The Lincoln 20V Li-ion PowerLuber Grease Gun delivers grease at up to 10,000 psi (690 bar) in both high- and low-output settings. Powered by a 20V Li-ion battery, the PowerLuber is available with a single battery (No. 1882) or two battery packs (No. 1884). This electronically controlled, two-speed grease gun utilizes a multi-function LCD to display motor speed, battery level and grease flow. The flow meter provides accuracy, minimizes waste, identifies blocked fittings and detects the loss of prime to ensure proper lubrication, according to the company. The PowerLuber's three-point base keeps the tool upright and stable for easy handling without being bulky. The tool also has a convenient built-in LED to illuminate the work area.
The review
Because there was no need to drag an air line across the floor or uncoil a messy grease gun hose, Eric Moore – co-owner of DeMary Truck in Columbus, Ohio – says the Model 1882 SKF/Lincoln Lubrication Systems PowerLuber Grease Gun is “a great addition for our busy service center.”
He says the portable PowerLuber helped speed along light services while greasing vehicles and applications with fittings.
“We liked the portability, freedom and battery life,” Moore says. “Once fully charged, the PowerLuber Grease Gun seemed to last almost one full day of use.”
Fully charging the battery must be done at least four hours prior to its first use. “We also had to prime the grease pump manually after filling the cartridge with grease,” Moore adds. “Once the gun was primed, it was relatively easy to use.”
Moore read the included manual, which “was easy to understand, however, I did have to read through the priming procedure twice to make sure I followed the proper sequence.”
In addition to greasing vehicles and applications with fittings, Moore used the PowerLuber for packing wheel bearings in a cone-style packer. “It functioned well in that task, but was slower than the air-operated keg units we normally use,” Moore says.
Having previously used another brand’s cordless grease gun with disappointing battery life and overall performance, Moore says the PowerLuber “outperformed that unit by miles.”
“I felt it was a little on the heavier side, but if it had been any lighter, it probably would have gotten broken the first time it was dropped,” Moore says, noting that like any tool in a shop that gets greasy, the PowerLuber has been dropped several times. “It seemed to fair well for all the abuse. The LCD screen didn’t seem to get cracked, but the battery has taken a beating, since some individuals didn’t make sure it was fully seated in place before swinging it into use, and the battery fell to the ground.”
The cartridge empties faster than Moore would prefer, but he adds that every truck he services in his shop has a minimum of 40 grease fittings, and some vehicles have more than 160.
“Knowing this, we chose to fill the cartridge from our bulk grease guns instead of using individual tubes of grease,” Moore says. “While the freedom of not having to drag a stiff, greasy and bulky hose to all the locations needing grease sped up the average PM service, it was minimally offset by having to refill the cartridge at least once, sometimes twice, on vehicles with applications that had numerous fittings.”
“The only improvement we could think of was a larger cartridge, but I’m sure weight and maneuverability would become much bigger issues then,” he adds.
Additionally, once the pump was primed, the gun was fairly easy to use. But “I could see where some could have issues priming the PowerLuber when changing cartridges,” says Moore.
On a scale from 1 to 10, Moore gave the SKF/Lincoln Lubrication Systems PowerLuber Grease Gun a 9.8. “If it could be lighter and have more capacity without sacrifice, it would absolutely be a 10,” Moore says.
