16" headstock

[Chuck K]

I picked up a 16 last weekend and I've been cleaning and lubing it. I was focusing on the headstock tonight. As I was cleaning the pulleys I noticed that the oil screw says grease. I've had other south bends and I don't remember seeing anything other than oil. I've always used vactra on the pulleys. Are they looking for 90 wt?

 

[woodtickgreg]

Nope, it uses grease. A guy on ebay sells a teflon based grease for them, I run it in my heavy 10.

 

[Chuck K]

Really....you mean like pumped from a tube grease?

 

[woodtickgreg]

Really....you mean like pumped from a tube grease?

No, like squeezed out of a bottle grease, it's very light based grease. I think southbend went to grease in the later years. Mine says oil but I use the grease in it, not as messy either. here's a link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Teflon-Grea...944653?hash=item2328b71d8d:g:xfAAAOSw65FXsQmu

 

[Chuck K]

That makes sense. My logan always has oil leaking out of the pulleys. The grease will keep the pulleys cleaner. Thanks

 

[Bob Korves]

NIGL 1 grease. Good quality. The guy who sells for SB lathes on the internet has Teflon based grease at an exorbitant price. I am sure it is good, but you could buy a pail of appropriate grease for what he charges for a small squeeze bottle -- IMO...

Teflon probably had not been invented when that lathe was new...

 

[Chuck K]

Yeah.....I have a tube of grease that will do the job. I thought it was expensive at about 10 bucks. Now if I can get the slotted fasteners that hold the apron to come loose I'll be in good shape. I ordered a drag link socket that I hope will fit the slots tight. It's strange that they never give the thickness of the blade in the description of the tool.

 

[mksj]

Wanted to check the viscosity rating of NLGI 1 grease, I got a laugh on how they describe the consistency. I commonly used NLGI 2 on mechanical joints, packing bearing races and on open gears. Works well and is very sticky/tacky, but you would want something thinner for these type of machine bearing surfaces as others have noted. Any good NLGI 1 grease should work well, I like the moly based but they can be messy in this application. A synthetic grease is less likely to separate out with heat/friction and stiffen when cold, so would be preferable.

Although my dad many years ago invented many lubricating products that incorporated PTFE, many of which I used, I find a good synthetic grease works equally well.

 

[Chuck K]

That's funny....but it puts it in terms I can understand. I have a tube of apple sauce. Might be a little thinner than others use but a whole lot thicker than vactra.

 

[Bob Korves]

Wanted to check the viscosity rating of NLGI 1 grease, I got a laugh on how they describe the consistency. I commonly used NLGI 2 on mechanical joints, packing bearing races and on open gears. Works well and is very sticky/tacky, but you would want something thinner for these type of machine bearing surfaces as others have noted. Any good NLGI 1 grease should work well, I like the moly based but they can be messy in this application. A synthetic grease is less likely to separate out with heat/friction and stiffen when cold, so would be preferable.

Although my dad many years ago invented many lubricating products that incorporated PTFE, many of which I used, I find a good synthetic grease works equally well.

View attachment 189586

mksj, do you have a link for that chart? I would like to save it.