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Air/Oil mist collet closer, change to Grease?

jim r

Cast Iron
Joined
Aug 11, 2002
Location
Sinton, TX.
I am changing out the bad bearings in a Dunham closer. The inner bearing is
in fair shape. The outer one is like a steel wheel on a gravel road. After
pulling it apart, I find that the outer bearing had been changed out before
and they did not take the inner shield off. I think the shield blocked the easy
access of the oil droplets to the double row bearings. Now, I'll take my lumps
as well..... a number of short cycle jobs, not readjusting the closer pressure
for different jobs, not running the air during setups and wurst of all... not
running with a high enough air volume. I could work on most of those but I
have no interest in increasing the air volume. Where I set it, the compressor
comes on every five minute. With a second machine, even shorter.

Many of the bearing manufacturers list max RPMs when using oil or grease.
The rpm for grease will be lower then oil, but then, this lathe only tops out
at 4500.

So the question is, can I replace the oil lines with grease fittings? A shot or
two a day would certainly be cheaper then the compressor time. And quieter.

jim
 
No comments or thoughts? Must have been a pore choice of title wording.

My two concerns would be, temperature rise over using air/oil mist and whether
the grease would be applied well enough to the bearings given the layout of the
existing lubrication channels in this unit.

As for the temperature. If it can be kept bellow 160`F, a good EP added
synthetic grease should work fine with little break down. I'll send an email to
Dunham for there thoughts on it, but yours are also welcome.

jim
 
do not replace the oil lines with grease fittings. the main rason that the collet closer bearing was eaten up is probably because someone put the wrong grease in to begin with. at first glance, wheel bearing grease seems like a good option. however its not. with the continuous speeds the spindle can be turning you need to run spindle grease in those bearings. its a high temp grease that will survive without drying out. i recommend Kluber for this application, but there are a bunch of others that are available.
 
FWIW:

On a couple of snowmachine motors that were originally Kluber lubed, I have cut out the seals, and drilled the cases so that the gas/oil will flow though like old skewl motors.

I tied up the mag bearings once doo to dry socket, and it sounded like it was comming on aggin when I replaced the crank and went to the gas/oil setup.

The Kluber is good stuff, but I have not had good luck on the skidoo motors with it.

On another note tho - I have no idea what lube is in the spindles of my lathes, but I have never had a bearing go out yet on my Hardinge lathes. Those hafta be grease AFAIK.

IMO - a constant lube of oil is better than a dry socket that once had grease in it.


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Think Snow Eh!
Ox
 








 
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