Grease? Or must it be oil?
We purchased our first press, a Kluge 12x18, in decent condition, but have been fixing what needs to be fixed. I have a lubrication question.
There are about 15 grease-gun ports on the machine, which I believe were added by the previous owner. There are other places where there are holes for oil to be added, it seems. (Or I’m just putting oil in a hole that goes nowhere.) But I’ve gotten the impression that grease is a no-no. Is that the case? If grease is bad, should I remove those ports and just use oil? And finally, any tips on cleaning out all the grease that is currently packed in the joints so I can start oiling? Or is grease fine?
Thanks, from a new aspiring pressman
Use oil not grease. There are 3 purposes of lubrication: 1) to create a slippery film on machined, mating surfaces so the parts slide on the oil film and not on each other, 2) to flush out contaminants and wear products, and 3), (and this one is not so important in our slow moving machines), so that the surfaces and bearings run cooler.
You should oil, and oil until some of it runs out, so that you flush out the contaminants (ink, dirt, dust, etc.) and wear products (small amounts of metal). Have an oil can in one hand and a rag in the other to wipe up the excess contaminated oil which runs out of the bearing surfaces.
To clean out the old grease maybe try a small screwdriver or a drill bit but just twist it by had. You don’t want to cut into any metal, just loosen the grease. You also might be able to loosen the grease with a little baby oil in a pump oil can.
correct me if wrong, but i think the kluge just gets oil, and there are a number of places for it, use a flashlight and check.
There are oil guns that can be used to force oil into a Zerk fitting. Some of them look just like grease guns and can be used either with bulk oil or with grease cartridges. You will find them at industrial suppliers if you search for “oil gun”.
It’s possible that the owner who installed the fittings was using the correct oil in an oil gun. You’ll still want to check in case grease was used instead.
Here is a file for the Operators Manual for a Kluge press. Includes charts for proper oiling.
https://d1mkprg9bp64fp.cloudfront.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/...
Michael Vickey
Nickel Plate Press
@MaynardNews, I know grease was used. Do you think I can push it out with an oil gun? Shoul I try to flush it with some solvent?
If you can partially disassemble the parts, IE, Slide side arms out enough to expose oil holes, then, remove grease perks and blow out with air and solvent. Mineral spirits works. Then blow oil thru there. You want oil running thru freely on its own. Oil alone, after thousands of cycles will probably break grease up.
But, you want OIL. a good “whatever is on sale”, 30 to 50 weight will be fine. Synthetic even better. Just keep checking for oil running out of each bearing point.
Me personally, I would disassemble the press and clean it all out. But, I have had hundreds of these apart, so I get it if someone doesn’t want to get that involved. Just oil it. A lot.