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Thread: Lathe Chuck Internal Lubrication
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30th January 2015, 11:26 AM #1Senior Member
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Lathe Chuck Internal Lubrication
I have my small 3-jaw in pieces for a clean - it was getting a bit sticky when operating the key.
No real surprises, just a build-up of dirt and old lubrication, it should go back together fine.
But, what to use as a lubricant for the internal bevel gears and scroll support spigot ?
This thread does not relate to the scroll/jaw interface which will be lubricated with a light oil.
The chuck seemed to have remnants of a lithium style grease.
I have seen references to using lithium grease, high pressure 'tacky' grease, high pressure moly grease and heavy way lube.
Grease seems to be used on high-performance chucks that are fitted with grease nipples.
Is there any consensus on what to use ?
John.
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30th January 2015 11:26 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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30th January 2015, 12:07 PM #2
Hi John,
I read somewhere graphite powder was the go. I don't like using oil of any sort as it seem to just get flung all over the place.
Be interesting to hear what others use.
Cheers,
Ew1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.
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30th January 2015, 12:17 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
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I was about to suggest Graphite and then I read Ueee's post.
SimonGirl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.
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30th January 2015, 04:34 PM #4Senior Member
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I use high temperature bearing grease for two reasons. Firstly, it stays all sticky and attached to the bits inside, even if the chuck is getting a bit on the warm side. Secondly, thats the grease I have, so unless theres a great reason to be buying other grease, I tend not to bother!
I never have problems with it flicking off and I tend to do a lot of higher rpm work, but then I dont go too overboard with the greasing too. The chuck is a bison bial 3204-160 for what its worth.
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30th January 2015, 06:22 PM #5Senior Member
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I fly the other way and prefer to use oil although I do plan to give graphite a try next time I strip them down.
I don't use grease because I do a lot of work with cast iron which by it's nature produces heaps of tiny gritty chips when machined and these have the ability to get into all sorts of places including the chuck.
Combined with grease they form a paste that sticks like s#!t to a blanket making the job of cleaning a chuck much harder than it needs to be and the resemblance to valve lapping compound is too close for comfort.
Of course if you happen to use emery cloth and some of that grit gets in then lapping paste is exactly what you have.
True with oil you get a bit slung off when the chuck spins up after application but this is easily contained by covering the chuck with a piece of newspaper for the first 30 seconds and the flushing action seems to help keep the chuck scroll cleaner.
Cheers,
Greg.
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30th January 2015, 07:58 PM #6SENIOR MEMBER
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I've never seen a new chuck with grease in it.
Some chucks actually have an oil ball/nipple in the face, which must tell you something.The worst that can happen is you will fail.
But at least you tried.
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30th January 2015, 09:32 PM #7Senior Member
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Thanks guys, a wide range of experiences provided.
I have done some searching here, and on Practical Machinist, and it is obvious that there are many answers to the question.
Most recommendations are for a grease of some kind.
I suspect the original manufacture was a lithium grease because of its superior water repellant aspects, important for a high duty industrial application.
This is not so important to me because the chuck is used in a low duty hobby application with minimal use of water based coolant.
I have some Castrol LMM grease, a heavy duty moly grease, so that is what I will use.
A comment for others dismantling a chuck for cleaning.
My chuck had burrs on the mating edges of the chuck body to the backplate, presumably because the assembled chuck was machined after assembly to improve its appearance.
I have cleaned the burrs off and will check if there is any adjustment of the body/backplate relative positions before final assembly.
The scroll will be lubricated with EP gearbox oil.
John.
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31st January 2015, 08:16 AM #8Senior Member
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31st January 2015, 09:56 AM #9SENIOR MEMBER
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Grease is great at trapping swarf/grit etc.
Oil won't do that, and it allows you to easily whip off the back and blow out the innards with compressed air when the chuck feels notchy.
If you over oil a chuck you can expect to get a spray, but that's up to the user applying the stuff.The worst that can happen is you will fail.
But at least you tried.
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2nd February 2015, 04:23 PM #10Senior Member
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During final cleaning I discovered some areas with tiny bits of tightly adhering white/cream powder like substance, possibly remnants of the original grease soap component, that had to be removed with a scraper.
On reviewing closely the assembly of the bits I elected to go with the LMM grease lubrication of only the bevel gear and pinions.
Just wetted every surface and a couple of extra dabs for luck.
The scroll support spigot has an edge exposed to the jaws so that was lubricated with the EP oil.
The chuck adjustment is now completely free of any binding.
Ran it up to 1100 RPM for a couple of minutes and collected a minor shower of oil on some plain white paper.
No sign of any grease.
John.
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2nd February 2015, 07:14 PM #11SENIOR MEMBER
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I wouldn't expect to see any grease fly out.
But yes, a light oil spray is always on the cards after a lube job.The worst that can happen is you will fail.
But at least you tried.
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2nd February 2015, 08:54 PM #12.
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Jack620 posted a link to a Pratt Burnerd chuck brochure in a brief discussion regarding chuck lubrication a few years back - Attached is the brochure.
I still use wheel bearing grease in all of my 3 jaw chucks and if I'm turning cast iron I opt for an easy to clean 4 jaw. I use Vactra II way oil in the 4 jaws. A vacuum cleaner and a magnetic pick are both handy for removing swarf from the scroll and jaws.
Thinking I probably should move on from the Timken grease I had a look for sources of molybdenum disulphide paste. Found an interesting discussion here - http://shootingaustralia.net/forum/a...055-moly-paste.
This is looking promising - http://rotagriponline.com/index.php?...mart&Itemid=29
BT
PS I might be one of the few grease adherents but if the stuff is recommended by the chuck manufacturer then I'll stick with it. Found this - http://www.itwpf.com.au/molybond_lub...x?productid=53
PPS Pratt Burnerd recommended Molykote D Paste. I found some in Birmingham - http://www.silmid.com/products/molyk...50gm-tube.aspx then I found this Molykote GN paste on eBay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dow-Corning-...item339c74be38 Sounds like a pretty handy lubricant. - http://www.dowcorning.com/content/pu...c88023f09d.pdf
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