[GreenKeys] Lubricate bearings?

Thu Apr 4 10:58:02 EDT 2013

Hi Lee,

My post was only meant to be funny, referring to the many um, "discussions" about lubricating Teletypes that have popped up here. I am not the person who is rebuilding a machine with the sealed bearings... I would guess that if they feel 'smooth' when they are turned by hand, they are all right. Myself, I do prefer bearings that have a "Zerk" fitting or oil cup... 

By the way, I have found (speaking strictly for me) a really good lubricant for TTYs if one can find it. It is the special hydraulic oil used in cable-less elevators. It has to remain at its specified viscosity through a wide range of temps, it has no additives or detergents, and it has been refined to a point that it has only a very light straw color. I have a friend who is an elevator service person, who gave me about a gallon of the stuff. It works perfectly. One of the design specs of the oil is that it cannot generate that gummy stuff that regular oil can. It is also great to use as a mild solvent for getting sticky grease off of things.

As for the kitty that was attacked by a vicious La Pue, try what we always did with dogs that got the same treatment... Tomato juice and a good pet shampoo. It doesn't completely kill the odor, but it helps.

Just so everyone knows, I was not trying to cause trouble or hurt any one's feelings. I was simply trying (probably in vain) to be funny! :-)

Best,

Joe

--- On Thu, 4/4/13, Lee Mushel <herbert3 at centurytel.net> wrote:

From: Lee Mushel <herbert3 at centurytel.net>
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Lubricate bearings?
To: "Rokumon Cat" <rokumoncat at yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, April 4, 2013, 8:23 AM

Good grief, Joe!   You have to remember two things:

1. There are a lot of people who "go by the book--always."   This is our hobby.   Our machines run a small fraction of the time they were designed for.   You can bend the rules and they will still last a lot longer than either of us will!

2.  There are modern lubricants which are simply "head and shoulders" better than anything that existed 20 or 30 years ago---I won't even mention 60 or 70 years.....

3.   If you have actually removed the bearing from it's shaft you might as well drill a small hole in the seal---use a drill press, don't try this by hand---and you can then use a hypodermic syringe and light grease to fill the bearing or you can do like I do and once every five years squirt in Tri-Flo (obtainable at bicycle shops---but don't worry about that.   The lubricant was developed for the U.S. Government for use in automatic weapons.  My Uzi's won't work without it and I absolutely guarantee that a teletype machine thinks it's candy.

Oh yes, last night it would seem that "Orange Cat" got too close to a skunk and since she likes to cuddle, my T-shirt has a fairly strong odor at the moment.

Lee

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Rokumon Cat 
To: Jonathan Mc Donald ; GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 7:52 AM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Lubricate bearings?

Oh Noes!!! 

The Evil Teletype Lubrication Monster has raised its flamey head once more!!!! :-)

Joe

--- On Tue, 4/2/13, Jonathan Mc Donald <kg6tgr at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Jonathan Mc Donald <kg6tgr at yahoo.com>
Subject: [GreenKeys] Lubricate bearings?
To: "greenkeys at mailman.qth.net" <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 8:35 PM

Well, I'm afraid to ask this question, but here goes.

I've have all the bearings out of the Klein tt-98, and they are sealed.  They seem ok, but I sense putting them back into 
service without lubricating them might be problematic.  Can they be soaked in gear oil or something?  How can I get them lubricated?

Thanks,
Jonathan

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

______________________________________________________________
GreenKeys mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
GreenKeys mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/greenkeys/attachments/20130404/192ca024/attachment.html>