Be careful, my large lathe came with protective spring covers on the leadscrew, and I had to have them removed at the factory before delivery.

With it fitted, it restricted the movement towards the headstock so much, I couldn't get the tooling to reach the faceplate, even with the compound fully forwards.

Maybe you should do what has been done for the last century or so. With the leadscrew turning, just brush the swarf out of the thread with a 1" paintbrush.
Besides, the covers are not there to keep swarf out, that is just a secondary feature, they are supposedly a safety feature to stop fingers getting mashed. Swarf will find it's way underneath them without fail, past your apron, then you will have the unseen swarf grinding away at your half nuts.

I had a hell of a job with the H&S legal eagles, and had to sign a release note to state that I wouldn't sue the suppliers if I had an accident after the covers were removed.

They are not all they are made out to be.

Bogs