Zyto Lathe Rebuild

Hi,

I am new to this forum and lathes and this is my first post.

I am attempting to rebuild a Zyto Lathe and have a few questions (more posts to follow).

The rebuild has started with the separate shaft/pully that drives the lathe.
It has bronze bushes with an arrangement where within each bush housing there is a metal ring that passes through a pool of oil and rotates over the shaft providing lubrication (clever idea).
When it runs there is quite a lot of oil sprayed from each side of the bushes. I am thinking this is maybe due to the oil I have used being too thin.
After some research I have used Nuto H32 oil. This is a very thin hydraulic oil.

Is the problem because of the oil and if so what is the best oil to use.
I was also going to use this same oil for the headstock bearings. will it be OK for that ?

Thanks,

Jim

Hello Jim,

IS)32 hydraulic oils are a popular choice for this sort of application.

I'm struggling to visualise the arrangement you describe for the countershaft, it would be more usual to have a drip feed oiler which is what you should have on the lathe headstock (or just oil holes).

Neil

Hi Neil,

Here is an image of the countershaft which might help.
Oil seems to be getting out of the ends of the split bushes

Make sure the reservoir isn't filled too deeply

My guess is it is meant to be filled below the level of the shaft so only splash lubrication reaches the bushes.

The reservoir is only filled enough for the metal ring to touch it so it pulls oil around as it spins, if it was any lower the metal ring would never touch the oil so there would be no lubrication.

Welcome Jim, From your photo I would guess that to much oil is getting through the bearings. Are they original if so maybe worn. Could there have been some felt washers on the original that limit the amount of oil reaching the bearings. The lathes website may be of some help.

Hugh