I have an old (1947±) LeBlonde Regal lathe. The huge motor (G.E. probably
only 2 hp) has grease fittings on each end (motor housing). Do I really use
grease? Do I replace the zerks with cups and add oil? Or do I modify my
grease gun to use oil?

All advise appreciated.

Ivan Vegvary

"Ivan Vegvary" wrote in message
...
I have an old (1947±) LeBlonde Regal lathe. The huge motor (G.E. probably
only 2 hp) has grease fittings on each end (motor housing). Do I really
use grease? Do I replace the zerks with cups and add oil? Or do I modify
my grease gun to use oil?

All advise appreciated.

Ivan Vegvary


Hi Ivan,
I used to run an early '60s Devlieg jig mill at work with a huge motor that
also had grease fittings at each end. We did (and still do) use grease in
it. Ours has plugs on the opposite side of the housing from the zerks that
need to be removed before new grease is added or you'll blow out the seals
and pump the motor full of grease. We just pull out the plugs and pump in
new grease thru the zerk till the new grease starts coming out of the plug
hole and replace the plugs.
Paul

I have an even older Wagner 7.5 HP motor with grease fittings on each end. Grease is a way to keep
something oiled without having to tend to it very often. Think of grease as it was originally . . .
oil absorbed into soap flakes.

Bob Swinney
"Paul" wrote in message
...

"Ivan Vegvary" wrote in message
...
I have an old (1947±) LeBlonde Regal lathe. The huge motor (G.E. probably
only 2 hp) has grease fittings on each end (motor housing). Do I really
use grease? Do I replace the zerks with cups and add oil? Or do I modify
my grease gun to use oil?

All advise appreciated.

Ivan Vegvary


Hi Ivan,
I used to run an early '60s Devlieg jig mill at work with a huge motor that
also had grease fittings at each end. We did (and still do) use grease in
it. Ours has plugs on the opposite side of the housing from the zerks that
need to be removed before new grease is added or you'll blow out the seals
and pump the motor full of grease. We just pull out the plugs and pump in
new grease thru the zerk till the new grease starts coming out of the plug
hole and replace the plugs.
Paul

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:01:08 -0500, "Robert Swinney"
wrote:

I have an even older Wagner 7.5 HP motor with grease fittings on each end. Grease is a way to keep
something oiled without having to tend to it very often. Think of grease as it was originally . . .
oil absorbed into soap flakes.

Bob Swinney
"Paul" wrote in message
...

"Ivan Vegvary" wrote in message
...
I have an old (1947±) LeBlonde Regal lathe. The huge motor (G.E. probably
only 2 hp) has grease fittings on each end (motor housing). Do I really
use grease? Do I replace the zerks with cups and add oil? Or do I modify
my grease gun to use oil?

All advise appreciated.

Ivan Vegvary


Hi Ivan,
I used to run an early '60s Devlieg jig mill at work with a huge motor that
also had grease fittings at each end. We did (and still do) use grease in
it. Ours has plugs on the opposite side of the housing from the zerks that
need to be removed before new grease is added or you'll blow out the seals
and pump the motor full of grease. We just pull out the plugs and pump in
new grease thru the zerk till the new grease starts coming out of the plug
hole and replace the plugs.
Paul

Over lubrication is the primary cause of premature bearing failure.
Check out lube recommendations on the bearing or grease manufacturers
web site. Depending on the capacity of your grease gun usually a
couple of shots periodically will suffice.

REMOVE Tom wrote:

Over lubrication is the primary cause of premature bearing failure.
Check out lube recommendations on the bearing or grease manufacturers
web site. Depending on the capacity of your grease gun usually a
couple of shots periodically will suffice.

Is that true? What damage does it do to the bearings? The worst I've
seen is for the excess grease to squirt out and make a mess.

Best wishes,

Chris

On Oct 9, 9:55*pm, Christopher Tidy
wrote:
REMOVE Tom wrote:
Over lubrication is the primary cause of premature bearing failure.
Check out lube recommendations on the bearing or grease manufacturers
web site. Depending on the capacity of your grease gun usually a
couple of shots periodically will suffice.

Is that true? What damage does it do to the bearings? The worst I've
seen is for the excess grease to squirt out and make a mess.

Too much greease in a high speed bearing can very easily cause it to
overheat.
Small 1800 rpm motors will have no problems with overgreasing other
than the mess.


Best wishes,

Chris

On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:55:12 +0000, Christopher Tidy
wrote:

REMOVE Tom wrote:

Over lubrication is the primary cause of premature bearing failure.
Check out lube recommendations on the bearing or grease manufacturers
web site. Depending on the capacity of your grease gun usually a
couple of shots periodically will suffice.

Is that true? What damage does it do to the bearings? The worst I've
seen is for the excess grease to squirt out and make a mess.

Best wishes,

Chris

Grease is a great insulator - the rollers will push it out of their
path forming a wall which prevents it from dissipating the heat.

Robert Swinney wrote:
I have an even older Wagner 7.5 HP motor with grease fittings on each end. Grease is a way to keep
something oiled without having to tend to it very often. Think of grease as it was originally . . .
oil absorbed into soap flakes.

Interesting. I never heard that before. I had always assumed that the
first grease was derived from animal fat.

Best wishes,

Chris

Christopher Tidy wrote:

Robert Swinney wrote:

I have an even older Wagner 7.5 HP motor with grease fittings on each
end. Grease is a way to keep something oiled without having to tend
to it very often. Think of grease as it was originally . . . oil
absorbed into soap flakes.


Interesting. I never heard that before. I had always assumed that the
first grease was derived from animal fat.

... soap being of course animal fat boiled up with lye

Grant
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Grant Erwin wrote:
Christopher Tidy wrote:

Robert Swinney wrote:

I have an even older Wagner 7.5 HP motor with grease fittings on each
end. Grease is a way to keep something oiled without having to tend
to it very often. Think of grease as it was originally . . . oil
absorbed into soap flakes.



Interesting. I never heard that before. I had always assumed that the
first grease was derived from animal fat.


.. soap being of course animal fat boiled up with lye

Good point, Grant. I'd overlooked that.

Does anyone know of a book which describes the process of making grease
from oil and soap flakes? I'd be interested to read about it.

Best wishes,

Chris