S-710L Lever Action Grease Gun

Frequently Asked Questions: Lever Action Grease Gun

What is the best high capacity grease gun for daily rugged use?

The S-710L has a 900 cc (30 oz.) bulk reservoir, nearly double the capacity of the standard S-710 wide-barrel at 650 cc (20 oz.). The extended barrel uses the same 63.5 mm wide-barrel geometry and accepts the same 450 g Australian cartridge, so the S-710L services a longer route before refill. One bulk fill delivers approximately 900 strokes of grease, enough for 45-50 typical fittings at 1 g per stroke, matching a full multi-machine fleet service run or a large excavator chassis service without pail trips. The S-710L is paired with the Quadra-Cut Precision steel head, 12,000 PSI output, and German precision engineering for the pressure and consistency high-volume service demands.

Is a 900cc grease gun worth the extra cost over 500cc?

A 900 cc grease gun services 45-50 typical fittings per fill, versus 25-30 for 500 cc and 30-35 for 650 cc guns. On a multi-machine fleet route, that means one reload instead of two or three mid-route pail stops. For a dealer service bay working through 10 vehicles per shift at 15-25 fittings per vehicle, the 900 cc capacity of the S-710L cuts reload time by 60-70 percent versus a standard 500 cc gun. For mining contractor work and agricultural harvest service where operators are in remote locations, the higher capacity reduces trips back to the grease pail, extending effective service time per shift.

What is the maximum working pressure of a high capacity lever grease gun?

The S-710L develops 12,000 PSI (830 bar), the maximum working pressure in the STAR lever action range, matching the S-707 worldwide flagship and the S-710 base wide-barrel. 12,000 PSI is reserved for crusted, seized and long-neglected fittings on remote Australia, NZ and Pacific equipment: sheep station tractors with baked-on kingpin grease, mining haul trucks with seized suspension pins, and road train trailer chassis zerks partially blocked by red dust. At 6,000 PSI the coupler pops off before grease seats. At 10,000 PSI most field fittings accept grease. At 12,000 PSI with Quadra-Cut precision the hardest fittings finally take grease.

What does Quadra-Cut mean on a grease gun coupler?

Quadra-Cut Precision is STAR's proprietary machining technology applied to the drop-resistant forged steel head. The tighter tolerances achieved through this process raise the working pressure rating to 12,000 PSI and improve pressure consistency across the full service cycle. Commodity grease gun heads cap out around 6,000-10,000 PSI because looser internal tolerances lose pressure as the grease column advances through each stroke. The same Quadra-Cut machining is applied across the S-707 worldwide flagship, the base S-710 wide-barrel, and this S-710L. It is the pressure-rating-and-consistency feature that separates STAR Quadra-Cut guns from commodity lever guns with basic head machining.

What features make a lever grease gun heavy duty vs standard?

German precision engineering refers to the manufacturing tolerances and assembly protocols used in the S-710L pump chamber, barrel bore, head machining and internal finish. In practice this means tighter piston-to-barrel clearance (reducing blow-by at 12,000 PSI), precision assembly of the non-return valve seat (holding pressure between strokes), and higher finish quality on the internal bore surfaces (extending seal life through high-cycle daily use). For distributors selling into premium trade channels and specification-driven buyers, German engineering is a visible upgrade that differentiates the S-710L from commodity lever grease guns manufactured to loose tolerances.

How do you bulk load a 900cc grease gun from a grease bucket?

Bulk-load the S-710L in seven steps. Use the heavy-duty steel bar handle to retract the plunger rod fully. Next, lock the plunger rod in the side slot. Then, unscrew the barrel from the head. After that, dip the barrel mouth into a 5 kg, 15 kg or 18 kg grease pail and pack grease firmly into the 900 cc reservoir, eliminating air pockets. From there, screw the barrel back onto the head. Finally, release the plunger rod from the side slot. And last, open the air-release bulk loader valve a quarter turn and pump three to five strokes until grease flows steadily from the valve. Close the valve. The S-710L is primed and ready. The extended barrel takes roughly 30 percent longer to pack than a 650 cc gun. Pack slowly to avoid trapped air at the bottom of the reservoir.

Does a high capacity grease gun need a stronger spring?

The steel bar handle replaces the lighter bent-wire handle used on standard-capacity guns, engineered for the higher grip loads operators encounter when working with 900 cc of stiff grease. Retracting the plunger against a full 900 cc bulk fill, or against stiff cold-weather grease, demands significantly more force than on a 500 cc or 650 cc gun. The stepped heavy-gauge steel bar distributes grip pressure across the hand and survives repeated daily cycles without bending or cracking at the joint. For fleet depot operators doing 20-30 reloads per shift, the reduced hand fatigue and zero handle-related failures are measurable over a service season.

Can I use a 900cc lever grease gun on an excavator?

No. The S-710L uses a 63.5 mm (2-1/2") wide barrel sized for the 450 g Australian and New Zealand cartridge standard. 14 oz. (400 g) cartridges from the standard 57.15 mm barrel standard will not seat properly in the wider bore. If your shop uses 400 g cartridges (the standard across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Middle East and Africa), the S-710L is not the right gun. Pick the S-707 (12,000 PSI Quadra-Cut steel head worldwide flagship) for the 400 g cartridge standard. For the 450 g 450 g cartridge in a standard capacity, pick the S-710.

How do I bleed air from a 900cc grease gun?

Clear air lock in three steps. Open the air-release bulk loader valve on the head a quarter turn. Next, pump the lever slowly three to five strokes while watching for grease flow from the valve. Then, close the valve once grease flows steadily. If air lock persists after two bleed cycles on a 900 cc bulk load, unscrew the barrel from the head, retract the plunger rod using the steel bar handle, and re-pack the top of the reservoir where air pockets tend to form during dip-fill. The longer 900 cc barrel traps air more easily than shorter reservoirs. Prevention is to pack grease firmly from the bottom of the barrel up, eliminating voids before reattaching the head.

Why does my 900cc grease gun stop pumping after loading?

Pumping failure after load on the S-710L has four typical causes on a 900 cc reservoir. Air lock at the top of the extended barrel (clear via air-release valve). Next, follower plate caught on a seam in the barrel wall (unscrew head, reseat plate). Then, worn plunger seal bypassing grease on the longer piston stroke, or. After that, bulk grease too stiff in cold weather, preventing follower spring from pushing the column. Troubleshoot in order: bleed the air-release valve and pump until grease flows from the valve (covers 70 percent of cases), unscrew the head to inspect the follower plate for tilt or barrel-wall contact, replace the plunger seal if bypass is visible, warm stiff bulk grease to room temperature before loading. The longer 900 cc stroke works the seal harder than shorter guns. Plan to inspect seals every 12 months of daily use.

Can I mix different greases in one high capacity grease gun?

No. Mixing incompatible thickener chemistries (lithium + calcium, lithium + polyurea, calcium + aluminium complex) causes chemical reactions that form hard deposits in the non-return valve and head. The deposits are more damaging on a 900 cc high-capacity gun than on standard-capacity models because more grease passes through the head per reload, accelerating accumulation at any deposit site. NLGI grade mixing within the same thickener family (NLGI 1 + NLGI 2 lithium) is safe. To switch grease chemistries: empty the 900 cc reservoir, solvent-flush with mineral spirits, dry thoroughly, lightly re-grease the plunger seal with the new grease, reload with a single chemistry. Workshops running mixed fleets (agricultural lithium, marine calcium sulphonate) should maintain separate labeled S-710L units per grease type.

What grease should I use in a high capacity lever grease gun?

The S-710L is compatible with NLGI 1, 2 and 3 greases across all standard chemistries: lithium complex, calcium sulphonate, aluminium complex, polyurea, moly-fortified EP, and synthetic PAO-based. For Australian and NZ agricultural equipment (tractors, harvesters, balers), NLGI 2 lithium complex or moly-fortified EP is standard. For mining haul trucks and loader pins in iron ore or coal operations, moly-fortified EP or calcium sulphonate handles the shock loading and dust contamination. For coastal marine trailer bearings and fishing vessel deck machinery, calcium sulphonate or aluminium complex resists saltwater washout. The Quadra-Cut steel head and nitrile plunger seal handle the full -10°C to +80°C operating range.

How often should you clean your high capacity grease gun?

Clean the S-710L every 3 months for continuous fleet, mining or contractor use, every 6 months for regular workshop use, or whenever you switch grease types. The 900 cc reservoir passes more grease through the head per service cycle than standard-capacity guns, accelerating internal wear and debris accumulation proportionally. In Australian Outback conditions (red soil, dust ingress) and NZ coastal conditions (salt spray), internal contamination happens faster than controlled workshop environments. Deep clean procedure: empty the reservoir, unscrew the head and bottom cap, wipe the extended barrel with solvent-dampened rag, inspect the follower plate, solvent-clean the head assembly including the air-release valve and non-return valve, reassemble with fresh grease lightly applied to seals.

Should a high capacity grease gun be stored horizontally or vertically?

Store the S-710L horizontally in a dry workshop location between shifts, with the lever backed off and the plunger rod engaged (not locked in the side slot). The 900 cc reservoir stores more grease than standard guns, so oil separation (bleed) during storage is a higher risk on long-term idle periods. Keep the reservoir loaded with fresh grease and rotate stock on a monthly basis if the gun is not in daily use. For storage over 30 days: drain the reservoir, clean inside and out, lightly oil the plunger seal with a corrosion inhibitor. For Outback and coastal environments, add a silica-gel desiccant packet to the storage chest if humidity is routinely above 70 percent. Never leave the S-710L in open-bed utility vehicles overnight in tropical heat or direct sun.

Should you wear gloves when using a high capacity grease gun?

Mandatory PPE: wraparound safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337 compliant in Australia and NZ), nitrile chemical-resistant gloves (AS/NZS 2161), closed-toe steel-capped boots, long-sleeve protective clothing. Safety rules: never point the coupler or flex hose at any body part, keep the lever-hand behind the coupler, inspect the 12" flex hose before each use for cracks, bulges or stiffness, never test grease flow by pressing the coupler against skin or fabric. At 12,000 PSI (830 bar), a pinhole in the hose or an unseated coupler can drive grease through skin and requires immediate surgical treatment. Call 000 (Australia) or 111 (New Zealand) immediately if grease injection occurs. Do not wait or self-treat.

Is a 900cc grease gun worth it for industrial use?

The S-710L costs more than the base S-710 but pays back on any service routine where reload frequency matters. The 900 cc reservoir services 45-50 fittings versus 30-35 for the 650 cc S-710 base, which means 30-40 percent fewer mid-route pail trips. For fleet depots running 8-10 vehicles per shift, agricultural contractors servicing 3-4 machines per visit, or mining maintenance routes covering 20+ fittings per hour, the S-710L reduces total service time enough to pay for itself within the first season. For single-machine home-workshop service, hobby farm use, or occasional vehicle chassis greasing, the standard S-710 is sufficient and the 900 cc capacity is overkill. The German precision engineering and heavy-duty steel bar handle are additional differentiators for daily-duty operators.