CQ6230 Oil Point Warning

[RayG]

Hi All,

I was changing gears around on the CQ6230 and turning by hand it felt a little sticky,
when I looked more closely the shaft of the lead screw gear box was not turning freely,
so after pulling the whole thing apart the problem was obvious. The shaft was running dry..

The oil way was blocked with crap, and so no oil was getting through to the shaft.

http://www.backsaw.net/pics/CQ6230_OIL.jpg

I cleaned it up as best I could and re-assembled it all. Seems fine now.. so I'll see how it goes..

But, I suspect that I just dodged a bullet, so this post is a warning to anyone else with a similar set up..

Check that the oil ways are clear. It wasn't at all obvious that it was blocked.

Regards
Ray

[Dave J]

A good reminder post Ray:2tsup:, glad it didn't do any damage to your lathe.

It is not a hard to miss that one when oiling, I have missed it a few times myself because it is so tucked away.

Dave

[Dave J]

Forgot to ask, whats the 6 allen head bolts in the sprocket? I think I can remember you making a gear for it, or am I thinking of someone else?

Dave

[RayG]

Hi Dave,

That's the new idler gear I made, the aluminium plate wasn't thick enough for the bearing housing, and I needed a means of holding it in the chuck anyway.

I've been thinking, I should make up a little oil cap of some sort, to fit that hole, so as to keep the crap out, any thoughts?

Regards
Ray

[Stustoys]

Hi Ray
What size is the hole? You might be able to get a oil cup to fit or one of those spring loaded ball bearing oiler things. Of course a little plug with a knurled handle would be more fun to make.

Stuart

[franco]

Ray,

Thanks for that. Believe it or not, my manual does not mention that oil hole, so I've been running the lathe for about twelve years (fortunately not a lot of total hours) and I have never put oil in that oil hole. I never really thought about it - just assumed it was a hole for a pin spanner to undo a bearing retaining collar. I'll remember it in future!

Frank.

[Dave J]

Hi Dave,

That's the new idler gear I made, the aluminium plate wasn't thick enough for the bearing housing, and I needed a means of holding it in the chuck anyway.

I've been thinking, I should make up a little oil cap of some sort, to fit that hole, so as to keep the crap out, any thoughts?

Regards
Ray

A little short bolt that drops in the hole would do for now, and will be easy to slid out to oil.
Or you could be real trick and machine up a plug with a knurled head.

Dave

[Gavin Newman]

What about a length of copper pipe from the hole to the top of the lathe headstock so it's easy to drop a bit of oil in now and then and to get the opening away from the swarf?

[bollie7]

What about a length of copper pipe from the hole to the top of the lathe headstock so it's easy to drop a bit of oil in now and then and to get the opening away from the swarf?

I was thinking the same. A small one of these on top.
bollie7

[bollie7]

While looking for oil cup suppliers just now I came across this site.
The NippleShop Oil Hole Covers & Cups (http://www.thenippleshop.co.uk/acatalog/Oil_Hole_Covers.html)

with a name like that I thought it had to be worth a look. lol

bollie7

[Stustoys]

Such a great site bollie7. Such a shame they charge £79 for export orders :'(. So I guess I'll just have to use there site to find out what is available, then buy it somewhere else.

Stuart

[RayG]

Thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated.

I like the one Bollie suggests. The BS15 shown below is the sort of thing that I had a mental picture of.

http://www.thenippleshop.co.uk/acatalog/covers%20&%20cups.jpg

Searching for "oil nipples", has the potential to bring up some distracting sites (sights)... :)

Regards
Ray

[Stustoys]

Ray...... what size is the hole?

Stuart

[RayG]

Hi Stuart,

Sorry, I meant to double check that... The hole is 1/4"

Regards
Ray

[Stustoys]

I have a used 3/16 BS15 with a copper bush to bring it up 1/4. If you're not in a hurry I'll slip it in with your discs or I could post it tomorrow if you can't live without it. (I have a new 6mm one but I don't see how you could make it fit)
Stuart

[RayG]

Hi Stuart,

Yes please,:2tsup: your offer is gratefully accepted with thanks. No hurry, just when those roloc disks arrive will be fine.

Regards
Ray

[Stustoys]

No problem Ray. Don't forget to remind me though, I don't have the best memory in the world.
Stuart

[RayG]

Hi Stuart,

http://www.backsaw.net/pics/OilCap.jpg

Thanks for the oil cap, fits perfectly and looks like it belongs! :2tsup:

Much appreciated.

Regards
Ray

PS Thanks for the brass tubing and organizing the roloc disks as well. :cool:

[Stustoys]

No problem Ray, did it fit as was or did you need to make a new sleeve?
It looks older in the picture lol
Hope you find a use for the tubing, its the sort of thing that might be hard to track down if you ever need it.

Stuart

[Dave J]

Looks like it came that way.

Dave

[RayG]

Hi Stuart, Dave,

I wonder if the later models like the AL960, AL335 or AL336, come with an oil cap?

The sleeve that was already on there was a perfect fit, just a light tap and it's good.

Looking at the picture, the reflection from the plywood lining the wall behind the lathe gives it, and the back of the casting, a reddish look. Makes it look old :)

Thanks again.

Regards
Ray

[Stustoys]

Oh yes Ray, they have made huge steps forward since your lathe. Mine has an "oil nippie", conveniently located behind the fill plug for the gear box. lol

Stuart

[Dave J]

I don't think they would bother adding one Ray, why would they waist extra money on something that is already selling good.
They still supply those crappy Chinese timber handled screw drivers with the tool kit that everyone throws away.

Dave

[Dave J]

Stuart,
I just looked at mine and it has the ball oiler in the same spot as yours but my fill plug is on the right (chuck side). The drain plug is on the left side though.
Ray,
It looks like yours missed out on the ball oiler on the way through maybe, but it's fixed better than new now. I want to install 90 deg toilet seat type on the lead screw, feed rod on the tail stock end of the lathe. The ball oilers there are just a pain and don't allow for a reserve of oil to sit there.

Dave

[Stustoys]

I want to install 90 deg toilet seat type on the lead screw, feed rod on the tail stock end of the lathe.
I haven't been able to find a supply of those at a reasonable cost. I've been thinking about making some.
Stuart

[Dave J]

RDG have a variety for around 2 pound each
RDG Tools - Online Engineering Tools Oil Cups (Bent) (http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2erdgtools%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fACME_TAPS__LEFT_HAND_%2ehtml&WD=oil&PN=OIL_CUP__STRAIGHT_%2ehtml%23a1127#a1127)

Dave

[Stustoys]

I was after push fit ones. lazy I guess hehe

Stuart

[Gavin Newman]

I wonder if the later models like the AL960, AL335 or AL336, come with an oil cap?

The AL960 has sealed bearings there so no oiling points at that end of the headstock.

[rusty steel]

On my mill I ran a piece of 1/4" copper pipe from the quill to the outside of the mill head. I just have a small plastic cap to cover the end of the pipe where I squirt a few drops of oil occasionally. Where the pipe meets the quill, I have a piece of felt to direct the oil onto the quill surface. On the lathe a piece of copper pipe to act as a reservoir with a piece of felt stuffed inside to act as a filter would do the job.
Russell