Reply To: Very stiff Emco FB2 quill

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

The recommendation in my 1996 manual says to use the same oil as the slideway, ISO VG 68. As the machine came filled with Castro Hyspin ISO 46 Hydraulic oil, and I have a good supply of this, I have continued to use this. In one machine I did try a multigrade synthetic transmission oil. The only down side to this was the smell which would come out of my vent valve during use. I detected no change of noise level using this oil.

I was not keen on using a straight oil, like the slideway oil, because this can cause foaming in the gearbox. Most hydraulic oils have foaming inhibitors, and some are better than others. The foaming will make the oil circulation pump less effective and slow down the circulation of the oil to the upper bearings.

Overfilling the gearbox can make it noisier, due to the pumping action of the gears, (more oil means more gears rotating in the sump due to the increased oil level). Emco recommend the oil level to be halfway up the sight gauge.

Glad to hear your spindle was not damaged,

Regards

Gray,

Edited By Graham Meek on 08/10/2020 11:01:56