Any suggestions for greasing my own bus?

belfert · August 19, 2021, 09:39:21 AM

It looks like I am going to need to grease my own bus this year as the usual shop that does my work is slammed and can't get to it for weeks. It took me two weeks just to talk to someone about an appointment and the shop won't even schedule an appointment at this time.

Who makes a good battery powered grease gun? I have both Ryobi and Makita batteries. It looks like the Makita grease gun is just way too big, but no idea if the Ryobi is any good. I would also need to buy a set of 24 ton jack stands to support my bus. At least I don't have air suspension.

There is a very good chance I will end up cancelling my trip this year as any shop that will work on a coach bus to adjust/fix my front brakes is a month out. I need to have the brakes working properly before using the bus for a 4,000 mile trip.

6805eagleguy · August 19, 2021, 10:19:53 AM

I highly recommend a Milwaukee. Mine works super nice, runs more tubes of grease then I count on one battery, and I have the lock and lube coupler which makes greasing any piece of equipment a piece of cake. Easily put 50 pumps of grease in a 2 inch bearing in 30 seconds

6805eagleguy · August 19, 2021, 10:20:25 AM

That's probably not what you wanted to hear 😂

belfert · August 19, 2021, 10:53:21 AM

It turns out that all cordless grease guns are very similar in design. I would buy Milwaukee if it was significantly better than Makita, but I would prefer not to buy into yet another battery system.

I forgot that I have some of the Dewalt 60 volt batteries that also work with 20 volt tools. There is some kind of sale on the 20 volt Dewalt grease gun for $149 right now. Many sellers including Home Depot have it at $149 right now. I don't know if the 60 volt battery would be too heavy.

Jim Blackwood · August 19, 2021, 10:57:44 AM

I also vote Milwaulkee but you have to go with what batteries you already have pretty much.

Jim

silversport · August 19, 2021, 11:08:59 AM

I have always used a hand pump, the thing that really helps me was to get one of those grease fitting ends that clamp on (Lock Lube was the one I purchased).

chessie4905 · August 19, 2021, 11:14:15 AM

I have one that I bought at a shop auction. Lincoln. Sits on top of a 16 gallon drum. Drum was still 1/2 full of gold metallic grease. They sell really cheap as nobody has use for one. Mine was 30 bucks.Runs on air pressure. Greasing your coach takes a substantial amount of grease. A few of those tubes each time. If you don't have the room, a hand operated one is bottom line cheap, or the battery ones are nice, but costly. Milwaukee are great, but pretty expensive for this menial job. Try to find a decent rated brand that uses the same batteries as your other items.

buswarrior · August 19, 2021, 01:41:10 PM

Powered grease gun all the way, brand or type doesn't matter as much as powered.

The tired busnut gets skimpy on grease...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

ol713 · August 19, 2021, 03:04:18 PM

Hi;
I use a commercial lube place at a large truck stop.. They usually have a pit to work in.
They can get the obvious stuff greased, but you will have to get the rest of the fittings.
If you can find a lube diagram for your bus, it will help the grease monkey.
good luck - - - - Merle

luvrbus · August 19, 2021, 03:31:27 PM

I have the cordless and the pneumatic and wouldn't trade the 40 year old Lincoln pneumatic gun for any cordless grease gun on the market has 3 ways to load and the tubes are my least favorite

belfert · August 19, 2021, 04:06:55 PM

Quote from: ol713 on August 19, 2021, 03:04:18 PM
Hi;
I use a commercial lube place at a large truck stop.. They usually have a pit to work in.
They can get the obvious stuff greased, but you will have to get the rest of the fittings.
If you can find a lube diagram for your bus, it will help the grease monkey.
good luck - - - - Merle

I normally take the bus in to a shop to get greased. The problem I am running into is I can't find a shop that has an appointment for the work before I plan to leave on a trip on September 21st. I ran into one shop that flat out won't work on buses. There is a TA about 30 miles away that has a shop, but no idea if they would do the work. Places like Speedco will not work on buses period. ABC Companies could do the work the week of Sept 13, but they are 150 miles round trip. I would need to take a day off work and I don't want to use any more PTO days this year in case I get sick. It would also cost me $75 to $100 in fuel for the drive.

I spent two weeks trying to get an appointment at my usual shop and finally got in touch when them today. I should have started looking for an alternative shop immediately when I couldn't get an appointment at my usual shop two weeks ago. I would be in better shape.

Yes, I have the lube diagram for my bus.

Jim Blackwood · August 19, 2021, 04:17:38 PM

A well equipped shop with a pneumatic bulk greaser with a retract reel is obviously the first choice, especially with a grease pit. But if you don't have all that... for the money a rechargable is a reasonable alternative for the money.

Jim

belfert · August 19, 2021, 04:40:49 PM

One problem I am running into is I need heavy duty jack stands to support the front axle so I can grease the king pins with no load on them. Good jack stands made in the USA are $600, but they also don't seem to be in stock anywhere.

belfert · August 19, 2021, 05:15:35 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on August 19, 2021, 03:31:27 PM
I have the cordless and the pneumatic and wouldn't trade the 40 year old Lincoln pneumatic gun for any cordless grease gun on the market has 3 ways to load and the tubes are my least favorite

A lot of tools, other than cordless, were better 40 years ago. Does pneumatic have an advantage over battery if I was buying today? The only greasing I do besides my bus is grease my mower once or twice a year. I plan to use tubes as I don't use enough grease to buy bulk grease.

I am probably going to grab the Dewalt cordless grease gun from Home Depot this evening and not open it in case something better comes up. There is some sort of deal going on with the Dewalt grease gun right now and I don't want to miss saving $70. Home Depot matches the 11% Menards rebate so that also helps.

dtcerrato · August 19, 2021, 05:34:50 PM

Quote from: belfert on August 19, 2021, 04:40:49 PM
One problem I am running into is I need heavy duty jack stands to support the front axle so I can grease the king pins with no load on them. Good jack stands made in the USA are $600, but they also don't seem to be in stock anywhere.

We use wood dunnage under the bulkheads (4 places) then release the air and the axles are unloaded except for their own weight - works great for greasing king pins & air suspension work.