Grease in oil lines

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Grease in oil lines

This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 20 May 2022 at 21:17 by old mart.

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17 May 2022 at 22:01 #598515
Alan Waddington 2
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@alanwaddington2
Picked up a new to me mill at the weekend, seller proudly mentioned he had greased all the nipples to save me the trouble……yep he’s greased all the oil nipples to the ways. So whats the best thing to do, thought about pumping some diesel through to flush the grease out, followed by the correct way oil……..thoughts on a postcard ?
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17 May 2022 at 22:01 #20699
Alan Waddington 2
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@alanwaddington2
17 May 2022 at 22:19 #598517
Steviegtr
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@steviegtr
I go for Paraffin Alan. Or Turps.

Steve.
17 May 2022 at 22:29 #598518
noel shelley
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@noelshelley55608
I think I would just give it a good dose of SAE 10 hydraulic oil. Noel
18 May 2022 at 02:46 #598523
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
+1 on what 'e said. Oil will dissolve the grease. Might make the oil a bit thicker than normal (matching the previous owner!) but flush a bit through and it should be ok.
18 May 2022 at 08:40 #598526
David George 1
Participant
@davidgeorge1
Hi what mill is it as some mill's use grease on some parts like a Bridgport uses a white grease for varidrive bitts.

David
18 May 2022 at 08:49 #598527
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
Pump air through from an empty grease gun

light oil to dilute residual grease

Low pressure compressed air to blow the tubes through

It's annoying but only an inconvenience

Edited By Ady1 on 18/05/2022 08:49:49
18 May 2022 at 09:43 #598533
Swarf, Mostly!
Participant
@swarfmostly
Good morning, Alan,

How long had the seller owned the mill?

Was this the first time he had attended to its lubrication? Had he been using the mill with dry ways?

Or had he regularly lubricated the machine with grease?

Which is worse?!?!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!
18 May 2022 at 09:53 #598534
Greg Bowl
Participant
@gregbowl10135
Would you pump the oil through from a gun to try and force it out or leave it to dissolve and do its work slowly?
18 May 2022 at 10:17 #598536
Dave Halford
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@davehalford22513
Posted by David George 1 on 18/05/2022 08:40:50:

Hi what mill is it as some mill's use grease on some parts like a Bridgport uses a white grease for varidrive bitts.

David

As do the Centec vertical heads.

That said, any oil galleries on older machines have a habit of blocking anyway. I found gunge in the internal gearbox oilways of the Centec and you can't get grease into those by mistake.

Edited By Dave Halford on 18/05/2022 10:23:40
18 May 2022 at 13:10 #598542
Alan Waddington 2
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@alanwaddington2
Posted by David George 1 on 18/05/2022 08:40:50:

Hi what mill is it as some mill's use grease on some parts like a Bridgport uses a white grease for varidrive bitts.

David

It’s an Aciera F4 David, fortunately it came with a manual, including a lubrication schedule, which previous owner obviously didn’t bother reading !

And to answer Swarf Mostly’s question. Fortunately the ways seem to be in A1 condition, so no harm done either way.
20 May 2022 at 21:17 #598781
old mart
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@oldmart
We had that with the museum's lathe, some parts were dismantled and washed, but others were simply force lubricated with oil. Mike modified all of the common nipples by removing the springs and balls and produced a 90 degree internal chamfer so that an ordinary oil gun tip can fit well enough to not leak much when the oil is pumped in. There are about 7 nipples around the headstock and they now have plastic caps to keep them clean. The trouble is that the nipples are the same as grease ones and can fool some people.

Edited By old mart on 20/05/2022 21:18:33
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