Oil not depleting- why (pics)

[ImanCarrot]

Here's my mil, on the left hand side near the floor in an oil resevoir. Now, usualy I have to refil it about every two weeks. However, recently it's not been going down at all and the pressure gague is at zero

Any ideas why? I'm worried oil isn't getting to where it should go.

Thanks in advance.

[Khalid]

the sump filter may be block..check tubing..sometime the pressure gauge become faulty..

[machintek]

Good of you to notice this. Most machine operators don't care.
Since this is not a Bridgeport, I do not have a schematic. It looks like a Proto-Trak. But the schematic (wiring diagram) must be looked at to determine what turns this on and off. Then when enabled the voltage must be checked going to it. If this is good the unit should be isolated electrically and the motor wires ohmed out to see if there is continuity through it. Based upon this, you will know which direction to go to achieve a solution.

George

[HuFlungDung]

Somewhere in the haze of my memories, I think I had this problem with one machine. It seems to me the problem was some sort of a rupture diaphragm in the pump unit that had gotten tired and ruptured. I replaced it with a new one made up out of brass shimstock and it worked fine ever since. I cannot recall why the diapragm rupturing resulted in no oil flow, but it didn't leak all over the place, so it must have bypassed internally somehow. Or maybe it had something to do with the check valve that maintains pressure while oil flows through the restrictor valves.

[ImanCarrot]

Thanks all, I'm not confident enough to attack the beast with spanners etc, I think I'll need to get someone in.

Additional info: there's two lights on the oil resevoir thing: one that says "INT" and is green- this is always on (green is usualy good, right?) and another which when I press the button (see pic) is yellow and says "LUB" (assuming lubrication?).

I'm at a total loss where the pipes from the resevoir go- looks like to the X and Y axes (see pic) which is why I'm worried cos if they ain't getting oil then bad things are bound to happen...

Oh and the pressure gague goes up when I press that button.

[TarHeelTom]

Originally Posted by ImanCarrot Thanks all, I'm not confident enough to attack the beast with spanners etc, I think I'll need to get someone in. Additional info: there's two lights on the oil resevoir thing: one that says "INT" and is green- this is always on (green is usualy good, right?) and another which when I press the button (see pic) is yellow and says "LUB" (assuming lubrication?). I'm at a total loss where the pipes from the resevoir go- looks like to the X and Y axes (see pic) which is why I'm worried cos if they ain't getting oil then bad things are bound to happen... Oh and the pressure gague goes up when I press that button.

The first thing to do is to loosen or remove an oil line after the line leaves the pump and heads out to somewhere. Now activate the oil pump and see if oil comes out.

If oil comes out, the pump would seem to be working.

Not familiar with the lube system on your machine. However, many of these machines are copies of the Bridgeport.

On the Bridgeport, oil needs to flow to many different heights in the machine, and at different volumes, depending on the destination. On the Bridgeport, you'll find a tee or a distribution block. Typically, the oil line to the distribution block will be copper tubing, and nylon line will leave the block. Screwed into the block at each outgoing line is a "lube metering unit". These units have a ball and spring and orifice inside so that lube only flows when the oil pressure reaches a certain level, and the orifice determines how much will flow in that line.

If you remove a nylon line from a distribution block and power the pump, and the pump is actually pumping oil, and you get no oil from that metering unit, then the metering unit is clogged or frozen shut. This is very common. I'll attach a picture of a metering unit.

You need to check each metering unit separately, and replace all the units which don't flow. Make sure to trace each oil line to its destination.

Of course, the lube system on your machine could be totally different.

One of those lights might be telling you that you have power to the pump. That's a good thing. Another light might be telling you that you have low oil level in the reservoir.

Talked to a mechanic at a place which rebuilds machinery. He commented that people ignoring the lube system is what keeps his shop in business.


Tom

[ImanCarrot]

Thanks everyone, I'll take it apart on Tuesday and post what I find. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.