Super 7 Spindle lubrication

[Kevin MurrellParticipant @kevinmurrell62078]

[Kevin MurrellParticipant @kevinmurrell62078]

Dear all

Getting my Super 7 back into a reasonable order, and spotted the cotton wool wick in the oiler for the spindle was missing. I have replaced it with a new wick from Myford, and topped up the oil. The oil level isn't obviously going down. Is there a means of finding out whether oil is actually getting to the bearing?

Regards and thanks, Kevin

[clogsParticipant @clogs]

after a while it leaves an oily mark under the bearing…it always worries me…

quite fancy a regulated oil dripper….but my lathe is in a packing crate for at least another 6 months….

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Run the lathe slowly, insert the oilgun into the spindle oilcup and pump until oil issues from the bearing. You should see a bead of oil where the spindle exits the front bearing.

regards Martin

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Martin Kyte on 20/08/2020 16:50:04:

Run the lathe slowly, insert the oilgun into the spindle oilcup and pump until oil issues from the bearing. You should see a bead of oil where the spindle exits the front bearing.

regards Martin

I will try this on my own machine but I do wonder whether the wick would then be wicking?

Edited By ega on 20/08/2020 17:08:21

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Kevin see email.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

It does ensure that there are no blockages, that the Lathe is running with lubrication from the start and that the wick is saturated with oil. If it was put in dry then it will take a while to soak through. Pumping oil in under pressure ensures everything is flooded from the start.

If You think about it it's quite a good system using a wick. In the same way as Loco and Traction Engine lubricators utilising worsted trimmings it ensures that no foreign particles arrive at the bearing unlike Drip feeds which can pass all kinds of contamination.

regards Martin

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