Myford oilers

[Stephen FollowsParticipant @stephenfollows82099]

Does anyone else get frustrated with Myford lathe oilers. In desperation, I bought two new ones from RDG….not cheap but I wanted the right ones.

Three years on and I still can’t get them to work consistently. Some days they barely work others they flood the suds tray.

I often think I’d be better removing them and squirting oil down the holes every half hour or so.

[Stephen FollowsParticipant @stephenfollows82099]

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

I used a pair of 1/2" flip-cap oil cups (as below) with a bit of oil-resistant foam that loosely 'fills' about half the depth (cut from a strimmer air filter)..

..filling to wet the foam easily holds enough for a couple of hour's work, if you poke it with a screwdriver / scriber you can see whether there is still oil in it or not..

StationaryEngineParts – Flip Lid Oil Cups

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

For a few years my ML7 has been fitted with a pair of Adamslube of Coventry oilers of the type shown in the second picture on the linked page.

Oilers

They have proved very good for setting drip rate and whilst currently I am unable to use my shop they are left set to drip very occasionally.

Edited By V8Eng on 17/07/2023 21:37:13

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

One point worthy of note is that the oil viscosity will change with temperature. Hot workshop = drips fast , cold workshop = may not drip at all ! Not the oilers fault ! Noel.

[PeroParticipant @pero]

In a model mag ( I think it was probably ME ) many moons ago there was an article on modifying the typically wayward Myford oiler to behave in a more gentlemanly manner. If I remember rightly the main change was to the needle, and possibly the seat, to achieve proper controlled flow rather than the more familiar and annoying on or off that is the usual fare.

I occasionally think of it when mopping up the puddle of oil which forms underneath the head stock and wonder why I didn't get around to modifying my own. I'm sure I will get around to it one day.

Perhaps someone with access to the indexes can do a little search.

Pero

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

I have a wood lathe that requires oiling every so often. I use an eye dropper to get the oil where it need to go and have found that 3 drips is enough for a days turning. The bearings have only been adjusted once in all the years I have owned the machine. Even then it was just a minor adjustment. Keeping the machine clean and regular checks and servicing has kept it in a good state for the work I use it for.

By using a dropper in the little cup I do not have to fiddle with an oiler that needs stopping when not using it (to prevent puddles under the machine) and then adjusting it when it is needed

I have used it on a very regular intervals so it is not that it sits for long periods of time doing nothing, maybe lately while working on the projects I have on the go in metal has it only had little use

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I modified the needles on my previous ML7 by making the taper MUCH shallower and pushing a small o ring on the shaft, it seemed to be much more controllable.

[John PurdyParticipant @johnpurdy78347]

Stephen

Having had the same problem with the original Myford oiler way back in 1978, I modified the tip of a standard pump oil can spout as in the photo below. The brass tip is turned down to fit in the hole in the oil nipple and although not clearly visible there is a small slot filled across the tip. In use the end is pushed into the oil nipple, depressing the ball, the curved surface sealing against the nipple and the slot allows the oil to flow into the nipple as the oil can is pumped resulting in all the oil going into the nipple and not all over the place.

John

Edited By John Purdy on 18/07/2023 17:45:17

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