Myford 7B Headstock Oiler

[SteveW]

Guys,

I've got a daft one with my headstock oiling thingy. Before I start I always check there is oil in there and top up when necessary.

It can go for days/weeks without any oil loss then suddenly I'll surprise it and as I open the little lid I get to see the level drain away before my eyes.

How does it know I'm looking? Where does the oil go and why suddenly?

I had it all apart not long after I bought it. The oil reservoir feeds under the conical headstock bearing to a wick that is in contact with the conical shaft. It was put back together and adjusted as per the manual.

[ace]

Hi
I would imagine that it may be air-locked and by opening the lid it looses its vacuum and is then absorbed onto the dry wick. If this is so it may be starving the bearing of oil as I found this to be the case on my lathe. I left the lid open a bit during whilst on the lathe and the oil level would then drop naturally. I have since changed these for the glass type which work great .

[chris vine]

Hi Steve and Ace,

I think ace is right with the airlock, caused by a bit of oil around the top of the oiler making a seal with the lid.

My question is where does the oil go? It does not spray around the inside of the belt guard or it would show there. It does not seem to work its way to the front of the bearing or it would show there.

It is a mystery to me....

Chris.

[stantheman]

I recently altered my 'oiler' on the Myford. I made a brass 'pot' that fitted into the hole originally there with the screwed in oiler, I also used as small a drill as I could to create the hole for the oil to drip (?) through. Now, when I first oil up and run the machine I have to stand well over to starboard to avoid the fine line of black spots down the left hand side of face, neck, shirt/jumper and top of trousers. I shall have to use some other oil, probably thicker steam oil and see if that will drip through slower.
Stan.

[chris vine]

Hi Stan,

If your lathe is a super 7 type, with the wick to take the oil up to the taper bearing, you should be careful not to use the wrong oil (particularly a really thick one like steam oil) as it may not wick properly and you will spoil the bearing........

C

[SteveW]

Ace,

Good point about an air lock except I check every time, thus breaking the lock, and the level remains constant. Then, without warning the oil level just drops away before my eyes.

I've even checked it after use but have nothing to report there.

[ace]

One other idea is that maybe the oil is draining off quicker when the bearings are becoming hotter and thus thinning the oil? this is something I have noticed on my lathe sometimes.

ACE