Getting Myford oiled up

The two Myfords I have access to both have flush oilers on the countershaft and the type shown in the photos above everywhere else.

I have no reason to think they aren't original.

Rob

Thanx GC, you can see the kind of FES I am up against. I too believe my press fit flush oilers are original 1952 and that they were changed to a screw in 2ba hydraulic type later

Without the original Wanner telescopic gun with conical tip it would be very difficult to inject oil

As I said at the beginning I have come to believe that Holy Mother Myford rather overlooked the need for routine lubrication in the early days - this is Lese Majeste and as with those fire fighting aircraft I shall be bombed with liquid ordure

Notwithstanding, I am proceeding with a cunning plan

Dunno much about fymords, but I might expect two types of fittings at least. Low and high pressure. Then, there may be some grease and the rest oil. In fact, apparently there are some ‘no pressure’ fittings as well - the capillary/drip oilers and squirting oil on the ways. Nothing particularly difficult or arduous, but a necessary routine when in use.

If the machine has been fitted with the wrong type of lubricating fittings, at some time, it should be easy (and perhaps sensible) to remove the wrong ones and fit the correct items. I’m quite sure they would all be available from The Nipple Shop, which is where I have had good service in the past.

Think here that low pressure will likely be press-fit and high pressure will be screw-fit. I have oiled all the spring ball type with a pump-type Wesco oil can without recourse to a special high pressure oil gun.

The nozzles on most oil or grease guns can be interchanged as required, I expect. I have more grease guns and nozzles available than I will ever need. Most agricultural machines, for instance, tote the same nipple type across the whole machine, even though some nipples may be harder to access than others.

Pretty pointless getting all worked up over a 75 year old design, which used lubrication arrangements that would have been familiar to users of the time. That many thousands of users over the ensuing 75 years have managed to keep their machines in working order using these methods suggests that, while they may not be "cutting edge 2021", they do the job.

FWIW I use an oil can of this type in conjunction with a couple of short lengths of clear plastic fuel pipe on my S7. The pointed end of the spout fits into the ball of flush nipples and fills the oil cups & a short length of fuel pipe warmed in hot water to slip over the end of the spout fits nicely over the parallel head nipples with no leaks. The hydraulic type nipples on the QC gearbox require a larger bore piece of fuel pipe.

No need for expensive brand named oil guns to get oil in all the required places without making a mess, just a bit of lateral thinking ?

Nigel B.

MEW No.178, Page 46. An Oiler for the Myford Lathe, by Barry Forrest.

I made one, and it works very well - better than the original oiler, of which I have two.

Made from the scrap box and used an oil can I already had. The conversion of the oil can was non destructive.

Now as you have all been on the edge of your seats on tenterhooks, here is the denouement

As you can see, I placed the obdurate grease nipple in a holder and drilled out a countersink to suit - a new 11/64"

The nipple was reinstalled (2BA) and given a pump and the oil duly emerged from the shaft as expected, only a trivial amount leaked from the gun point

So there is my take on a nasty problem and the grease nipple will no doubt seal on a grease gun

Ive had a few good tips from this board so its good to return - my oil gun tip

thanx for the tip Nigel, have ordered on to replace a naff one which wouldnt pump properly

I can now report that all Auntie Myford's nipples have been repurposed even the ones I found hidden on the saddle and we are cooking on gas

Nice thing about the Wanner gun is that it will pump into straight holes (with no nipple) as well cos of its conical nose. Cant do that with a real Myford type as suggested above

Edited By brian jones 11 on 11/08/2021 10:27:47

Well said William.

Peter, dont you worry bits of fabric over time will accumulate and clog the oillite bushings?

Brian, I use a bit of ABS plastic to cover my ways, and secure it with a single bolt. It keeps all swarf far away from the felt so a simple ways clean off to the left is all thats needed (when working with the slide back enough to expose the ways, which isnt often in my case). I also prototyped up some t slot fillers so cleanup is a breeze.

Edited By Sub Wooer on 17/08/2021 22:42:20

Wow i could eat my lunch off that m/c, why am I such a slut?

Those slot fillers are neat, Now Auntie Doreen is up to speed, I could mill out some strips in a heartbeat

Great tip thnx