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Thread: oil

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    134

    Default 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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Sydney, NSW
    Posts
    1,249

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by shaper07 View Post
    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

    Can of worms alert. I use compressor oil in the headstock bearings, ways and gearbox etc and chainsaw bar oil on the gears.

    Ben.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    54
    Posts
    825

    Default

    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.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Northern Beaches, NSW
    Posts
    288

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kwijibo99 View Post
    ...I use ISO68 hydraulic oil on the ways and all oil points (spindle, QC gearbox, back-gear, saddle, lead-screw, gear-train studs etc)...
    This is what Mal told me to do also, so must be OK

    I've also been told to use "SuperLube" on the cone pulley (between cone pulley & spindle).

    Jon


    Thx
    Jon

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    88

    Default

    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.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Holbrook, NSW
    Age
    73
    Posts
    490

    Default 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
    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    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

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Age
    72
    Posts
    28

    Default Oil Type

    I use hydralic jack oil. Seems OK so far. Clings well to the surfaces and allows smooth operation.

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