Lever, Pistol Grip or Electric: How to Choose a Lube-Shuttle Grease Gun

All three Lube-Shuttle grease guns use the same threaded cartridge. You don't pack a tube, pull a follower rod or chase an air pocket. You thread in a cartridge and start greasing. So choosing between them comes down to how much greasing you do, what kind of fittings you're working on, and whether you want to pump by hand at all.

Here is how AET Systems describes each model and the kind of work it's built for.

The one thing they all share: the cartridge

A Lube-Shuttle cartridge threads into the gun instead of sliding into an open barrel. AET's loading steps are short: take off the cap, push up on the plunger, thread in the cartridge and start greasing. AET says this sealed, threaded design is what gets rid of the air gaps and leaks that make standard tube changes messy.

Because every model takes the same cartridge, you can own more than one gun (say, a pistol grip in the truck and a lever gun in the shop) and stock just one type of refill. AET sells its own Air-Tec greases in Lube-Shuttle cartridges, along with empty cartridges.

Pistol grip: light, simple, one-handed

AET describes the pistol grip as the "simple, lightweight" option. It's built for lighter-duty service intervals, seasonal equipment and general maintenance. You can run it with one hand, which helps when you're holding the hose or coupler on a fitting in a tight spot. There's no battery or charger.

According to the AET store listing, it:

• has a pressure capability of approximately 300 bar (4,350 psi)
• comes with a 500 mm high-pressure nylon hose and a 4-jaw hydraulic coupler
• has a zinc-plated steel tube

AET calls the pistol grip its most popular and most recommended gun for homeowners and hobby farmers.

Good fit if: you grease a mower, compact tractor, trailer or boat, or a handful of machines on a regular schedule.

Lever handle: more pressure for heavy-duty work

AET built the lever handle model for high-pressure greasing in agriculture, construction, fleet and industrial use. The longer lever gives you more mechanical advantage, so high pressure is easier to reach. AET notes this helps operators with limited grip strength. It also helps push grease into tight-clearance pins and bushings that a lower-pressure gun may struggle with.

According to the AET store listing, the lever handle gun has a working pressure of over 400 bar (5,800 psi) and a maximum pressure capability of approximately 800 bar (11,600 psi).

Good fit if: you service loaders, excavators, ag implements or trucks, where stiff, high-load fittings are part of every service.

Electric: no pumping

The electric model is the top of the range. AET describes it as the highest investment in the lineup. It's cordless and runs on an 18V lithium-ion battery. Pull the trigger and it delivers grease without manual pumping.

From AET's published product details:

• working pressure of 400 bar (5,800 psi) and a maximum output of 690 bar (10,000 psi), with an integrated relief valve
• the standard battery platform is Bosch AmpShare 18V. AET says adapters slide onto the Bosch battery slot so the gun can take Milwaukee, DeWalt or Makita batteries
• the kit includes one battery, a fast charger (about 1 hour charge time), a 750 mm high-pressure rubber hose, a 4-jaw hydraulic coupler and a carry case with room for a spare battery and cartridge
• AET says it is made and assembled in Germany

Good fit if: you grease a lot of fittings in one session (a fleet, a construction yard or a busy farm) and hand fatigue is slowing you down.

Quick comparison

Which one should you buy?

Choose by workload, not by price alone. If greasing is a once-a-month job on a few machines, the pistol grip covers it. If your fittings are stiff and high-load, the lever handle gives you the extra pressure. If you grease all day, the electric model saves your hands.

Many shops end up with two guns, and the shared cartridge makes that easy to manage.

You can compare all three models, with videos and product details, on the Lube-Shuttle grease guns page.

By the AET Technical Team, AET Systems, Inc.