Newbie- questions about oil for a lathe

[scampo77]

very very new to this so please dont hit me.

i have recently come across a myford lathe im not sure what qualifies it as a mini lathe but im pretty sure it is a ML7 mini lathe. i figure the fact that i can pick it up and move it around qualifies it as a mini lathe.

i am pulling all the pieces apart and cleaning out old metal shavings and tryiing to file off rust. my question is about a small automatic oiler ontop of the head stock. i have 2 of them. i pulled them apart and cleaned everything out. they seem to consist of a couple small tubes a spring and a check ball. i have 2 questions about them. #1 what kind of oil should i be putting in them and #2 how do i know if they are working correctly?

i have oiling points all over the lathe and a few of them are smashed apart. they are about 1/4 inch in diameter and seem to be made of brass with a ball and spring in the middle. where do i find these to replace the smashed ones? and where do i find an oiler for them? and is there a correct name for the oiler or the oil points?

[scampo77]

i found a picture online of these.

http://www.rdgtools.com/acatalog/info_847.html

mine are a little different but not by much. i cant order these ones because they are out of stock.

[hoss2006]

I haven't seen those in a while
A good way oil would work.
you lift the little lever on top to get the oil dripping, adjust the knurled knobs
for more/less.
The sight tubes if they are clear should let you see the drips.
remember to flip them back down when your done working or it'll drip till empty.
1 drip every 5 secs should suffice.

[scampo77]

but what kind of oil should i use? and what about the oiling points?

[NEATman]

Try taking a look here:
http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford/index.html

Tons on info.

Keith

[philbur]

I think a Myfrod ML7 weighs something in excess of 200lbs so if you are picking it up and moving it around it may not be a Myford ML7. The lathe link that Hoss2006 gave will show you pictures of different Myford lathes. It may be an ML10.

Just a thought
Phil

Originally Posted by scampo77 very very new to this so please dont hit me. i have recently come across a myford lathe im not sure what qualifies it as a mini lathe but im pretty sure it is a ML7 mini lathe. i figure the fact that i can pick it up and move it around qualifies it as a mini lathe.

[scampo77]

thank you for the link there its lots of info here. it is for sure a ML7 not a super 7 or ML10 (i guess im just a big guy). i have read a bit but they dont seem to offer these oiling pionts i need or the spring loaded oiler.

and i still am unclear what kind of oil to buy. right now im just using auto trans fluid

[philbur]

have you been here:

http://www.myford.com/

Phil

Originally Posted by scampo77 thank you for the link there its lots of info here. it is for sure a ML7 not a super 7 or ML10 (i guess im just a big guy). i have read a bit but they dont seem to offer these oiling pionts i need or the spring loaded oiler. and i still am unclear what kind of oil to buy. right now im just using auto trans fluid

[philbur]

Here's a lube chart for a Super 7. It includes recommended lubricants.

Phil

Originally Posted by scampo77 thank you for the link there its lots of info here. it is for sure a ML7 not a super 7 or ML10 (i guess im just a big guy). i have read a bit but they dont seem to offer these oiling pionts i need or the spring loaded oiler. and i still am unclear what kind of oil to buy. right now im just using auto trans fluid

[hoss2006]

Originally Posted by philbur I think a Myfrod ML7 weighs something in excess of 200lbs so if you are picking it up and moving it around it may not be a Myford ML7. The lathe link that Hoss2006 gave will show you pictures of different Myford lathes. It may be an ML10. Just a thought Phil

Thanks, I post a lot of links but can't take credit for NEATman's good catch

Here's one source for some conventional Way Oil from Enco.
They have lots of other brands/types including ISO VG 68 Way Oil.
Hoss

[philbur]

Sorry NEATman, I should have checked first.

Phil

Originally Posted by hoss2006 Thanks, I post a lot of links but can't take credit for NEATman's good catch

[HimyKabibble]

Originally Posted by scampo77 thank you for the link there its lots of info here. it is for sure a ML7 not a super 7 or ML10 (i guess im just a big guy). i have read a bit but they dont seem to offer these oiling pionts i need or the spring loaded oiler. and i still am unclear what kind of oil to buy. right now im just using auto trans fluid

For a hobby machine, it really makes very little difference what oil you use, as long as you use oil. Any good motor oil or ATF should be fine, or you can buy way oil from Enco, MSC, etc. for about $15-20/gallon.

Regards,
Ray L.