Lubrication for ML 8

[vomog]

Hi all
I've been using ATF for my Myford ML 8 lubrication for the last few years. Do other users of this lathe think the viscocity of this fluid is sufficient. If not. What would they recommend?
Cheers vomog

 

[Jamie Copeland]

Hi

What parts are you lubricating?

 

[vomog]

The 2 headstock bearing points.

 

[dickm]

Dunno about the 8, but for 7s, the recommendation is hydraulic fluid - Nuto 32 is the standard but I think any hydraulic oil that has 32 in its spec will do?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Mine ran perfectly well on engine oil for forty years.

 

[DTR]

Mine ran perfectly well on engine oil for forty years.

I must admit I use engine oil on my ML4 too. There may be an "ideal", but any oil is better than none.

 

[chipmunk]

The bearings on an ML7 and ML8 are entirely different (white metal plain and angular contact ball races respectively) but it could very well be NUTO-32 or ISO-32 on the ML8.

In case it is, the cheapest I've found for my ML7 is this...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverhook-SHRH4-Hydraulic-4-54-Liter/dp/B007BGMFJK

Interestingly Myford charge more than this for 1 litre http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SYI2LKC/ref=s9_hps_bw_g60_i17
and since most of it ends in a puddle beneath the lathe and flushes through the nasties that get into the bearings pretty darn quick I reckon the saving is ok.

HTH
Jon

 

[vomog]

I guess the difference is that the ML 8 is for woodturning, so I can get away with less viscous oil ?

 

[chipmunk]

Just found this link which confirms it is NUTO-32...

http://www.jfield.co.uk/workshop/ml8-documents.htm

Nuto 32 is very light and runny oil.

Jon

 

[DTR]

The bearings on an ML7 and ML8 are entirely different (white metal plain and angular contact ball races respectively)

Excellent point, I completely forgot that.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It would seem a little strange to choose a thin oil for a bearing arrangement that that makes no attempt to contain the oil - the seal might just as well not be there.

 

[chipmunk]

It would seem a little strange to choose a thin oil for a bearing arrangement that that makes no attempt to contain the oil - the seal might just as well not be there.

Well at least on the ML7 the idea is that any crud finding its way into the bearings gets flushed out by the oil as it drains away and is replenished rather than getting caught permanently and being able to continue to wear away the bearings as would be the case with grease.

I guess it's the old fashioned approach prior to sealed-for-life bearings which don't just seal the lubricant in, they also keep the crud out.

HTH
Jon

 

[parvum]

Hi Vomog ATF is the same viscosity as NUTO 32 the oil recommended by Myford. ATF copes with conditions in an automatic gearbox transmitting many more horses than the weedy ML8 motor and at a faction of the revs and nothing like the temperatures. In short the bearings in an ML8 are massively oversize for the loads and ATF ticks all the boxes and is cheap and easily available. Stick to regularly topping up the bearings with ATF, they are designed to run on a total loss system, flushing out the crud and they will outlast you and me.

regards Paul

 

[chipmunk]

Paul,
You may be right that ATF will do the job but it includes all sorts of additives and some designed to make sure the friction isn't too low for any clutch plates in there... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission_fluid

I know it's readily available but why use ATF when ISO 32 is so cheap anyway?
Jon

 

[parvum]

Hi Jon To reassure you there are no clutches in the bearing assemblies of a Myford Ml8. Vide lathes. Co . U.K. ATF if formulated to lubricate,cool and operate automatic gearboxes which usually have clutches in their innards. In my experience Nuto 32 is available from only a few specialist suppliers at an exorbitant cost for 1 litre bottles or more reasonably on a per litre basis if you buy 25 litres . ATF of any grade (not critical for this application) is available from any motor factor or even Tescos!
Regards Paul

 

[chipmunk]

Hi Paul,

In my experience Nuto 32 is available from only a few specialist suppliers at an exorbitant cost for 1 litre bottles or more reasonably on a per litre basis if you buy 25 litres.

As I said earlier in the thread I think your price comparisons may be based upon Myford's prices and not shopping around...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverhook-SHRH4-Hydraulic-4-54-Liter/dp/B007BGMFJK
At £14.50 for 4.5 litres (and that's delivered) for ISO-32 hydraulic oil I don't see why you'd bother with ATF. ATF's probably no cheaper than this unless I'm missing something.

To reassure you there are no clutches in the bearing assemblies of a Myford Ml8. Vide lathes. Co . U.K. ATF if formulated to lubricate,cool and operate automatic gearboxes which usually have clutches in their innards.

My point was that clutches rely on having friction to work and so ATF almost always needs additives to produce that friction, even if it is only limited. ATF is therefore formulated to balance the needs for friction and also for having low friction in the bearings but I'm not sure why you'd want any friction in lathe bearings at all if you don't have to have it. Added to that ATF's also full of detergents because it has to sit around in a transmission for more than a few hours - not sure why you'd want those either in a total loss lubrication system.

I'm not sure whether you'll be convinced by my points but I'm afraid I'll not be switching to ATF anytime soon.
Jon

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Jon - you've convinced me ... and I don't own one anymore.