Boxford Model A stopping on slow speeds...?

thanks for the replies gents! I actually have that book "know your lathe" somewhere, was given to me a few years ago by the old boy who sold me my south bend lathe...

I have a big plastic container with lathe oil that I bought years ago and still going that's how big that thing is..at the time didn't know how much i'd need so bought I think 4L or something...

Need to buy a oil gun then, haven't looked in detail how are the fittings but from the top of my head i think they are that ball bearing type, but probably can find something on ebay.

thanks for the detail on the back of the headstock, who would have known there was something in there!

interesting.. just had a look on my lathe, and most of the nipples dont like for oil? they just look like normal grease nipples? although a tad smaller than the normal grease ones?

and did find that one tucked away!

Edited By JP Santos on 30/10/2018 22:06:40

Yes, pull them all out, measure them and replace with proper ball oilers as per original spec. Not expensive. RDG do imperial ones, Arc do metric ones. Generally either 1/4" or 6mm.

DO NOT overgrase the headstock bearings. If you do, it will dramatically slow down the spindle speed especially at the higher rev range. If you do overgrease, remove the grease nipples and run lathe until excess has oozed out.
It happened to me !!
BobH

^^^ True, that. Roller and ball bearings need only be half full (or even a bit less) of grease to operate correctly. There needs to be room for the grease to be pumped about inside the bearing by the rotating balls/rollers. Damage to the bearings can occur in extreme cases of over-greasing.

The grease nipples for use with oil will be original. Just fill a grease gun with oil. Sure it leaks but it's a workshop not a delicatessen. Don't worry about the excess grease causing damage. Although this can happen to a car bearing or big machine your puny Boxford motor just doesn't have the strength. You will notice the reluctance to run in top gear on cold days though just like the owner.

'Ang on a minute! It's not just newbies that get saved by spindles stalling under power!

I've been machining since the mid '70s, and I've still been saved more times than I can readily count in the last few years by my Warco stalling when asked to do something needing too much force.

Part of that is because I don't have a mill so I end up doing ops on the lathe that - shall we say - rather push the envelope of its capabilities...

Quoting from "Know your lathe" page 17. *1. Headstock Spindle Bearings. These are grease packed and require a small amount (1 cc approx) of new grease every three to six months, introduced through scew cap greasers at the front of the headstock.

There are about 30 recommended greases and oils, then Alternatively: Grease - Any good quality bearing grease as used in garages.

: Oil Any light machine oil S.A.E. 20 grade or similar.

Klueber who specialise in bearing lubricants recommend 1/3 - 1/2 of the free volume but it depends on the speed too.

Useful Klueber reference here.

Murray

Wow! thanks gents... you guys are like encyclopedia of information!!

Been a bit too cold to venture out in the garage, but do need to get some bits done, so want to make sure everything is in tiptop condition before using the lathe more.