The handbook for my S7 states " Where SAE 30 is specified any good motor oil of this number will be satisfactory. For starred items nos. 21,22,23,24,25 use Rocol MTS1000 grease should be used in those territories where it is available"

I too have never understood this enigmatic instruction and I am sure the person who produced it is no longer available to explain the reasoning.

As Robbo says just use oil and never grease on these lub. points. I buy Castrol SAE 30 grade 4 stroke lawn mower oil which is more than adequate – don't waste your money on expensive modern motor oils.

Ian,

but in those days you could just taxi up to a petrol pump (hand-operated) and fill up!!

Phil

I can imagine the scene

Chief Engineer “ Don’t need a manual for a lathe, every engineer has the common sense to know how to use one”

Marketing Director “ What’s a lathe? Google pictures look komplikated.”

CE knocks up manual “…….Lubricate as necessary….”

Marketing Director “Loo-ber- ic-kate. wow what a gi-nor-mouse word”

CE raises ECR001 “ …..oil here, here, and here….”

Marketing Director “ Oh, oil. Like wot Betty fries the chips in “

CE looks at barrel he is sitting on because chair budget was spent on printing manuals and raises ECR100 “….Oil to SAE 30…..”

Some clever Dick “ he he you missed that oiling point he he”

Exasperated CE raises ECR 500 “ ……..and * and * and *…….”

Marketing Director “…..OOOH Betty. Spinning lathey thing has done an oily whoopsy on my shirt”

CE, losing will to live, raises ECR1000 “….use grease…….”

Welcome to my world. Well I write specifications not user manuals but the sentiment is the same.

Derek,

My guess would be "Engineering Change Request" … but there are probably dozens of alternatives.

MichaelG.

Well ECR yielded 76 but you were correct to start with. Pretty standard sort of terminology I thought around all the big old engineering companies, especially defence contractors, and now ISO9000 companies. Really anywhere that had a proper Drawing Office with those big old drawing boards and plan chests. I did wonder if anyone would ask, and also who might confuse CE with the more modern and American imported CEO.

Bet that gives North American readers a chuckle

That sounds like good stuff, am using chainsaw oil at present because of it's anti-fling properties, and if it can stand the stress of chainsawing it can certainly stand the stress of a few changewheels.

Back in the olden days, motorcycle chain grease was like lard, we heated it up in a tin dish (old roasting tin if we could sneak it out of the kitchen), usually on top of an old Primus stove 'til it was warm and runny, then dunked the chain in it for a few minutes and hung it out to cool.

This was part of the Saturday ritual before riding out on Sunday.

Of course it is many years since I last had my leg over – a motorcycle – if I say Norton Dominator it will give you a clue how long!

Ah yes, I remember the old round tins of Duckhams chain grease and waiting for Mum to go shopping so we could put it on the stove and soak the motorbike chains. –"What's that funny sulphury smell in the house?" — "Must have been the smell from the welding I was doing in the shed blew in the bedroom window Mum".

Thank goodness all that palaver is gone and modern o-ring chains last about five times longer with no more than the odd squirt of chain lube.

And I do remember the Norton Dominator. Got its big brother in the shed, Atlas 750.