6 Best Grease Guns For Farm Equipment Maintenance Old Farmers Swear By
Keep your machinery running. We list 6 top grease guns for farm equipment, chosen by veteran farmers for their proven durability and reliable performance.
That high-pitched squeal from a bearing isn’t just an annoying sound; it’s the sound of metal grinding away, of future downtime, and of an unexpected repair bill. A reliable grease gun is the single most important preventative maintenance tool on any farm, big or small. It’s cheap insurance against the kind of breakdowns that always seem to happen at the worst possible moment.
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Why a Good Grease Gun is a Farmer’s Best Friend
A grease gun does more than just lubricate. Its real job is to force old, contaminated grease out of a joint, taking dirt, water, and grit with it. This simple act protects bearings, bushings, and pivot points from the abrasive environment they live in every single day.
Think of it as a hydraulic cleaning tool. Each pump not only adds a protective layer but also purges the contaminants that accelerate wear. A cheap gun that constantly loses its prime or leaks more grease onto your hands than into the zerk fitting discourages you from doing this critical task. The best grease gun is the one that makes the job so easy you have no excuse not to do it.
Investing in a quality gun means less time fighting the tool and more time protecting your machinery. You want a tool that builds pressure reliably, loads a new cartridge without a mess, and has a coupler that actually stays on the zerk. It’s the difference between a five-minute task and a half-hour of frustration.
Lincoln 1134: The Classic Pistol-Grip Standard
The pistol-grip grease gun is the go-to for a reason. The Lincoln 1134 lets you operate it with one hand, which is essential when your other hand is needed to rotate a driveshaft or hold a flashlight to find a hidden zerk fitting under a mower deck. It’s the perfect balance of convenience and capability for most tasks.
This style delivers solid pressure, usually around 7,500 PSI, which is more than enough for the vast majority of fittings on tractors, balers, and implements. It’s a straightforward, dependable design that has been proven over decades. Loading it is simple, and the single-hand pump action is intuitive.
The tradeoff is leverage. For a truly stubborn, clogged fitting, you might struggle to generate the force a two-handed lever gun can. Also, if you’re servicing a large piece of equipment with dozens of zerks, like a small square baler, your hand will get tired. But for daily checks and routine maintenance, its convenience is unmatched.
Lumax LX-1152: Reliable Heavy-Duty Lever Action
When you need raw power, you reach for a lever-action gun. The Lumax LX-1152 is a heavy-duty example that can generate up to 10,000 PSI, giving you the muscle to clear blocked fittings that a pistol-grip might struggle with. This is the tool for those tough, neglected pivot points on a front-end loader or an old disc harrow.
The two-handed operation provides incredible leverage, making it easy to push thick grease into tight joints. The build is typically robust, designed to be tossed in a toolbox and handle the bumps and bruises of farm life. An included 18-inch hose gives you the reach needed for awkward spots.
Of course, needing two hands is its biggest drawback. You can’t easily hold the coupler onto a difficult zerk while also pumping the handle. This makes it a bit more cumbersome for routine work, but for pure, unadulterated pressure, it’s the king. It’s an excellent primary gun if you value power over one-handed convenience.
Milwaukee M18: Cordless Power for Big Implements
This Milwaukee combo kit provides the power and speed you need for demanding drilling and driving tasks. The brushless motor delivers efficient performance, while the mechanical clutch ensures consistent fastener driving.
For farmers with a lot of equipment or machinery with a high zerk count, a cordless grease gun like the Milwaukee M18 is a game-changer. It transforms a tedious, muscle-straining chore into a quick and almost effortless task. Pull the trigger, and it delivers a consistent, high-pressure stream of grease.
These tools are workhorses, pushing up to 10,000 PSI and dispensing multiple cartridges on a single battery charge. This is a massive time and labor saver when you’re greasing a combine, a large planter, or multiple tractors in one session. The long, flexible hose and ergonomic design make reaching difficult fittings far simpler.
The obvious considerations are cost and battery platform. A cordless gun is a significant investment compared to a manual one. The decision to upgrade often comes down to a simple calculation: how much is your time and comfort worth? If you’re already invested in the M18 battery system, it’s a much easier choice. For someone with just a compact tractor and a brush hog, it’s likely overkill.
DEWALT 20V MAX: A Tough and Versatile Performer
This DEWALT 20V MAX combo kit provides power and versatility for various applications. The drill features a two-speed transmission, while the impact driver's compact design and LED lights improve maneuverability and visibility in tight spaces.
Much like the Milwaukee, the DEWALT 20V MAX cordless grease gun is a top-tier performer that turns a manual chore into a quick job. It offers comparable power and performance, with features like a variable speed trigger to control the grease flow and a bright LED light to illuminate dark, greasy corners of your machinery.
The choice between DEWALT, Milwaukee, or any other major cordless brand often boils down to the batteries you already own. If your workshop is filled with yellow and black tools, sticking with the DEWALT 20V MAX platform makes the most sense. It’s a powerful, reliable tool that will drastically reduce your maintenance time.
Don’t get too caught up in minor PSI differences between the top cordless models. Both are more than capable of handling any fitting on the farm. Instead, focus on ergonomics, features you’ll actually use (like the LED light), and the cost of entry if you don’t already have the batteries and charger.
LockNLube Lever Gun: No-Mess, High-Pressure Pro
The single greatest frustration with greasing is the coupler. A standard coupler that pops off the zerk, spewing grease everywhere, is an infuriating and common experience. The LockNLube gun solves this problem with its patented locking coupler, which is the real star of the show.
You slide the coupler over the zerk, press the thumb lever, and it locks on with a secure, leak-proof seal. It stays put, allowing you to use both hands on the lever to pump grease into the most stubborn fittings without worrying about the coupler slipping. When you’re done, another press of the lever releases it cleanly.
While the LockNLube gun itself is a high-quality, durable lever-action unit, it’s the coupler that justifies the premium price. This is the grease gun for the farmer who is fed up with waste and mess. You can also buy the coupler separately to upgrade a gun you already own, which is a fantastic option.
Lincoln 1162: Air-Powered for the Farm Workshop
An air-powered grease gun is a specialized tool, but for the farm workshop, it’s incredibly efficient. The Lincoln 1162 hooks up to your air compressor and provides continuous grease flow with the pull of a trigger. There’s no pumping, no batteries to charge—just effortless, high-volume greasing.
This type of gun is perfect for major service jobs, like packing the wheel bearings on a trailer or greasing a large implement after a full teardown and rebuild. The variable speed trigger gives you precise control over the flow, from a slow trickle to a full-on stream.
Its limitation is mobility. Being tethered to an air hose means it’s strictly a shop tool. You won’t be taking it out to the back forty to grease a baler. But for anyone who does serious mechanical work in a dedicated space, an air-powered gun is an invaluable addition that saves an immense amount of time and effort.
Choosing the Right Grease for Your Farm Machinery
Having the best grease gun in the world won’t help if you’re using the wrong grease. Not all grease is created equal, and using the right type is just as important as the act of greasing itself. Check your owner’s manual first, but understanding the basics will serve you well.
Most farm applications call for an NLGI #2 grade grease, which refers to its consistency (similar to peanut butter). The real difference is in the thickener and additives.
- Lithium Complex: This is your all-around, general-purpose farm grease. It has good water resistance and temperature stability, making it suitable for most chassis points, u-joints, and general bearings.
- Polyurea: Often used in electric motors and high-temperature applications like wheel bearings because it has excellent thermal stability and doesn’t break down easily.
- Calcium Sulfonate: This is a premium grease with exceptional water resistance and corrosion protection. It’s great for equipment that sees a lot of mud and water, like pivot points on a loader that are constantly exposed to the elements.
Pay attention to additives, especially Molybdenum Disulfide, or "moly." Grease with moly is designed for high-pressure, sliding applications—think bucket pins on a loader or kingpins on a tractor. The moly embeds itself in the metal surfaces, providing a layer of protection even if the grease film is squeezed out. Using a good moly grease on high-load pivot points can dramatically extend their service life.
Ultimately, the best grease gun is the one that fits your operation’s scale and your personal workflow. Whether it’s a simple manual lever gun or a powerful cordless model, the goal is the same: to make preventative maintenance a consistent habit. A few minutes with a grease gun every week is the cheapest and most effective way to keep your equipment running when you need it most.
