Quick verdict
A die-cast aluminium pistol grip grease gun rated to 3,000 psi that takes 3 ounce cartridges, with two cartridges, a 12 inch flexible hose, a rigid tube and three nozzles in the set. Riding mower spindles, wheel bearings, steering joints and deck pivots all have grease fittings that nobody greases because the full-size gun is heavy and the fittings are awkward. A mini gun with a flex hose reaches them and uses a cartridge before it goes stale. It is the gun that gets used.
Strengths
- Compact pistol grip works one handed in tight spaces
- Three thousand psi forces grease into tight fittings
- Twelve inch flex hose reaches awkward spindle and axle fittings
- Two cartridges and three nozzles included
- Die-cast aluminium body
Weaknesses
- Three ounce cartridges empty fast on a big machine
- Reinforced coupler still needs a firm push onto worn fittings
- Generic brand; coupler quality varies
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Fittings Nobody Greases
A riding mower has a dozen grease fittings and most of them have never seen a grease gun, because the full-size gun is heavy, awkward and loaded with grease that went stale two years ago. Spindles and wheel bearings fail early as a result. KRETLAW’s mini gun is a die-cast pistol grip rated to 3,000 psi that takes 3 ounce cartridges, with a 12 inch flex hose, a rigid tube and three nozzles, light enough to use one handed under a deck.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how compact grease guns are used in equipment maintenance generally. We have not used this gun ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Using It
Load a cartridge, pump until grease appears at the nozzle, then push the coupler squarely onto a fitting and pump until fresh grease just shows at the seal of the bearing. Wipe the excess. Work through the manual’s list: deck spindles, front wheel bearings, steering, lift pivots. Every 25 hours or so, which for most owners is twice a season.
Why Mini
A 14 ounce gun is a two-handed tool that does not fit under a deck or behind a wheel. Three ounces is a season of mower greasing in a gun that weighs little and reaches. Grease in a small cartridge is used before it separates, which the big tube never manages.
Reach
The 12 inch flex hose is the reason this works on a mower: spindle fittings sit under the deck and axle fittings behind the wheel, and a rigid tube cannot angle onto them. The flex hose does. Three nozzles include the standard coupler and needle types for recessed fittings.
Pressure and Build
Three thousand psi is what it takes to push grease past a tight seal and through a partly blocked fitting. The die-cast aluminium body takes the pressure and the knocks; the coupler is the wear part and generic couplers vary, so push it squarely on and replace it when it leaks.
Who Should Buy It
- Riding mower and zero-turn owners who have never greased the spindles.
- Anyone with a trailer, ATV or garden machinery with fittings.
- Home mechanics who want a gun that fits the hand.
Common Owner Complaints
Cartridges emptying quickly and couplers that leak on worn fittings. Buy a box of cartridges; replace the coupler.
Alternatives to Consider
A full-size lever gun for farm equipment. A battery grease gun for many fittings a week. Lincoln and Lumax make pistol guns with heavier couplers at higher prices.
Verdict
A grease gun that gets used is worth ten that do not, and this compact one with a flex hose reaches the fittings a mower actually has. Grease the spindles twice a season and the bearings last the life of the machine.
Full specifications
KRETLAW Mini Pistol Grip Grease Gun, 3000 psi, with Two 3 oz Cartridges and 12 Inch Flex Hose FAQs
Deck spindles, front wheel bearings, steering spindles and tie rods, deck lift pivots and mower deck wheels. The manual lists the fittings and the interval, often every 25 hours.
Load a cartridge, pump until grease appears at the nozzle, push the coupler squarely onto the fitting and pump until fresh grease shows at the seal. Wipe the fitting after.
Full-size guns hold 14 ounces that go stale between uses and are heavy in one hand under a deck. A 3 ounce gun is light, reaches, and the grease is fresh.
A general-purpose lithium grease for most fittings; check the manual for anything special. Do not mix grease types in a fitting.
