This post reminded me we used to have two Ward capstans in our workshop, mainly used for making studs and bolts. And I can't remember greasing them. I used to squirt the ways, rotating and sliding surfaces with machine oil.

I would think grease is too sticky for a capstan, doesn't flow where you want it to, and would slow down the operation, speed is essential when working a capstan. Oil will also flow better and not turn into grinding paste.

Hope this helps

Ian

David,

Give them all a good oiling too, the passages could well be choked with grease that is in the process of drying out and it may take some shifting.

If you can look to see evidence of penetration.

Regards Brian

I worked on a Ward 2A for six months during my apprenticeship,we only had an oil gun, the oil was Shell vitrea (no doubt long disappeared) i think the viscosity was 34 anyway it was about the same as Castrol xl (30 sae),same oil was shot over the slideways. Nice machine, if you were not working it on a winter monday morning with very cold soluble oil flying everywhere,In the six years I was with the company it was used most days mainly on no ferrous materials and never went wrong or needed adjustment.It was regularly cleaned as the non ferrous swarf was valuble and when there was a change of material ,thorough cleaning was essential to avoid contamination of the swarf.In those days none of our machines hydraulic oil.