Warco Lathe Oiling

[Justin ThymeParticipant @justinthyme24678]

Have just come into posession of a Warco WMT500 Lathe, and the manual that I have manage to download is not much help, I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction.

From the image below, just above the bed there is a transparent hex shaped oil level indicator, which sort of suggests it has an oil sump. But I can't find any drain plug?
On the top right corner there is large round slotted plug that could be where oil is added or is just simply an inspection hole?

What Type of oil would be used here, the rather vague manual suggests "Lathe Head – Splashing – Machine Oil – Daily" !
would a Hydraulic H32 oil be used ?

also what sort of oil gun would I use on these nipples

[Justin ThymeParticipant @justinthyme24678]

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Justin,

Welcome to the forum. My 290 lathe manual says 20W machine oil, Hydraulic H32 should work well. I use way oil on the ways and gear oil in gearbox/apron. I have to use syringe and a piece of plastic tubing when changing oil in the gearbox.

Thor

Edited By Thor 🇳🇴 on 11/12/2022 16:11:53

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Not familiar with this model, but the second question is easy. That type of oiling point is very common; inside a spring holds a ball-bearing in the hole to stop muck getting in. Any oil-pump with a nozzle that fits well enough to move the ball when pressure is applied will do. It's easier if the nozzle bends, though I just use the ordinary type and put up with a bit of mess and having to keep the pump full. The ball can also be depressed with a nail if only a gravity can is available.

I'm guessing, but the big screw in the first picture looks very much like a bulk oil point for the gears. Undo and have a look inside: if it's just a cover and gears can be seen, that's what it is.

The hexagon sight gauge might double as drain plug. Sounds like a splash system in which just enough oil is added to wet the lower teeth of the biggest gear, which soaks the others as it spins. In which case the head doesn't have much oil in it and is only topped up when the level drops. Could be daily if the lathe is used a lot, probably less often in practice. It's a lossy system, so there may not be a separate drain. Oh, and don't overfill a lossy system because excess oil goes everywhere!

Lathes of this type aren't fussy about oil. H32 or 20W should be fine.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 11/12/2022 16:55:24

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Thor 🇳🇴 on 11/12/2022 16:10:16:

Hi Justin,

Welcome to the forum. My 290 lathe manual says 20W machine oil, Hydraulic H32 should work well. I use way oil on the ways and gear oil in gearbox/apron. I have to use syringe and a piece of plastic tubing when changing oil in the gearbox.

Thor

Edited By Thor 🇳🇴 on 11/12/2022 16:11:53

My WM250V manual says SAE20 too. Macc Models sell a 'Vintage 20' oil, which is what I use for all lathe lubrication.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

ISO32 hydraulic oil is about the same viscosity as SAE20 so will work just fine. (ISO46 is the same viscosity as SAE 20.) I would not run stinky sulfurous gear oil in the headstock. No need for EP extreme pressure lubricants in a low rpm one or two horsepower application. Your hydrualic oil will work just fine in there too.

Any old oil can should work ok on those ball oilers.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Justin

I have a Warco BV20 lathe which has a geared headstock, it has a sight glass same as yours, this is to indicate the oil level in the gearbox. If you want to do an oil change, or top up the gearbox then it requires removal of the top cover of the gearbox and to empty you need a syringe with plastic tubing attached. Dave W

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, for those that don't know, here's a scan of the WMT500, I think the slotted round plug that Justin mentioned, is on the back of the headstock.

Justin, as Hopper says, any oil can, with a suitable size nozzle, is used on those ball oilers. I haven't ever seen or been aware of anything special to use on them, you just push the ball down with the nozzle and you should only use a few drops of oil each time, as too much will just drip out somewhere.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 12/12/2022 11:38:53

[Justin ThymeParticipant @justinthyme24678]

Posted by Samsaranda on 12/12/2022 10:37:42:

Justin

I have a Warco BV20 lathe which has a geared headstock, it has a sight glass same as yours, this is to indicate the oil level in the gearbox. If you want to do an oil change, or top up the gearbox then it requires removal of the top cover of the gearbox and to empty you need a syringe with plastic tubing attached. Dave W

I had been think the sight level would also double up as the drain plug, I'm guessing it could be close to the bottom, will need something to catch the oil but can't imagine there is much in.

Where do you fill to ? the middle of the sight ?

[Justin ThymeParticipant @justinthyme24678]

Posted by Nicholas Farr on 12/12/2022 11:33:53:

Justin, as Hopper says, any oil can, with a suitable size nozzle, is used on those ball oilers. I haven't ever seen or been aware of anything special to use on them, you just push the ball down with the nozzle and you should only use a few drops of oil each time, as too much will just drip out somewhere.

Regards Nick.

OK, so it can just be dripped in with the ball pressed down. This would be OK for the hydraulic oil as its quite thin. But some of these oiling points lube the 'slide ways' and as far as i understand these need a 'way oil' which is a pretty thick stuff and I feel this would need to be forced in?

The manual I have is not very good, it just says 'machine oil' for all the points, I take it this is the hydraulic oil?

and a big thanks to all the other replies, all very helpful. And I will be needing as much help as I can get, I don't know much about metal lathes.

[Justin ThymeParticipant @justinthyme24678]

Another question – on the cross slide (Y axis?) there is a Gib that needs adjusted to remove play. there is 4 grub screws that make this adjustment. Is there any particular order to adjust these for best results?

I have just done them up so just an extra few degrees on any of them will make it too tight – but still wondering what best practice is

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Justin

Fill with oil so that the level is visible in the sight glass, ideally so the level is halfway up the sight glass, it does make it easier to see. Dave W

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Justin, that is way oil I'm putting in, in my photo. As far as adjusting gib strips, I start in the mid position ang go outward one at a time both sides. I agree with Dave W, fill to the centre of the sight glass, bit don't get bothered if it ends up a little above the centre.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 13/12/2022 00:06:25

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

If you search online for 'Sewing machine oil can' you should find a ubiquitous 120ml natural-coloured PE bottle with a black cap that has a thin metal spout, cost about £3.. ..the spouts have a tapered end for ball oilers and work well with 68 weight which is a bit thicker than that they were designed for – it'll stay in the bottle 'til you give the sides a squeeze.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

I use a conventional pump oil can with the flexible spout that has a tapered brass nozzle on the end. It fits in the hole and if you press it in firmly with one hand and pump with the other, the oil will pump into the gap between the slide ways and ooze out the weakest point. Those oil cans will actually pump at some considerable pressure. I don't use way oil, just whatever motor oil is around, or some ISO46 hydrualic oil I have but I imagine the oil can would pump way oil ok. It is not too thick to pump.

I even oil my Myford this way quite often, having turned the point of the oil can nozzle down small enough to fit in the hole inthe end of the Myford oil nipples. Gets into the awkward placed ones that a PressParts oil gun can't fit into, eg back gear nipple.

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