Align Power feed for mill

[Armourer]

I just picked up an new to me mill with a Align power feed on it but the plastic drive gear on the bottom stripped out by the previous owner, I am assuming because the limit stop switch stop working. I managed to find and the gear and the new switch to replace them but I was wondering if I should use any lube on the teeth of the gear? The old gear has some sort of grease on it that seems really tacky. If I should put something on it what should I use? The darn gear was worth a small fortune, shipping charges sure drive the price of stuff up....

 

[mksj]

The large drive gear is typically Zytel, what I have read is that you do not want to use typical bearing grease or graphite or molybdenum disulfide. What I have seen recommended is silicone and perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant grease with/without Teflon. I have some teflon bike grease used in hubs that is what I would use, you want a fairly high viscosity so it does not fly off the gear. "Krytox™ perfluoropolyether (PFPE) oils and greases thickened with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are a great choice for nonmetallic components."
https://www.machinedesign.com/mecha...ubrication-tips-plastic-gears-and-more-part-2
https://abm-website-assets.s3.amazo...ite_Papers/Web_Submissions/SelectingPFPEs.pdf

 

[Richard King 2]

Many of the plastic gears are made to be self lubricated or a few drops of way oil. Can't you email the place you bought them from and ask them?

 

[eric.grulke.79]

On a side note do power feeds come with an actual speed chart? My mill came with the Align 500S power feeds, but no manual(s) just curious?


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