| On this page you'll find my choices for lubricants and
lubrication points, which may or may not correspond exactly to South
Bend recommendations. Here's a link
to the lubricant chart I have used as a reference. You may notice
that publication lists Vactra for oil "C", while I'm using mostly Mobil
DTE Heavy Medium for "C". This is because, apparently, Mobil
changed the formulation of Vactra some time ago and DTE is the
recommended replacement. Vactra is now primarily a way oil. Although Vactra is intended as a way oil, it's tackifiers make it ideal for open gears, where it sticks like glue rather than running off. I'm also using it in a few other places where it's stickyness is useful, such as lead screws. I'm using Vactra No. 4 for most of the sliding way surfaces on this lathe, in an attempt to partially compensate for the extensive wear. South Bend recommended No. 2 for the way surfaces. The oils referenced on this page are: Mobil Vactra Numbered Series Mobil DTE Heavy Medium Mobil Velocite No. 10 Pennzoil Synchromesh Magnalube-G (McMaster-Carr carries it) You may ask yourself, "why Pennzoil Synchromesh"? Good question. Notice that the only item in the South Bend lubrication chart specified as requiring type "B" oil is the gearbox. That oil has a saybolt universal viscosity rating of 150-240 seconds at 100°F. According to Machinery's Handbook, the conversion from saybolt viscosity to centistokes is:
cst @ 40°C = 0.22*saybolt-180/saybolt
which suggests an oil between 31.8 cst and 52.05 cst would be appropriate. It turns out Pennzoil Synchromesh, has a viscosity of 41.6 cst. I trust this oil in my truck transmission, and have no reason not to trust it here. Since I keep a large stock on hand for the truck, it's convenient to use a bit for the lathe as well. Please bear in mind the comments here are my personal philosophy in oiling. I'm a believer in the notion that "there's no such thing as too much lubrication". As a result, I tend to apply a lot of oil, frequently. I developed this table so that I could print out a lubrication checklist to keep beside the lathe which may be referenced before each operation. For the most part, I'm using the oils recommended by South Bend. I deviate from the South Bend recommendations when it comes to open gears, for which I prefer to use Vactra No. 2. I do this because the way oil has tackifiers that make it stick like glue to the gears rather than being slung off when they spin. You'll notice I'm also using Vactra No. 2 in a couple other places where South Bend recommended type oil "C" (such as the belt tension lever). This was merely for convenience, and because I wanted something that would stay put rather than running off. My frequency recommendations are generally more often than those proposed by South Bend. This chart is for my lathe. Yours may differ slightly.
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| Number | Description | Comments | Lubricant | Photo |
| 1 | Headstock spindle bearings | Keep full. Change oil every 3 months, depending on use. | Mobil Velocite No. 10 |
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| 2 | Back Gears | Remove two covers to access the back gears for lubrication. Lubricate before each use. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 3 | Back Gear Shaft and Pulley Cone | Add Teflon-based grease annually. To do this, rotate the spindle and back gear until both oil holes are pointing straight up. Pack the oil openings with grease and leave overnight so gravity will draw the grease into the bearings. | Magnalube-G |  |
| 4 | Spindle thrust bearings (2) | There's an inner and an outer bearing. To access the inner bearing remove the aft back gear cover (2 screws). Lubricate every hour of operation (roughly). | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 5 | Reversing geartrain | Use sufficient oil to wet every gear. Keep the gears "wet" with oil at all times. Oiling once per session is usually sufficient. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 6 | Idler gear bushing | Oil daily when in use. Does not contain any felt or oil-retention features. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |  |
| 7 | Reverser Bracket | Keep full when in use. | Mobil DTE Heavy Medium |
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| 8 | Gearbox | Fill before each use and periodically check during long operations. | Pennzoil Synchromesh |
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| 9 | Gearbox left side (2 shafts) | Add a small amount of oil to the felts for the shift rail (countershaft) and mainshaft before each use. | Pennzoil Synchromesh |  |
| 10 | Gearbox right side (2 shafts) | Add a small amount of oil to the felts for the shift rail (countershaft) and mainshaft before each use. | Pennzoil Synchromesh |  |
| 11 | Leadscrew outer bearing | Add a small amount of oil to the hole in the outer bearing race. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 12 | Belt tensioner lever | Add a few drops of oil before each use. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 or
Mobil DTE
Heavy Medium |
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| 13 | Belt tensioner | Periodically apply a few drops of oil to keep the mechanism free. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 14 | Leadscrew | Clean chips as required and oil before use. | Mobil Vactra No. 4 |
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| 15 | Apron upper reservoir | Keep full. Check before each use. | Mobil DTE Heavy Medium |
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| 16 | Half nuts | Oil before use. | Mobil Vactra No. 4 |
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| 17 | Apron main reservoir | Keep full. Change oil every 3 months or so (there's a drain plug at the bottom). | Mobil Velocite No. 10 |
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| 18 | Apron handwheel shaft | Oil as required. Discussion about this lube point here. | Mobil DTE Heavy Medium |
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| 19 | Leadscrew support bracket | Oil before each use. | Mobil DTE Heavy Medium |
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| 20 | Tailstock leadscrew bushing | Oil before each use. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 21 | Tailstock ram | Oil before each use. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 22 | Ways | Keep clean and lubricate before each use. | Mobil Vactra No. 4 |
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| 23 | Saddle gib way | Oil weekly. | Mobil Vactra No. 4 |
(Photo coming) |
| 24 | Cross slide leadscrew bushing | Oil weekly. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 25 | Cross slide leadscrew nut | Oil weekly. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 26 | Compound leadscrew bushing | Oil weekly. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 27 | Compound leadscrew nut | Oil weekly. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 28 | Cross slide ways | Keep clean and well oiled along entire length (move the cross slide as necessary to gain access). Clean chips after each use. | Mobil Vactra No. 4 |
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| 29 | Compound ways | Keep clean and well oiled along entire length (move the compound as necessary to gain access). Clean chips after each use. | Mobil Vactra No. 4 |
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| 30 | Rack | Periodically apply oil to keep wet. | Mobil Vactra No. 2 |
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| 31 | Motor | Add a small amount of grease annually. (Picture shows motor removed because plug is difficult to see when installed). | Old Timey Grease |  |