Atlas TH Spindle Help

[Jeff May]

The belt on my TH42 needs replaced.
When it came time to reasssemble I wanted to be sure I was doing it correctly so I've been reading and looking at as much info as I can find.
My concern,
I keep seeing guys talk about "wicks" in the oil cups for the spindle bearings.
I've looked at several exploded views of the spindle and do not see a reference for these.
There was nothing in my oil cups, just a straight shot to the bearing.
I have been using 90 weight gear oil in the cups. The bearings and races looked good.
So, what is this "wick", where do I get them, can I make my own?
Can anyone direct me to a picture of the spindle assy. showing where these go and what they look like?
As far as the felt washers on the jackshaft assy, I figured I could make them easily enough and the same as the wipers for the carriage.
Any advice or help would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Jeff May
Hagerstown, MD

 

[Ulma Doctor]

my th42 didn't actually have wicks in the cups either.
you could cut a small button out of felt and put the felt button into the cup to keep contaminates out .

90 wt oil is probably a little to thick for the headstock, you might want to use a spindle oil for better operation.

i don't have a picture but the oil caps are right on top of the headstock and drip down onto the timken bearings,
you'd put the "felt buttons" in the oil cup and soak it with your choice of spindle oil

mcMacter carr is an excellent source for felt

 

[wa5cab]

Jeff,

First, if you haven't already done so, download the Atlas Technical Bulletin on the 10 and early 12 headstocks. You will find it in Downloads under Atlas... and in the maintenance and tech bulletin folder.

The felt plugs in the two spindle bearing oil cups don't show up in the parts manuals until 1967. My guess is that they were added earlier but the parts manuals didn't get updated. Besides acting as a reservoir and slowly dispensing oil into the bearings, they also prevent small chips and fines getting to the bearings through the cups. They are low density felt about 3/8" thick and 1/2" diameter. You can make them if you have the proper means to punch them from sheet or buy them from Clausing. Total cost will probably be about the same either way unless you need a hundred of them (about how many you could probably make from the sheet you would have to buy). Do not buy felt rod to make them from. It is too dense and no oil will ever get through it.

Although SAE 85W90 may feed through the plain oil cups (if the shop is warm enough), it will never get through the felt. So use the recommended SAE 20 non-detergent oil.

 

[Jeff May]

Thanks to those who helped out.
I wasn't sure, now that I have found the downloads of manuals and such I should be good to go.
Again,
Thank You,
Jeff