[GreenKeys] Model 15 Mainshaft

[Sheldon Daitch]

During my time with the AP and rebuilding mainshafts, I never
removed the mainshaft wick, the long one 71505, I believe it
was.

Going back on a 40 year memory, I am not even sure we have
them in stock.

There were several cross mainshaft wicks, 89881, 72521 and 122752,
I changed out many times, especially if the visible ends of those wicks
had crudded up and become hard.  If the ends of these wicks would not
pass oil, it might not make any difference if the mainshaft had any oil, 
since it
would not get out to the moving parts on the mainshaft.

Sheldon

On 8/9/2011 9:58 AM, George B. Hutchison wrote:
> GreenKeyers - - -
>
> I take a bit of umbrage with the AP statement about removing the
> mainshaft wick.
>
> The implication is that the mainshaft wick may possibly be a living
> organism that for some reason just decides to block the mainshaft.
>
> I have never seen any of the numerous felts in a 28 suddenly harden
> up and turn into tar. They do dry up and get rather funky when
> neglected for a long time, but I have never seen one that has
> suddenly turned to goo.
>
> What might be the reason that the evil wick in the 15 mainshaft
> would of its own accord suddenly issue a death warrant for the
> machine by turning into a clog?
>
> Maybe the real reason is that it has run for a considerable period
> of time without any oil being applied? Could it be that the
> components surrounding the mainshaft had suffered a prolonged
> absence of lubrication and begun to heat up, raising the temperature
> of the mainshaft itself, causing the wick and whatever lubrication
> that might be in it to congeal?
>
> An RCA tech in a part of Washington state not near Seattle quit RCA
> and joined the AP force. For approximately six months after that day
> I went to numerous UPI clients in that part of the state cleaning up
> the results of UPI machines that had not been given regular
> maintenance by the tech who had departed. Most every one required
> rebuilding the mainshaft because it had fried and burned up.
>
> Without the wicks a mainshaft will sling its oil out in a short
> period of time. The shaft's components will be well-oiled during
> that period of time, but ultimately  will dry up, then the heat
> begins. And heat generally takes no prisoners.
>
> If your mainshaft has a wick in it and the oil flows readily out the
> selector end when pumped from the drive gear end, you have a happy
> mainshaft.
>
> Do be aware of the fact that the KS-7470 oil was not very good, as
> it would readily turn to sludge just sitting there. KS-7471 Grease
> is far worse. It will dry out in a sealed can.
>
> Good Luck,
>
> W7TTY
>
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