Oil nipple

[AdeV]

No, that's not an instruction... 

I picked up a rotary table the other day, which has clearly suffered some abuse. One of the abuses is, it's been greased rather than oiled, despite the instruction clearly printed on the side. However, my question is, how does one inject oil into the oil nipple  ? If I try to do so with my normal oil can, I just end up with all the oil dribbling down the outside of the nipple (oo-err), and none has made it inside. The ball bearing in the end of the nipple seems to move OK, and I can blow air through it, so I'm guessing i need a different end on my oil can? But can't find one for searching...

I'm assuming this is one of those things that Engineers Just Know.... care to pass it on, please?

[rleete]

Clean out the grease and re-oil it.  Kerosene works well.  If it has that standard chinese red gunk in it (dragon fat), you'll need something to cut that, and the kerosene works on that suff as well.

[Bluechip]

AdeV

You need an Oil Gun, something along these lines ..

Looks a bit like a grease gun, but the sealing should be better.

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech//tools/tf210.htm

Even then, they puke oil all over the shop, the original Myford gun was famous for it.

Trap a small  o-ring over the nipple before you push,  ( sounds vaguely sexual )   usually gets some into the receptacle.

Dave BC

Edit  .. Found what looks like the one I have ... does work   ..

http://www.lathespares.co.uk/oil-nipples-lubrication-c-31/new-oil-gun-myford-lathe-p-528

[Dean W]

I use one of these little things.  You can push down that annoying little ball and slip the needle right past it. 
Then oil to your heart's content, and it all goes in the hole!
You can buy them at supply houses that deal in parts for small mechanisms.  Clock supply, camera repair,
 electronics suppliers, and like that.



Hope this helps.

Dean

[AdeV]

Thanks chaps!

At least now I know it wasn't my technique that was wrong... the lathe is covered in oil nipples too, so I shall go a-hunting for a suitable oiling device.

Cheers!
Ade.

 

[John Hill]

I find I can get oil into those ball type nipples with no mess using nothing more than a cheap Chinese oil can, even the one that came with the lathe works.

The oil can has to be aligned with the nipple and the tip of the oil can has to be small enough to go inside the hole of the nipple, but no smaller!  If it is too small it will push the ball to the limit of its travel before sealing around the outer edge.

[75Plus]

Here is the oil can I use on all the oil nipples on my lathes. There is another similar pump type made by Plews that works as well as the Goldenrod.

Joe

[mac the knife]

I use an ordinary oil can with a short length of fuel tubing sold for model aircraft works a treat.