Myford Correct Oils

[Andy BeckettParticipant @andybeckett68581]

I collected my Myford Super 7 today, its in my log cabin but separated from the stand. As the floor is wooden I've put some ply underneath the stand and once I get my adjustable feet I'll level it up.

Before I got to use it I want to ensure I have all the correct oils and in lubes in the right places. The old manual from 1956 speaks a different language to me so I'd like recommendations what I need to buy on a trip to Halfords please?

[Andy BeckettParticipant @andybeckett68581]

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Andy,

This is what Myford recommends. The Esso Nuto 32 is a hydraulic oil with a ISO VG of 32, any hydraulic oil of the same viscosity should be Ok. The thicker Slideway oil is used on the ways, cross-slide and topslide.

Thor

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Halfords won't have anything suitable.

ISO 32 hydraulic oil with anti-wear additives for everything except the slideways. Thats a basic hydraulic oil readily available mail order or from specialists. I use Castrol Hyspin AWS 32 in my (not Myford) lathe 'cos its what I can get easily and its done me fine for over 25 years but there are many equivalents from other brands. No need to pay extra for the fancy high temperature, anti-foam et al properties.

ISO 68 dual rated slideway / bearing oil for the ways and backgear train. Pukka way oil is too sticky for small lathes. Many brands but I use Castrol Magna BD 68. Excellent in the oil can for hinges and the "Honey Do" jobs too. Thin enough to flow (slowly) but stick enough to stay put for a year or more. But not in locks!

Clive.

Edited By Clive Foster on 19/11/2017 18:35:35

Edited By Clive Foster on 19/11/2017 18:36:06

[Andy BeckettParticipant @andybeckett68581]

Thanks Thor, your help is very much appreciated.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

My lathe has been lubed with motorbike engine for the past 50 years or more since my old man bought it and still has almost not wear on it. I like the modern synthetic motorbike oils as they don't go gummy over time so slide very nicely.

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

If you go to a ship chandler, agricultural part dealer or earth moving equipment dealer I think they will have what you are looking for.I have an equivalent list for oils and here are a few oils suitable for Myford lathe. BP Energol HLP 32, Castrol as Clive says, Gulf Hydrasil 32,Texaco Regal R&O 32, Shell Tellus 32,Mobil DTE Light. I take along a cleaner empty milk container and get a litre for about £2 or a little less. John

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

Mail order is our friend. https://www.myford.co.uk/acatalog/Oils.html

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Chris Trice on 20/11/2017 09:09:49:

Mail order is our friend. https://www.myford.co.uk/acatalog/Oils.html

And also a horrendously expensive way of buying exactly the same spec oil that can be obtained elsewhere for about half the price.

[Andy BeckettParticipant @andybeckett68581]

Got the correct oil from the Bay, £10. A little concerning is the previous owner gave me a grease gun with the lathe and it appears he's been applying it via the nipples??

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

If he has applied grease, then you must clean it all out. Are you sure he was using grease or did it contain oil?

[Andy BeckettParticipant @andybeckett68581]

It's got brown engineering bearing type grease. Cleaning it out sounds like fun? Hope it hasn't caused any damage.

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

Posted by David Standing 1 on 20/11/2017 09:14:56:

Posted by Chris Trice on 20/11/2017 09:09:49:

Mail order is our friend. https://www.myford.co.uk/acatalog/Oils.html

And also a horrendously expensive way of buying exactly the same spec oil that can be obtained elsewhere for about half the price.

True but it is a source that solves his problem of not having any.

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Chris Trice on 20/11/2017 11:48:02:

Posted by David Standing 1 on 20/11/2017 09:14:56:

Posted by Chris Trice on 20/11/2017 09:09:49:

Mail order is our friend. https://www.myford.co.uk/acatalog/Oils.html

And also a horrendously expensive way of buying exactly the same spec oil that can be obtained elsewhere for about half the price.

True but it is a source that solves his problem of not having any.

So is eBay. If he has online purchasing ability, he will have access to the same oil at much cheaper prices.

Why throw money away if you don't need to?

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

I understand that Halfords hydraulic jack oil is a standard ISO32. My Super 7 manual recommends a straight SAE30 motor oil for the rest. I am imagine that Halfords cheapest 5-30 will be fine.

Rod

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

One of the world's great unexplained mysteries is why Myford fitted grease nipples to their lathes for oiling them rather than oil nipples, leaving a legacy of grease-gunged lathes and frustrated owners with leaky grease-guns (less than) full of oil.

N.

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 20/11/2017 17:56:07:

One of the world's great unexplained mysteries is why Myford fitted grease nipples to their lathes for oiling them rather than oil nipples, leaving a legacy of grease-gunged lathes and frustrated owners with leaky grease-guns (less than) full of oil.

N.

I suspect a job lot of ex-MoD grease nipples available surplus in 1947, at a more than attractive price

[Andy BeckettParticipant @andybeckett68581]

Thanks Neil, the manual is quite clear it requires a specialist oil, however, it's also quite clear the previous owner has used grease.

So what do I do now, I really don't want to start stripping a lathe I haven't even used yet.

Oil wise, what do I use to apply the oil seeing as a grease gun is not designed for this purpose?

Any help appreciated.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

if anyone in the North West wants some Tellus 37 I can sell them some at a decent price. Bring your own container.

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 20/11/2017 17:56:07:

One of the world's great unexplained mysteries is why Myford fitted grease nipples to their lathes for oiling them rather than oil nipples, leaving a legacy of grease-gunged lathes and frustrated owners with leaky grease-guns (less than) full of oil.

It is so generations of owners of said lathe could spend hours and many tens of thousands of words about procurement and use of the bodged grease gun to oil their machine, said bodged grease gun is not made like it used to be, and owners should buy brand xyz and modify it etc.

Boxford (and many others except Myford) Buy, grease the grease points now and again (or simply twist the grease caps) , oil the oil points now and again with an off the shelf oil can. The End

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Andy Beckett on 20/11/2017 18:07:33:

Thanks Neil, the manual is quite clear it requires a specialist oil, however, it's also quite clear the previous owner has used grease.

So what do I do now, I really don't want to start stripping a lathe I haven't even used yet.

Oil wise, what do I use to apply the oil seeing as a grease gun is not designed for this purpose?

Any help appreciated.

 

Use one of these: 

**LINK**

 

 

Edited By David Standing 1 on 20/11/2017 18:18:53

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Andy Beckett on 20/11/2017 18:07:33:

Thanks Neil, the manual is quite clear it requires a specialist oil, however, it's also quite clear the previous owner has used grease.

So what do I do now, I really don't want to start stripping a lathe I haven't even used yet.

Oil wise, what do I use to apply the oil seeing as a grease gun is not designed for this purpose?

Any help appreciated.

Many other Myford users have ignored the manual and used grease, possibly many of them second owners who didn't get the manual.

Lathes UK waltzes around various types before recommending ISO 32 hydraulic oil for everything except vertical slideways.

[Andy BeckettParticipant @andybeckett68581]

Thanks David, all ordered.

Thanks Neil, so will it be ok to start using oil and leave the grease?

Sorry for all the questions, haven't touched a lathe since school!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 20/11/2017 18:27:02:

Lathes UK waltzes around various types before recommending ISO 32 hydraulic oil for everything except vertical slideways.

.

… Of which there are not many on the typical Myford Lathe.

MichaelG.

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 20/11/2017 18:46:12:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 20/11/2017 18:27:02:

Lathes UK waltzes around various types before recommending ISO 32 hydraulic oil for everything except vertical slideways.

.

… Of which there are not many on the typical Myford Lathe.

MichaelG.

Ooh, sharp Michael

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