I have a model 3990, serial 003321 (anyone know the year built?).
I actually have two manuals which is confusing. I think he used car engine oil, looked that way to me. I honestly doubt the previous owner stressed much about this. I know opinions vary on this topic greatly, but still I am hoping for someone to tell me what to buy. So my questions are the people recommending Velocite 10 or DTE 24 using Timkin bearings or bushings? I just want to use the lathe, and have been using SAE30 non-detergent "motor oil" and Zoom Spout Machine/Turbine Oil (which I think is lighter than 10) for short periods of time and not really feeling great about it. I finally found some plain-old SAE20 non-detergent from McMaster-Carr, but it is either called Motor Oil, Engine Oil, or Compressor Oil, maybe there isn't a difference? Doesn't really matter, I am not waiting 6-8 weeks for delivery anyway.
Mobile DTE 26 is ISO68, but listed as a "hydraulic" oil and I have read hydraulic oil is not lubricating (or machine) oil. I have read however that I should not use way oil for the spindle bearings, but all the "spindle oils" I can find are thinner than SAE20 or ISO68. BobD on this forum gave me some Vactra 2 (appreciate that Bob), and I can find more of that pretty easily.
The manual calls for basic SAE 20 Oil, which is apparently the same as ISO68, which is the same as Vactra2. I have read countless posts on many forums and still am not sure what to buy for my Atlas 12" with Timkin bearings. It’s a little difficult to get the quick-change levers to index, so I’m thinking the gearbox will require some cleaning.Hi all, I have been struggling with oil.
Is it worth it to remove the headstock to gain access? If in-situ cleaning is acceptable, are there certain parts I should focus on? Same question with the gearbox. Without removing the headstock, there are obviously parts I won’t be able to thoroughly clean. There’s a ton of gunk in there, probably decades of grease combined with dust, rather than chips. I started cleaning out the inside of the headstock and the accessible parts of the spindle assembly with Simple Green and a wire brush. My question is how nitpicky should I be about the headstock and gearbox? From the research I’ve done it looks like they are difficult to remove and even more so to reassemble. In addition to lapping the ways, I plan to thoroughly clean all pf these parts. I’ve removed the tail stock, lead screw, carriage, rack, and headstock guard. I have a little lathe experience, so I’ve been tasked with cleaning it.
It runs pretty well, the gears are all intact, and the ways are mostly free of damage. Hi, my makerspace recently received an Atlas 3996 12” lathe.
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