Myford 254 oil leaking

I have oil leaching out from the front headstock spindle behind the cam lock head. There is a blackened cover which I assume has some sort of seal in there.

Does the whole spindle need removing and is there a seal available somewhere.

Any one tackled this job?

Thanks in advance.

John.

John,

I'm not familiar with the Camlock, my 254 Plus has the BS25442 Spindle which has the chuck mounting boss on the end. Looking at the parts diagram, I think that to replace the seal (23) which is behind your cover (86) you would have to remove/dismantle the complete spindle assembly. However finding a seal may not be possible as the lathe was discontinued many years ago.

You could try contacting RDG / Myford, they may have either spares from their takeover of the Beeston Myford stores, or be able to advise if it is a common seal with any other model. It may also be worth contacting Home and Workshop Machinery as their Model Engineer adverts used to mention a stock of spares from Beeston.

Gordon

Format edited

Edited By GordonH on 29/10/2020 12:15:34

It is unlikely to be a bespoke seal. Once you know what size it is try Simply Bearings

Looking at the parts list there is no oil seal and I wondered if it is a labyrinth cover which is designed to catch oil and return it back to the sump. I also wondered if the oil level was too high, maybe the oil level sight glass has a stain in it giving a false reading or has the wrong oil been used.

David

Or even the gear box becoming pressurised when heated?

As far as I can recall, there is a wee hole at the bottom of the flange so that any oil which is carried into it may drain back into the headstock. There certainly isn't any form of rubber or scroll seal. The hole could be blocked by debris. I fear that dismantlement of the headstock may be required. Not an easy task!

Any chance that you could manage to push a wire or some sort of probe, to clear the drain hole ,from the labyrinth seal housing?

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 05/11/2020 14:22:04

Hi John have you a compressor if so it is worth trying to blow it clear with a blow gun close to bottom of seal where it is leaking.

David

Thank for all your replies.

The oil level is at the correct height. I have owned the lathe from new and the leak appears to got worse over the last year. I am not sure how to access the internal drain hole mentioned.

I will try RDG but its not a part they list.

Part no 23 is called 'Gasket - front bearing cover' so i assume there is a gasket that seats inside this bearing cover.

Yes I think it will all have to be striped down and hopefully find a part that can be replaced. Or it could be a complete waste of time if part is not available.

Is there any past Myford employees that could shed some light on this matter.

There is no mention of a labyrinth seal in the parts assembly page.

John.

A labyrinth seal is not a seal as a finite entity. It is means of preventing oil leakage.

It is a non contact means of retaining oil. The shaft has a "wind back" groove with a close fitting, but not touching housing. The oil film forms between the housing and the shaft, and the wind back thread does just that, it pushes the oil back into the housing, from which it drains through the hole in the bottom, into the Headstock.

So, if you run the lathe in reverse for long periods, the "thread" will wind the oil OUT of the housing.

I remember an occasion when a conventional lipseal was inadvertently fitted to a reverse rotation engine. Lipseal or no, the wind back thread pushed oil past the lip and produced a leak!

Howard  Fat fingers yet again

Edited By Howard Lewis on 16/11/2020 11:07:13

Howard,

I understand what a Labrinth seal is. I made one years ago for my Quorn grinder and works well.The labrinth is not what I would call a gasket and that is what Myford lists in the parts book .

I can't say that it has not got a Labrinth seal and have no idea what the gasket is made from. Its unlikely to have both.

I am hoping to hear from someone who has actually taken the spindle out and can tell be for certain.

John.

If no seal is listed for that area of the Headstock, it would be likely that the means of preventing oil loss is a labyrinth.It is likely that there will be a gasket between the labyrinth seal housing and the Headstock.

Cannot believe that Myford would just live in hopes, without some means of oil retention.

A leaking gasket may be the source of the oil leakage. Optimistically, it may be that slightly tightening the fasteners will cure the leak Fingers crossed!

If blasting with compressed air, or careful probing with a thin wire does not clear an obstructed drain hole in the labyrinth housing, (it could be an angled drilling inn the front of the Headstock ), you seem to faced with two choices; live with it, (not nice ) or strip down, find and rectify the problem.

REALLY clutching at straws, maybe spraying some WD40 or its equivalent, into the housing, MIGHT just soften whatever is blocking the drain enough for oil to drain through. If you did get lucky with this, compressed air might well complete the quick fix..

Good luck

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 16/11/2020 14:13:22