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Thread: oil
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30th June 2014, 07:13 PM #1Novice
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oil
hi
what is the correct oil to use in my hercus a in the headstock spindle.
is it the same oil for the gearbox and the ways and the counter shaft bushes
thanks steve
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30th June 2014 07:13 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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30th June 2014, 09:49 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
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30th June 2014, 11:38 PM #3Senior Member
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G'day Steve,
As Ben says, you'll get as many answers to this question as you've got fingers and toes.
For what it's worth, I use ISO68 hydraulic oil on the ways and all oil points (spindle, QC gearbox, back-gear, saddle, lead-screw, gear-train studs etc) and motorbike chain lube on the gears themselves.
Cheers,
Greg.
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2nd July 2014, 08:43 AM #4
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9th July 2014, 02:03 PM #5Member
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Hi,
This is my understanding of readily available lubricants that should be used on small lathes.
(Unless the manufacturer says otherwise, or what the manufacturer says is not available, in the main, most lubricant distributors are pretty knowledgeable so if you get stuck go and talk to one of them.)
Tapered Roller Bearings - ISO68 – “Hydraulic Oil” is the most readily available.
Wick fed Plain Bearings – ISO45 – “Fork Oil” is the most readily available.
For slides, back gears, feed gears etc. you need lubricants that contain “tackifiers” which improve adhesion to metal surfaces and which resist gravity and centrifugal force:
Motorcycle Chain Oil
Roller Chain Oil
Chainsaw Bar Oil
All of them work pretty well, Chainsaw bar oil tends to be lower quality than the others, but in a loss system there is almost certainly no practical difference.
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11th July 2014, 03:32 PM #6Senior Member
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oils ain't oils
Most lubrication plaques I have come across on Hercus machines say "USE ONLY VACTRA OIL HEAVY", see attached pic. As no other instructions are given I assume they mean everywhere. This was an ISO100 oil, anyone who owns an "O" mill will find this instruction inside the side cover it also appears on some of the 260's I've come across, can't remember having seen anything on the early 9" though, I assume a lighter oil would have been used on the cast iron bearings, maybe someone else can help. As the Mill and 260 are rollerbearing machines with slideways it would seem the Hercus recommendation render the discussion moot.
On some of last model lathes they produced was a similar instruction to use BARTRAN68. I guess my comment is, if you keep your machine clean,well lubricated, and free of abrasive dusts, most of the products stated by anyone on the forum will be able to do the job.
For those who want to use the VACTRA, which is no longer made, I have been told by Mobil that their DTE HEAVY is the replacement ISO100 product. BARTRAN68 is still a current type or was a couple of years back when I bought my last drum.
There are so many conflicting opinions on what is the right or wrong lubricant from ISO33 to ISO100, there are dedicated way oils and bearing oils. there is only one solution, the one you like, is the best one for you. Mine happens to be Bartran68, mainly because the manufacturer recommended it and it's current technology.
Mal
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12th July 2014, 10:37 AM #7Mechanical Butcher
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I agree - at least make sure your machine is always wet with some sort of oil.
One thing I keep in mind is that car engine oils have detergent in them, which keeps contaminants in suspension.
This isn't ideal for machinery, where it's best to let the crud fall out.
Jordan
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30th August 2014, 09:05 AM #8Still Learning
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Oil Type
I use hydralic jack oil. Seems OK so far. Clings well to the surfaces and allows smooth operation.