Lubrication query / opinions please

[Taf_PembsParticipant @taf_pembs]

Hi All,

I am pondering how to lube the column leadscrew in the Chester Superlux. Originally it was lube’d with a semi fluid grease, it appeared to be a 0 or more probably a 00 grade and although there was very little left on the lead screw itself the manual wind bevel gear at the bottom was still very well covered and was clean. I will re lube the lower bevel gear with 00 grease as that obviously worked well and access isn’t that easy.

Option 1 – Recoat with an NLGI-00 grease (which I already have). I can get access to the screw to clean / re apply when necessary.

Option 2  – Adding a feed from the 1 shot oiler to the top of the lead screw so each pump would deliver some oil that would dribble and wind itself down the thread and eventually get to the nut. There is a lot of vertical pressure on the nut with it only being a little over an inch long and supporting the whole gear head, motor etc. I’m reluctant to put a feed to the nut itself as the oil would just dribble out of the nut quicker than it could do a great deal and any screw thread above the nut would get starved.

Option 1 obviously being the simplest but adding a small dribble of oil would I presume act as a flush as well as lube possibly carrying away any nasties that get to it but the down side is it will pool under the base of the mill and possibly wash the grease on the bevel gear although it is below a bearing mount so might be protected.

Or does anyone have a better option? Anything gratefully considered 👍

A pic probably makes more sense of it all..

Cheers!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Option 1 I have not done anything to my X3 screw or nut since I got it in 2007 and it gets a fair bit of use.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Option 1

Jason has spoken … and spoken wisely

MichaelG.

[Taf_PembsParticipant @taf_pembs]

Thanks folks, appreciate it!

It is what I was leaning towards but just wondered if someone had come up with something else.

Cheers!!

Taf

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