What bearing oil?

[nuff]

Hi all,
Just a quick question. As you may know i have a Heybrook TT2. The only oil I've used is a cheap bottle i bought off eBay about a year ago. I'm thinking of replacing the oil and just wondered if you could suggest a good make please.

Merry Christmas all!

[DSJR]

Did the TT2 have a solid brass bearing housing as I think it had (sooo long ago now)? if so, UK issued EP80 will be harmless and Rega still use it to this day in their brass bearing housings. This stuff does dry out over the decades and in Rega's certainly, needs checking every ten years or so.

If you want something more esoteric, the Dual forum on VE have been mentioning things like chainsaw lubricant as an inert and highly 'slippery' oil, together with engine rebuilding oil (Torco MPZ), since Dual bearings of old used Rentac 342, which isn't available any more - in smaller quantities like a gallon or so - I believe. EP80 is totally safe on these bearing sleeves too I'm told.

[shane]

The TT2 used a ground steel shaft in a polished brass housing with a 10mm steel ball in the bottom. Nothing exotic. EP80 would be fine, but possibly a bit OTT. I use gun oil but any decent quality light machine oil will do. Not 3 in 1 though! A lot of special purpose oils like motor oil, two stroke oil, chain oil etc have special additives to enable them to cope with the particular conditions they will encounter. As far as a turntable bearing is concerned, these are rarely beneficial.

I would guess that a TT2 that had been intensively used for 30 years might have a bit of a dimple worn into the flat on the end of the shaft where it rests on the ball. Any competent small engineering shop should be able to grind it flat and harden it again. In the unlikely event that the ball is worn (it's much harder than the shaft), simply pulling it out with a magnet and dropping it back in again will present a fresh contact point to the shaft. Providing the bearing hasn't been run dry for weeks on end, the housing won't be worn. If it is, the neglect will have been so severe that it'll probably be the least of your problems!

[awkwardbydesign]

The TT2 used a ground steel shaft in a polished brass housing with a 10mm steel ball in the bottom. Nothing exotic. EP80 would be fine, but possibly a bit OTT. I use gun oil
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Condom-Safe-Gun-Oil-120/dp/B002UXRNVY :D
On a more serious note, this is what I was searching for- http://www.amazon.com/MiliTec-Militec-1-4Oz-Militec-1-4oz-Lubricant/dp/B008YN4Q7I
I don't know about TT bearings, but I use it on my longboard bearings and they spin longer than they did with other oils. But I re-apply regularly, a bit difficult with a TT.

[shane]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Condom-Safe-Gun-Oil-120/dp/B002UXRNVY :D

Should keep the shaft well protected on all conceivable occasions, especially if you keep the end well polished....

[shane]

This was more what I had in mind

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Abbey-GUN-RIFLE-Oil-Lubricant-Shotgun-Airgun-Air-Pistol-Lube-125ml-Dropper-/351223208585

You can't say anything these days!

[walpurgis]

I've used EP80 or EP90 mixed with a bit of STP oil treatment on TT bearings for the last forty years. Never worn a bearing out or had any corrosion issues.

Whilst rotating, the walls of the bearing and the steel shaft are separated by the oil film and a viscous oil keeps them apart even when stationary. The only real contact being at the thrust pad/plate/ball.

I would not be too hasty to have the end of a shaft reground, as that may remove any hardened metal (if it's a hardened item). Not that I've ever seen a shaft that needed it.

[shane]

Not that I've ever seen a shaft that needed it.

Nor me, and I can't imagine it being likely but if a TT2 bearing ever was to be run for so long that it began to show signs of wear, that's where it's going to happen. I should add that I'm theorising here, the chances of any TT2 being that worn are extremely remote.

Turntable bearings in general have a pretty easy life. They're subjected to a constant small axial load with a minuscule radial component. They usually live in good domestic conditions, most are used only for a very small percentage of the day and they rotate very slowly. In order to provide the best possible support to the platter they're usually substantially over-engineered with respect to the forces they're subjected to. Most will substantially outlive their owners!

[nuff]

gun oil that's condom safe! That's different :confused::rfl: I'm a little confused there.
Anyway many thanks to you all for your replies. Just looked at my spindle and it seems to be very flat so good news there.
Just ordered some Abby gun oil from the link provided (thanks Shane)

Thanks again everyone and merry :christmas: