Question about way oil

[DougM67]

Our shop has had a VF-3SS for almost 2 years now. We bought it brand new. Last week we put into production another brand new identical VF-3SS. My question is about the amount of tramp way oil that drains out of the back of the machine into the little container. If memory serves our first VF had runoff almost right away. With this new VF there hasn't been a drop of way oil into that container yet after a 80 hour week of production. Do you think there might be a problem somewhere? I know its using oil as evidenced by the auto oiler. Opinions are welcomed. Thanks.

[djr76]

Its leaking back into your coolant, you need to prime the separator in the back with coolant.

[Matt@RFR]

How would you go about doing that?

[DougM67]

Ahh! Now that you mention it the HFO tech that set up our first machine said something about priming that separator. Unfortunately I didn't watch him do it. If someone can explain the procedure I would greatly appreciate it.

[djr76]

you need to pour coolant into from behind where the oil separator comes out of the casting. You can reach your hand back there and feel the inlet hole on the opposite side. Then the oil will float on top of the coolant and start dripping out the spigot instead back out the coolant return line.

[DougM67]

I tried priming the separator 3 different times in a span of 6 hours today and nada. Everything is nice and level.

[HuFlungDung]

When I was doing some cleanout of my machine, pulling back the X way covers and what not, I saw a couple of pockets of way oil had collected in the saddle, in places that would never drain. Maybe a brand spanking new machine takes a while before the nooks and crannies fill up to the point of overflow? I dunno, just asking.

[DougM67]

You're probably right Hu. It just seems like on the new one we got 2 years ago the waste oil didn't take as long to show up in the separator. Oh well, we'll give it some more time. At least I know the oiler IS working.

[Donkey Hotey]

My VF-2 took awhile before it started dumping the tramp oil into the skimmer. I think I used half a tank of lube before it started showing up. Now it's pretty much a 1:1 ratio of what shows up in the skimmer. You can just put that stuff back into the tank and pump it through again, right?




















That was a joke. You should not put tramp oil back into your machine. This disclaimer provided so nobody will call me in the future complaining about rusted ballscrews.

[crowley]

Originally Posted by djr76 you need to pour coolant into from behind where the oil separator comes out of the casting. You can reach your hand back there and feel the inlet hole on the opposite side. Then the oil will float on top of the coolant and start dripping out the spigot instead back out the coolant return line.

I think you mean that pipe that protrudes into the reservoir, but above the coolant level? I've poured coolant in there as best I could, which isn't that great because it faces down, and into the drip spout too, so there's something inside the separator - maybe. But I see nothing in that hose.

Not a drop has ever come from mine either. Where does that hose go? Nothing flows through it.

Bought a belt-type separator today because I am getting a lot of sludge buildup.