Super7 headstock oiler

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

I've seen a few Myford Super7s with a flip top oiler on top of the headstock front bearing (the tapered bronze bush). Is this a factory fitted item? The wick lubricator seems to work well enough but I wondered if this was a factory mod for sustained high speed operation. Dave.

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

[Mike CrossfieldParticipant @mikecrossfield92481]

Dave

The first Super 7s up to about 1957 had the oiler you refer to. The oil reservoir was cast into the headstock, with the oil flow controlled by a needle valve. A sight glass makes the drip rate visible. The arrangement worked well (so long as the operator remembered to close the valve after work – ask me how I know!). According to the chap from Myford I spoke to 20 years ago, the arrangement was changed for the wick feed oiler because the reject rate of headstock castings due to porosity was too high.

Mike

[IanTParticipant @iant]

A bit of confusion here – I don't think I've seen a "flip-top" oiler on the front headstock Dave – although older machines (like mine) certainly have the reservoir/sight glass arrangement described by Mike.

Regards,

IanT

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

Thanks Mike and Ian, my machine does not have the drip feed oiler, it has the spring loaded wick with the oiler on the front right of the headstock as used on all Super7s from about 1957 until production ceased. In addition to this, there is a flip top oiler on the top centre of the front bearing. This is the second Super7 I've owned with this feature, I have also seen others. I've never seen anything in print about it, made me wonder if the factory did it. Why would anyone do it?

Dave

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Just out of interest the Record Power wood lathes also had this type of oil function at the beginning of the day three drops of oil is required and is enough for running all day on and off if however continuous work is done they recommend a further few drops it can be seen just to the left of the chuck.

[Author]

Posts