Bridgeport Lube?

**Davek0974** · 26-05-2016

I'm stripping my BR2J mill head and trying to find out what lube to replace the wax in the gears with !

I have searched and as usual got 100 different answers.

This is a UK based question (US stuff not available over here)

Can anyone give a recommendation as to what i pack the bullgear housing with and also the gear shifter?

I think thats the only parts that get grease.

Many thanks

**MetalMagus** · 26-05-2016

Davek0974,
I have found the manual for the mill on line. Lubrication charts start in chapter 3.

Web address for the manual.

http://www.truetex.com/bridgeport-manual.pdf

Cheers

Sean

**Davek0974** · 26-05-2016

Thanks, got that one.

This is where it gets messy - Lubriplate 105/107 is not found in the UK it seems.

Sun EP741 also not found, so we are into the whole substitution mess again.

I will ring a few lubricant companies.

**Davek0974** · 26-05-2016

Well that didn't take long - neither code is listed in their charts and neither company would dig further due to having to order bulk qty even if they did find it.

So, looks like we are down to guess work then.

Open gear grease I guess for the bullgear housing - but what type??

**komatias** · 26-05-2016

Originally Posted by Davek0974

Well that didn't take long - neither code is listed in their charts and neither company would dig further due to having to order bulk qty even if they did find it.

So, looks like we are down to guess work then.

Open gear grease I guess for the bullgear housing - but what type??

Dave I use Mobil's slide way oil.

**Davek0974** · 26-05-2016

This is a gear grease, not the oil for the oil cups on the head.

This is packed inside the housing around the main backgear gear wheel.

Needs to be grease but nobody seems to know what sort ;)

**m_c** · 27-05-2016

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb...95/#post893695

Which from http://www.fuchslubricants.com/renolit-ep puts it as a slightly thinner than normal/common type grease.

Plus from a couple different posts I found, the general consensus is a general grease designed for gears. Given the age of the design, and the fact there's not really any specific requirements, I wouldn't personally be worried about using the exact grease.

**Davek0974** · 27-05-2016

So we would be looking at one of the common types....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carlube-LM...3D281841559394

Just using for illustration - which one would be most suitable?

**m_c** · 27-05-2016

You ideally want something a bit thinner than the more common greases.

Try searching for fluid or semi-fluid greases, which are designed for autolube/centralized lubrication systems. I just done a quick search, but could only find large packs.
Although this just came up - http://store.forestlubricants.co.uk/...-fluid-grease/
Something like that, provided there is some form of sealing to keep it in the gearbox. It's got a consistency a bit like yoghurt, in that it's thick but still pours.

**Davek0974** · 27-05-2016

That sounds a lot like CV joint grease?

There are no seals in the head, just bearings, the quill then the floor!

The quill is oil lubed so getting grease in there would be bad