[Test-Equipment] O.T. lube job

[Fred Olsen]

Rasputin Novgorod wrote:
> The gear train is dry. I'd
> like to clean it (alcohol) and then lubricate it

Are you certain that it's not intended to run 'dry'?  (To prevent 
contamination.)  Unless you've already cleaned the mechanism it appears 
too clean to have been lubricated years ago.  If the gears were lubed a 
petroleum solvent would clean them much better than alcohol.  A non 
residual electronics contact cleaner would also work well.

If you are sure they should be lubed then whatever you use needs to be 
resistant to oxidation and quite light in viscosity.  There is an 
excellent line of lubricants intended for the model railroad hobby, by 
Labelle Industries.  Any well stocked hobby shop should have these or 
certainly would be able to order them from Walthers, a major distributor 
to that hobby.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?quick=labelle&quicksrch_butt.x=18&quicksrch_butt.y=7

I would suggest their number 106 PTFE-filled grease, or number 102 gear 
oil.  I'd try the 106 first, sparingly.  I also use it, or Lubriplate 
'Aero', in the ball bearings of air variable caps and vernier drives. 
The 104 synthetic oil works well on panel bushings and the end bearings 
of variable caps, but be aware that it is not plastic-compatible as are 
most of their other products.

The encoder appears to possibly have an anti-backlash gear.  That should 
have a small amount of oil between the gear halves and in the bushing 
before using grease on the teeth.  Use all lubricants very sparingly.
There is no "lifetime" lube.  Anything will eventually oxidize and/or 
pick up contamination.

Good luck,
Fred
-- 
<><
--
Outgoing checked by Norton AV