- Joined
- Sep 24, 2012
- Messages
- 495
I'm still slowly getting my new mill set up. Today I adjusted the gibs and lubricated the dovetails, but I have a question for you guys that have the same mill. On page 17 of the manual, the lubrication table is shown. My question is about the last item mentioned on the table: the X-axis thrust bearings. Where are they? The table says to lubricate them yearly with oil, but a patient search of the manual fails to show me where or how to oil the X-axis thrust bearings.
To be fair, I did oil what I suspect is probably the X-axis thrust bearing oil point. At the far left end of the upper table (the X axis) is a small brass insert with a tiny ball bearing spring-set into it. A check with the exploded parts diagram (page 30 in the manual, part #40) shows that this tiny part is called "oil cup". It's not what I would call pointedly clear, but enough to make me think the tip of an oil gun is supposed to depress the ball bearing to receive oil. Not having an oil gun, I depressed the ball bearing with a piece of wire and dripped oil one drop at a time until it began dripping out the bottom (with a rag underneath it, of course). A look underneath showed me that what I seemed to be oiling there is a brass or bronze bearing. I would assume it's an Oilite bearing, cast from sintered brass or bronze rendering it porous to oil - so I guess it becomes its own oil reservoir.
Any of you other LMS 3960 owners have any light to shed? Did I go wrong, or did I correctly identify the X-axis thrust bearing oil point?
Thanks,
...Doug
To be fair, I did oil what I suspect is probably the X-axis thrust bearing oil point. At the far left end of the upper table (the X axis) is a small brass insert with a tiny ball bearing spring-set into it. A check with the exploded parts diagram (page 30 in the manual, part #40) shows that this tiny part is called "oil cup". It's not what I would call pointedly clear, but enough to make me think the tip of an oil gun is supposed to depress the ball bearing to receive oil. Not having an oil gun, I depressed the ball bearing with a piece of wire and dripped oil one drop at a time until it began dripping out the bottom (with a rag underneath it, of course). A look underneath showed me that what I seemed to be oiling there is a brass or bronze bearing. I would assume it's an Oilite bearing, cast from sintered brass or bronze rendering it porous to oil - so I guess it becomes its own oil reservoir.
Any of you other LMS 3960 owners have any light to shed? Did I go wrong, or did I correctly identify the X-axis thrust bearing oil point?
Thanks,
...Doug