google search and I think 55nm is about right for the wheel nuts which are about a 10mm thread macafee2

12th October 2020, 16:15	#4
Rogue I really should get out more....... 75 CDT SE 160 Saloon Join Date: May 2017 Location: Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich Posts: 2,643 Thanks: 1,386 Thanked 1,096 Times in 774 Posts	I can't say i've ever seen different size grease nipples at least on automotive applications. __________________ Glutton for punishment --- Previously ... 2.6 SD1 x 2, 3.5 SD1, 820S, 820Si x2, 216 Gsi, 220T saloon, 414, 45 1.4 x2 and now a Cowley 75 CDT

22nd October 2020, 21:18	#8
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,048 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	I have 2 boxes of grease nipples in my garage, left over from my trucking business. The guns were all the same size (1/8") apart from the Tecalemit slide on ones. The screw in thread sizes (where the nipple screws into the part to be greased) do vary though. __________________ Oil in my veins!

23rd October 2020, 09:11	#10
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,048 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	Pics of my nipples!!! More info here __________________ Oil in my veins! Last edited by roverbarmy; 23rd October 2020 at 09:16..

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12th October 2020, 11:59	#2
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,751 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	A quick Google search indicates that there's a 'standard' size for grease nipples, which almost any gun you buy will fit. I think it's very unlikely that the trailer has a size different from standard. Any Halfords type grease gun will be OK. TC

22nd October 2020, 17:46	#5
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,907 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	I went to look at a grease gun yesterday and came away unsure. Looking at Hilkas web site it says it will only fit 14mm nipples, which leads me to think there are a number of sizes of grease nipples. 14mm is quite some size for a grease nipple when it comes to automotive use and the explanation on the web site is unclear on what part of the grease nipple is used to measure 14mm. macafee2

22nd October 2020, 19:43	#6
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	Because the head of the grease nipple and the head of the grease gun are semi-circular the two will be self centring. As long as the grease gun is in a straight line with the grease nipple the pressure between them will stop any grease leakage and the gun will do the job.-------------