Craftsman 20 Volt Grease Gun Review: A Cordless Workhorse for Tractor and Equipment Maintenance

Introduction

Grease guns are one of those tools that separate people who maintain their equipment from people who repair it. A cordless version takes away most of the friction: no priming by hand, no pumping until your wrist aches, no wrestling with a lever while you hold a zerk fitting in an awkward spot. The Craftsman 20 Volt battery operated grease gun does most of the work for you, and it is one of those tools that is genuinely worth investing in if you already run the Craftsman battery platform.

This is not a battery-eating tool, either. It is designed around typical maintenance sessions rather than all-day industrial use, and for the majority of owners that is exactly the right balance.

What You Get: Kit vs Bare Tool

You can buy this grease gun two ways: as a bare tool for around $149, or as a kit for somewhere around $200. The kit includes a 2 Amp Hour battery, which is more than sufficient for about 80% of users. If you run an excavating company or something similarly demanding, you might want a larger battery, or you will be charging fairly often. For everyone else, the included pack goes a very long way.

One practical note: the plastic case can get quite greasy over time if you do not keep up with cleaning, and that is worth thinking about before tossing the tool back in the bag at the end of the day.

Two Flow Rates, 10,000 PSI

The gun offers two flow rates. On level two, it flows upwards of 9 ounces per minute, which means you will clear out a grease cartridge very quickly. That speed is useful when a machine has dozens of greasing points and you just want to work through them, but it also means you should watch how much grease you deliver: on level two you can near-empty a whole cartridge in about a minute, so it is easy to overfill something and make a mess.

On level one, the gun is capable of 10,000 PSI. That is more pressure than most jobs need, and the slower speed is often the better choice for fittings that only take a small amount of grease. A lock-off switch lets you secure the tool between uses, which matters if you leave the battery attached, because a full-rate discharge into your bag would be an unpleasant surprise.

Loading and Priming the Grease Cartridge

Loading is straightforward: undo the tube at the bottom, pull the plunger back, lock it into place, then insert your cartridge of choice. A small habit worth picking up: screw the cartridge in until it seats, back it off about a turn, then twist the follower through. Yes, it makes a mess, but it lets most of the air out, which saves time later.

If you do need to prime, there is a button on top that you twist to let air out. Run the gun until grease appears at the tip and you are ready to work. It is not a big deal, and there are multiple ways to get there.

LED Light and Hose Details

Two details stand out in daily use. First, the LED light: you can see into dark places, especially where a greasing point might be hiding, and that is something you do not get on a normal grease gun. When you are out in the field late at night, it is a genuinely useful feature rather than a gimmick.

Second, the hose. The 40-inch hose is long enough to reach fittings without putting the gun in an awkward position, and the tip is short, adjustable, and replaceable, so you can swap in another favorite tip without issue. A spring at the tip protects the hose from kinking and gives your hand a place to grip as you push onto the zerk fitting. That spring is also handy when you have to reach into a tight spot: you can apply forward pressure on it with the hose and the fitting will seat without complaint. Another spring near the cartridge end protects the hose there too, helping it last a lot longer.

Battery Life and Everyday Handling

Battery life on this tool is impressive. The 2 Amp Hour pack seems to go forever in this tool, easily covering a full maintenance session on a tractor where there are a million spots to grease. The realistic exception is heavy commercial use: if you are pushing five or six cartridges through in a day and forgetting to charge, a larger battery makes sense.

The overall feel matches what you would expect from Craftsman: solid, familiar, and consistent with the rest of the brand’s cordless line. One habit that makes ownership better: clean the tool up at the end of the day. Grease guns get covered in grease quite quickly, especially if you use the storage system that comes with this one, and a wiped-down tool is simply more pleasant to pick up next time.

Who Should Buy It

This gun makes the most sense for owners of equipment with lots of greasing points: tractors, mowers, and other machinery. Vehicles increasingly have few grease fittings, but if you own tractors, lawn equipment, or anything with zerks, this is a lifesaver. You do not have to prime a hand grease gun, the battery operation is excellent to use, and the machine does most of the work for you.

Conclusion

For anyone already in the Craftsman battery line, this grease gun is one of those tools that is gold. It is available as a bare tool for around $149 or as a kit with a 2 Amp Hour battery for around $200, and for most users the kit is the obvious choice. Fast flow when you want it, controlled delivery when you do not, a genuinely long hose, and an LED that earns its place: it is a well-rounded cordless upgrade for anyone serious about equipment maintenance.