No oil in my lathe - oops

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Awesome, I'll have a look. I've hacked up a bit of glass (The only bit I could find I might add. ) with a tile saw, just made a big sharp mess.

I even brought a Circle glass cutter.
Only to find out it was cheaper to get the circles cut, than buy the glass.

 

[Maker]

I was suprised to find turning acrylic can leave a passable clarity, fine sandpaper helps too, the lathe left a little bit in the centre where the surface speed is zero.

I've left the spot on the inside face to act as a level indicator, I'd previously cut a line with a hacksaw but it looked silverline so I turned the face down till it was gone.

 

[Maker]

4 months later, It's not been used while I've been at uni but I'm back now and there's no oil in it.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

4 months later, It's not been used while I've been at uni but I'm back now and there's no oil in it.

Ah well. At least you have some time off to fix it

 

[Farside]

If it's not leaking, where is it going?

Hmm... mystery.
No oil-soaked wood or concrete underneath, I take it.

 

[Brad93]

Is your bed hollow? My lathe is full of oil under the ways

 

[minimutly]

Might be in the coolant tank - mine is full of crud...
I seem to remember I got some tellus 25 for my Triumph headstock.
And you can buy those sight glass things off the shelf - used everywhere in industry.

 

[earthman]

Cheap Chinese lathes don't have any such place that holds/contains oil in the first place, not a great idea I feel but that's what I'm stuck with.

 

[citizen kane]

Might be in the coolant tank - mine is full of crud...
I seem to remember I got some tellus 25 for my Triumph headstock.
And you can buy those sight glass things off the shelf - used everywhere in industry.

I think this is most likely if its bone dry, mine leaked from the seal behind the clutch and it was fairly obvious, if its leaking from the gasket then the coolant tank is directly below.

If you've been running if with no oil its not the gears I would worry about its the stupidly expensive head stock bearings.

 

[Wedg1e]

Headstock oil... when I had a Colchester it was recommended in the good book to use all sorts of oils that were last produced when a Mr. N. Oah ran a boatyard in the Sinai. By a route more torturous than that taken by an Uber drive in Milton Keynes did I end up with Castrol Hyspin 32 (which I think is actually a hydraulic oil), venerated gurus of Essex iron having spake loudly 'pon the holy oyl and yea, I made it so. Even unto the day didst I reluctantly part with said beast were its innards soothed and cooled by the lotion within.
Should you wish to retain oil behind a cover of iron, or even the spawn of Bauxite, look no further than Wellseal by Stag. It carrieth no higher recommendation than that of Our Lord Colin of Hethel and his heavenly cohort of mechanicians, who wrang their hands in dismay and gnashed their teeth, with eyes raised to the heavens, until they did discover that the mystic formulation was even adept at keeping Duckhams 20W50 within the confines of a Lotus engine, despite it having tolerances that were slacker than an ex-wife.

 

[dobbslc]

Whiskey or rum?^^^

 

[dobbslc]

That last line is genius!

 

[Maker]

I think I just spotted the leak, it's coming through the clutch! The reduced diameter in front of the belts was all oily and there's a black oily line on the inside of the headstock cover where it's sprayed off. I dipped a bolt through the fill port and it looks like the oil level is right around the bottom of that shaft.



I'll dismantle it tomorrow, according to the parts diagram, there's four oil/grease seals in there, parts 129, 130, 119 & 124, presumably one is damaged.


Also, is it possible the vee belts could have absorbed some of the oil? They're definitely knackered but I wonder if it was this leak that caused it. From the side, you can see one is sitting higher than the other in its groove and really tight, however if you rotate it a little it sits in properly, it makes the whole lathe wobble, really badly at certain speeds. I've got a pair of spare belts somewhere.

 

[Matchless]

I think I just spotted the leak, it's coming through the clutch! The reduced diameter in front of the belts was all oily and there's a black oily line on the inside of the headstock cover where it's sprayed off. I dipped a bolt through the fill port and it looks like the oil level is right around the bottom of that shaft.
View attachment 244340
View attachment 244342

I'll dismantle it tomorrow, according to the parts diagram, there's four oil/grease seals in there, parts 129, 130, 119 & 124, presumably one is damaged.
View attachment 244339

Also, is it possible the vee belts could have absorbed some of the oil? They're definitely knackered but I wonder if it was this leak that caused it. From the side, you can see one is sitting higher than the other in its groove and really tight, however if you rotate it a little it sits in properly, it makes the whole lathe wobble, really badly at certain speeds. I've got a pair of spare belts somewhere.
View attachment 244341

there is always a clue, you just have to spot it,

 

[Farside]

Also, is it possible the vee belts could have absorbed some of the oil? They're definitely knackered but I wonder if it was this leak that caused it. From the side, you can see one is sitting higher than the other in its groove and really tight, however if you rotate it a little it sits in properly, it makes the whole lathe wobble, really badly at certain speeds. I've got a pair of spare belts somewhere.

Certainly looks like a fat oil-contaminated belt.
The wobbling caused by it sitting for years in the one position under tension, and being oily would have made it more prone to age distortion, in all likelihood.

 

[Maker]

I've left it for months at a time before and not had a problem but this is the first time it's had oil to potentially leak on it. Hopefully I can sort the seals and not have a problem but I might take the new belts off when I go back to uni, just in case.

 

[Farside]

I've left it for months at a time before and not had a problem but this is the first time it's had oil to potentially leak on it. Hopefully I can sort the seals and not have a problem but I might take the new belts off when I go back to uni, just in case.

I've run into this with old car fan belts. They can be absolutely fine (while getting older, obviously) and suddenly take a set if left sitting for a while. If lucky enough to notice it, I change them asap. I'm sure they can damage waterpump and alternator bearings if bad enough. They typical old snotter underbonnet environment is rarely totally oil free either.

 

[Pigsearlobe]

Using gasket paper and a ball pein hammer if I remeber what my late father used to do on some of my early scramblers????

I still do.
Pigsearlobe

 

[Maker]

Finally getting around to sorting this.

Clutch off, it seems this seal is the problem, part 119 in the diagram, listed as "Oil Seal, Weston W21916237", but stamped "W18713731R4". Clearly the manual is wrong as it measures pretty close to 1.87" OD, 1.37" ID and 0.31" thick. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement?




I've just noticed there's another oil seal in the diagram, part 124, I assume that must have failed for oil to reach 119 in the first place. 124 will be the one that's actually holding back the oil in the headstock

 

[Brad93]

You might not be able to get them, I know the oil seals which start with a W are discontinued.