Grease gun help!! Ram Cardan joint.

[Jramcash]

I just purchased a new Lincoln pistol grip from Home Depot has oil in head and on seal. Is this normal? I purchased it to use to grease my Cardan joint on my Ram truck. I had ordered one initially from Amazon and it was full of an oily substance. Does the gun need cleaned first? I bought a cheap one from harbor freight and was full of metal shavings so a no go. Thanks for any recommendations.

 

[oldcodger]

You could easily spray the thing down with carb cleaner. Oil is probably left on for rust prevention. I don't see that it would hurt anything to just load a cartridge and use it.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I wouldn't spray the seal with any kind of cleaner. It might damage it. I'd wipe it off with a rag, load a cartridge and grease your stuff.

Just my $0.02

 

[Chris142]

Did you buy the needle you need to grease that joint?

 

[Jramcash]

I got the needle from Genos Garage and the grease from a local dealer. I was/am worried about the oil in the new gun.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I got the needle from Genos Garage and the grease from a local dealer. I was/am worried about the oil in the new gun.

I can’t imagine there’s enough oil to make a difference. Grease the joint plenty and move on. It’s gonna make a heck of a mess under your truck anyway.

Just my $0.02

 

[BrianF]

Likely the oil us merely for packing and corrosion resistance. Unless somenisnused in the line for priming, just drain/wipe it down and go to town. Have no worries.

I purchased another grease gun a few weeks back. While not full of oil, it was coated with oil, inside and out. Wiped it down, loaded a grease cartridge and primed it.

I use whatever lithium based grease is in my gun to do the cardan on my 2017 3500. I switched from a thicker, blunt needle (suggested on cumminsforum) over to a hypodermic style. It will enter past the zerks checkball and works great.