Oil Can Needed

CJ5Dave

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A friend bought a very nice used Birmingham lathe, which is an Asian lathe like many others. It has lubrication points with a flush spring mounted ball. When he uses his regular can it runs out the spout before he can engage the ball oil port. Wonder what is the correct oiler can for this?
 
If you are referring to Push button Ball oilers:

pbo.png

You can use any standard type of force feed oil can such as these (the flexi spout ones are easier to use and more versatile).

can2.png

can1.png
 
A trigger dispenser with a flexible spout so the nozzle can be engaged with the lubrication port before the trigger is activated.
Example:
 
A trigger dispenser with a flexible spout so the nozzle can be engaged with the lubrication port before the trigger is activated.
Example:

@extropic

That is exactly the same type of forced feed oil can that I noted above? Only difference is a metal flexispout.
 
Watch the tip! Too pointed and you can push the ball off to the side causing it not to re-seal (ask me how I know...).

GsT
 
Watch the tip! Too pointed and you can push the ball off to the side causing it not to re-seal (ask me how I know...).

GsT

Been there, done that, not fun!
 
I think he was wanting one with a 90 degree bent spout.
The flexi tipped ones can be bent and held in place in all manner of directions and any number of angles, don't dismiss them as being unsuitable.

I well remember being under the 1935 MG PA my father and I restored using the force feed oiler to apply oil to a bushing with the oil being pushed vertically upwards. It was the only way to get oil to that particular bushing at that particular time.

I still have that force-feed oiler over 30 years later, with the nozzle still bent to the very specific arc that was needed to accomplish that job and I still use it at least several times per week. Absolutely the most useful oil can I have ever owned or used.
 
A friend bought a very nice used Birmingham lathe, which is an Asian lathe like many others. It has lubrication points with a flush spring mounted ball. When he uses his regular can it runs out the spout before he can engage the ball oil port. Wonder what is the correct oiler can for this?

A little extra oil on the lathe is not a bad thing. :)

The best answer to that is a flexible spout, so that the can need not be tipped as much. You do need a nozzle that will fit them, as mentioned, it's gotta be small enough and pointy enough, but not too small and not too pointy.

If one happens to be too pointy... It can be sanded back a little at a time until it still engages but doesn't overextend the spring/ball.

But the flexible spout is about the best solution to that, short of changing them to zerk fittings, and obtaining or making the (not quite but nearly) obsolete tool for oiling it that way... Technically, it's easier to keep the zerks clean, but in practice- Very rarely is the difference worth it to live with those sticking up all the time.
 
I saw a hint some place that was to file a small V groove in the tip so the oil can flow more freely while pressing the ball down. Seems to work.
 
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