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Import lathe apron oil leaks
- Thread starter Highpower
- Start date
Yes, a bit I can live with. But after 10 years it's starting to come out almost as fast as I pour it in. 
I've got it off of the lathe and stripped down right now. Got everything cleaned up and I'm applying a high temp silicone sealant to every bushing and through hole in the bottom half of the apron as it goes back together. Not one single oil seal or o-ring in the apron. :
I know I won't stop it from leaking, but at least I can slow it down considerably.
Having it leak in one spot is better than having it leaking in ten spots. ;D
I've got it off of the lathe and stripped down right now. Got everything cleaned up and I'm applying a high temp silicone sealant to every bushing and through hole in the bottom half of the apron as it goes back together. Not one single oil seal or o-ring in the apron. :
I know I won't stop it from leaking, but at least I can slow it down considerably.
Having it leak in one spot is better than having it leaking in ten spots. ;D
My 1994 13 X 40 Enco lathe has a minor leak from the apron....in a month, it might make a puddle about 3" in diameter. I just keep checking the sight gauge and give it a squirt of oil now and then. If it ever quits leaking, it will tell me that it's out of oil so I'll put some more in. I think it would be a waste of time to disassemble it only to find that it has some sort of seal that's unavailable and made of unobtainium. Besides, I looked at the manual and taking it apart is a terrible job....cheaper to put oil in it now and then.
The gear case doesn't leak a drop....don't know why. Everything else that I own leaks.
My Webb mill is designed to leak somewhat. When you lube the variable housing through the oil filler caps, the next day the oil will have dripped down through the spindle and made a small puddle on the table....another non-event. The knee, table, saddle and lead screws also will drip way oil after the oiler has been given a squirt. It tells you that the oiling system is open for business. LOL.
Now that I think of it, I've not seen a lathe or a mill yet that didn't leak somewhere. I'm sure that there is one somewhere, just haven't seen it yet.
The gear case doesn't leak a drop....don't know why. Everything else that I own leaks.
My Webb mill is designed to leak somewhat. When you lube the variable housing through the oil filler caps, the next day the oil will have dripped down through the spindle and made a small puddle on the table....another non-event. The knee, table, saddle and lead screws also will drip way oil after the oiler has been given a squirt. It tells you that the oiling system is open for business. LOL.
Now that I think of it, I've not seen a lathe or a mill yet that didn't leak somewhere. I'm sure that there is one somewhere, just haven't seen it yet.
Hi dalee,
Piece of cake. Had it off and stripped to the bare casting in about a hour.
The sealant I used is actually Toyota F.I.P.G. (form in place gasket) that is used for sealing oil pans, camshaft housings, coolant housings etc. The stuff will seal just about anything! I'm confident that I have sealed up 90% of the leaks. Most of them being seepage from all the screws and studs that are threaded into the apron, since every threaded hole goes all the way through the apron walls to where the oil is held. :
Piece of cake. Had it off and stripped to the bare casting in about a hour.
The sealant I used is actually Toyota F.I.P.G. (form in place gasket) that is used for sealing oil pans, camshaft housings, coolant housings etc. The stuff will seal just about anything! I'm confident that I have sealed up 90% of the leaks. Most of them being seepage from all the screws and studs that are threaded into the apron, since every threaded hole goes all the way through the apron walls to where the oil is held. :
LOOK MA! Four days now and not a drop! ;D
If you are color conscious, "Honda bond" is basically the same type of sealant.
Toyota is black - Honda is gray.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2011
- Messages
- 4,142
They will certainly leak if over filled.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2012
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- 2,220
I just did a search and found this. My import lathe apron is leaking way too much too. Are you guys saying that there are no O-rings on any of the rotating parts that come through the lathe apron? Mine seems to be leaking from every orifice.
The 2 "buttons" at 3 and 1 o-clock from the hand wheel are rotating shafts and the 2 carriage feed buttons leak like crazy. I was hoping that it had o-rings that need to be replaced. Maybe you guys can direct me a little bit as I take this thing apart.
Thanks
Marcel
The 2 "buttons" at 3 and 1 o-clock from the hand wheel are rotating shafts and the 2 carriage feed buttons leak like crazy. I was hoping that it had o-rings that need to be replaced. Maybe you guys can direct me a little bit as I take this thing apart.
Thanks
Marcel