Confused about Myford oil nipples!

My query is best illustrated by photos. I have a largely all original 1950s Myford ML7. I bought some new '2BA raised barrel' nipples from lathespares.co.uk

My machine has steel nipples as shown for comparison all over. However one is missing hence I bought some spares.The threads match, which I suppose is all that matters. But the heads are different sizes, and the original and new take 4BA and 3BA spanners respectively. Can someone explain why the heads are different to the originals?!

Are there original design nipples around, or is this an intentional design change for later nipples?

The left hand one is designed to take a positive click on hydraulic type oil gun, which works (in fitting) like a normal grease gun.

The right hand one is designed to use an oil gun with a recessed cone type fitting, such as the Wanner one that Myford supply, where the fit on to the nipple is only sealed by the positive pumping pressure made by operating the gun (and you need the gun to be exactly in line with the face of the nipple).

A grease gun fitting type oil gun will only properly fit the left hand nipple, a Wanner type gun will fit both.

The originals are oil nipples, what you have is a grease nipple. Just put oil into it and don't worry. Oil nipples are about as common as rocking horse faeces these days...

Check that you are not trying to replace a nipple intended to take oil with one intended to accommodate a grease gun. I now see better answers above😊

Nige

Edited By Nige on 09/07/2017 22:38:41

Have you used an oil gun on the new nipples, if so does it work without squirtting oil every where.

The new one looks like a grease nipple which maybe different from a oil nipple. I am sure someone will advise if there is a difference.

Hugh

If used with the appropriate oil gun your new nipples will put the oil into the machine, rather than up your sleeve which happens with the old type.

Your new type were sold in packs by Myford (the Beeston one) as replacement nipples with the correct thread. The size of the hexagon is irrelevant.

Thanks all for the assistance. After some experimenting, I can confirm that the new brass style nipples are a lot more forgiving and have a better connection to the oil gun - no leaking anywhere.

So it was a successful design change after all.