Lubrication for speed control?

[solicitr]

What should I use for the worm and quadrant in the speed contol linksge? Grease? Vaseline? Moly-graphite? Something else?

[charlese]

I use a red colored wheel bearing grease. There may be better, but this works for me. Grease clings to sawdust or vice versa - The dirty stuff needs to be wiped off during normal lubrication and new wiped on. I don't use much, but just enough to fill the teeth of the quadrant and a little more on the worm. If the teeth of the quadrant start to wear, the speed control will probably start to increase upward all by itself, especially at speeds at or above "R". (Had that problem before I learned how to lube the gears. No problem since. Now it's been good for 7 or 8 years of pretty steady use.)

I'm afraid of Vasoline as in warmer temps (as we have here) Vasoline gets runny and will drip down on the motor. All grease that I know of will attract sawdust. I don't want greasy sawdust on the side of the motor or on the motor pan.

[Bruce]

I am currently using beeswax. I have used a spray-on dry lube in the past. Either one seems to work fine. You don't want anything that will attract dust and gum up the works.

[johnm]

What should I use for the worm and quadrant in the speed contol linksge? Grease? Vaseline? Moly-graphite? Something else?

I just discussed this with the folks at Shopsmith. They told me to buy a beeswax toilet ring and use some for lubing the speed control. Works well, stays in place and doesn't attract a lot of sawdust.

[Ed in Tampa]

I just discussed this with the folks at Shopsmith. They told me to buy a beeswax toilet ring and use some for lubing the speed control. Works well, stays in place and doesn't attract a lot of sawdust.

Johnm
What a great idea using beeswax toilet rings. I always hunt for the source for beeswax and usually end up paying more than I want buying a beeswax candle at the local flea market. Candle artisians tend to be a little pricey when it comes to their work, I never tell them I going to use their candle for lubrication, that would probably lock up their hearts.

I can't tell you how many times I have used a beeswax toilet ring but I never made the connection when looking for beeswax for the shop.
Thanks!!!!!!!
Ed

[ryanbp01]

I spray Top-Cote onto a finger and run it over the worm. I do that about every three months and it works for me.

BPR

[a1gutterman]

Hi johnm,

Thank you for that bit of info! I was just lubricating my MarkV and was thinking about that particular place and what would be good. Good timing for that question solicitr.

[jbemis]

Is there a reference to how to dissemble and apply lubricant to these parts. My Mark 5 is in need of these things. I need a maintenance manual for my SS3218. Thanks.

[rkh2]

jbemis

Seeing that you are new to SS, I would recommend purchasing The Shopsmith Journals by Rick Davis. It is a DVD that takes you through the maintenance and alignment of the SS, both newer ones and older like you have. The shipping cost is high on the DVD by itself, so I would suggest purchasing something along with it that you need which makes it more attractive. In my opinion it is an excellent reference both for a newbie and a long time user. Enjoy your machine. I am attaching a link that tells a little about it, as well a link to some SS info that may be helpful.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/serv ... /index.htm
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... 0006728531

[solicitr]

No need to diassemble- I just lubed it in place. (Thanks for the toilet ring tip, Nick! Less than the price of a burger for years' worth of beeswax). Pulling the speed control (which I just did day before yesterday) is a fiddly job which you don't want to do on a regular basis.

Just open the access/nameplate on the back of the headstock- the 'pork chop' quadrant is right on the other side of the idler shaft. Oh- run your machine up to high speed and turn it off first, so that the quadrant teeth are exposed.

Bill
(Learning fast)