Lathe lubricants

I figured it out...

Peter

Peter, This can be very confusing, but I order my lubes direct from ESSO. You can find anything you need in their catalogue, but the smallest container is either 20 or 30 liters. You need the Saybolt number of the oil you need though. Do not use an automotive oil. The additive package is not compatible for machine tools primarily because of particle suspension. Automotive oils keep the contaminants in suspension so the filter can remove them. Machine oils should will allow the particulate to settle out in the sump. Steve

Steve,

I have a South Bend chart with the Saybolt numbers (as well as some with an ISO number and others with SAE numbers) but hadn't been able to find their equivalents. I then went to the Logan Lathe BB and found an supplier cross reference. While this chart didn't have the Saybolt number (what IS a Saybolt number?), I was able to figure out what was needed. I ordered everything from McMaster Carr in one gallon containers - enough, I'm sure, to last a good long time...

Thanks,

Peter

What is everyone using for the Teflon/Lithium grease for the back gear and spindle? Spray, grease gun?

Thanks C

I'm using Permatex "Super Lube". It's advertised as being a "long-lasting multi-purpose synthetic-based lubricant with teflon". The problem I had was that on my 9" South Bend, the threaded hole where you put the grease is threaded 1/4"-20 and zirc fittings are 1/4"-28. I made an adapter by taking a allen headed bolt 1/4"-20 X 5/8" long and through drilled it. I then drilled and tapped the head to fit the

Dave Young

Is using grease considered better than using oil, or is it a convenience issue?

Peter

South Bend originally recommended grease on the back gear and oil in the spindle cone. They have since retracted the oil recommendation and recommends teflon grease in both. As I understand it, the problem with the oil is that it would drip onto the leather belt. I've not had that problem with the grease. I'm not talking about the oil in the oil cups for the spindle bearings, keep using oil there!!! I'm talking about the spindle cone (where the pulley is). I do have an electronic copy of the lubrication chart if you're interested. Contact me at davey(at)maine.rr.com if you're interested.

Great tip, can you tell me where you get the Permatex? I checked McMaster and got nothing, I even checked Permatex's site with no luck.

Concerning the stepped pulley on the spindle, there is a felt strip in the pulley bore on either side of the fill hole. There is also a small reservoir space running the circumference of the bore under the fill hole. Does that grease have a low enough viscosity to wick through the felt? Or does the grease simply compress the felt to flow toward the ends? I ask because the Yahoo lathe group lists another grease available at McMaster that is available in an aerosol.

According to the South Bend oil chart it list another aerosol for open gears not running in oil,,, two birds, one can of oil,,, maybe?

Thanks! C

Not sure where you can buy the Permatex, I bought a case of 12 off E-bay for something like $20. Enough to last me a while, though I do use it for other things besides the lathe.

I can't really advise you about your other questions. I don't remember what it looks like under the screw for the spindle cone, but I only recall a void (no felts). I looked in my parts manual and I don't see any felts there either. The spindle cone has a threaded hole with a screw and the word "oil" embossed on the pulley. That's where South Bend now says to use grease. On the gear train, I just oil occasionally. My lubrication chart doesn't show anything about oiling/greasing the gear train. I just don't like the idea of running them dry. On the other hand the reverse bracket (oil cup), reverse gears and idler gear do call for lubrication which I do, but I also add a bit of oil to the other gears.

Not trying to sound vague, I'm still learning my lathe also.....

:-)

Dave

Yes it will (drip out and wind up on the belt), but another problem with grease is, if the grease is too thick or congeals after time, it will lock the cone pulley to the spindle. I had a heck of a time freeing up my most recent 10L cone pulley because of this.

Jim

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remember

I think you'll only see the felts if you pull the spindle out of the cone. Then again, I have a 16", yours may be different.

I looked in my parts manual and I don't see

Actualy the parts manual is missing quite a few parts, especially when it comes to felt wicks. I don't think it shows any wicks for the apron.

The spindle cone has a threaded hole with a

On your oil chart look under the Lubricating Oil Specs. It has a one sentence blurb about gears not soaking in oil. Now don't think I'm telling you what to do but when I tore my lathe down I found more crap and swarf in the various gear teeth to make me wonder about it's design. Then, while looking for the teflon/lithium grease localy, I found quite a few aerosol lubes made specificly for open air gear trains. They have silicone or graphite but are dry lubes, nothing to attract all the goop into the gear teeth. Not to mention less oil slinging around the shop.

If I could find a picture of the apron wicking for the worm bushings, I'll be learning to RUN my lathe instead of field stripping and oiling it blindfolded for quickest time.

I thought the drill for replacing that wick was in the SB parts manual. I recall having done that with one of my 10Ls, I had to wind it around the outside of the bushing IIRC. Maybe the instructions came with the wicking set that I purchased from SB. I'll look to see if I still have that.

Jim

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I've got a jar of the Permatex Superlube. I don't recall where I got it and don't see it in McMaster either, but MSC carries it.

Ned Simmons

, CROQ

That would make my Christmas!

The only references I have found in the parts book are in the instructions for installing the toggle clutch. The first states "Remove bushing "H" carefully to avoid tearing felt wick... With bushing remove draw wick through hole bored for bushing." The second, "Insert worm "J" and thread felt wicking around worm gear and through bored hole."

Here is a photo of my situation:

Thanks Ned

Damn, that's exactly what my parts manual says. I remember doing this on my old single tumbler 10L, the inside of the clutch housing was packed with junk and the wicks were like iron wire. I seem to recall that the wick they send had an instruction sheet but I cannot find anything like that in my stack of manuals.

Sorry.

I did find a package of SB wicking so I guess I was planning on doing the apron in my newer machine, if I ever get to it I will make a point of photographing exactly how it was done and put the photos in the drop box.

Maybe it was my 9" machine I did, but somehow I seem to recall actually threading the wick through a hole in the worm gear. Might be faulty memory though.

Jim

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, CROQ

Okay, but there are only 19 days till Christmas Jim.

Jim?...............................Ya still there Jim?

Thanks for looking.

Hey Ned,

Thanks for that URL. A little reverse engineering on it brought this useful page up too. I don't see "Steam Oil" listed too often anymore, so good to know they have it.

Take care.

Brian Laws>>> While this chart didn't have the Saybolt number (what IS a