Tips/Techniques Lathe Bearing oil

[MooseMeat]

As my previous posts will reveal I am new to the metal lathe. (pictures are there)
I am looking for the correct spindle bearing lubricant, the lubricant is fed through a port above the bearings (tapered bearings) on either side with a sight glasses on the front. The manual suggested a "shell oil" product that is no longer available, so I am looking for suggestions.

Thanks in advance, MM

 

[BaronJ]

I use SAE 30 engine oil for all lubrication ! Be sure that it doesn't contain any additives that will damage brass or bronze bearing surfaces. I've used it for at least 25 years but it getting very difficult to get nowadays.

 

[Upnorth]

As my previous posts will reveal I am new to the metal lathe. (pictures are there)
I am looking for the correct spindle bearing lubricant, the lubricant is fed through a port above the bearings (ball bearings) on either side with a sight glasses on the front. The manual suggested a "shell oil" product that is no longer available, so I am looking for suggestions.

Thanks in advance, MM

Pretty good chance that someone makes an equivalent product under a different name. You can do a google search to look for it. The bad news is since we live in Canada you will probably have to buy it 5 gallons at a time instead of 1 gallon which would be plenty. What is the shell product name? I had to use a substitute with my Harrison M300.

 

[BaitMaster]

methinks the proper shell substitute would likely be Shell Morlina 68 which is a high grade bearing and circulating oil.

Most guys around use Tellus 68 which is just a standard shell hydraulic fluid. In a lot of machinery this is used industrially in gear boxes, and hydraulic pumps almost always have gears…. (I use this in my lathe and mill gearboxes….)

SAE 30 is what used to be specd for everything. The only place I’ve found it is actually Wal Mart…. They sell it as “lawnmower oil” and it’s SAE 30.

Good luck.

 

[Mcgyver]

what type of bearing, what lathe? imo the oil the manufacture recommends is a matter of whoever the gave the best price and terms in return for being listed. Same viscosity and additive mix, it does not matter the name. Hydraulic oil is an excellent choice, low cost and easy to find ( if available in the right viscosity). It is a clean, minimal additive mineral oil ideal for a gear box/rolling element bearings.