#52 oil bath motor HMV 202

[phonoman-antique]

I can't imagine the govenor running in the oil due to speed resistance.
But if the whole thing was immersed in oil it would be super quiet operation.
Its certainly an interesting experiment to try it and see if it works.
Your risk???. Have a nice big cookie tray underneath to catch the Niagra Falls of oil
flowing everywhere.And be ready to be divorced for wrecking the cookie
tray etc.

[saxymojo]

Marcel,

I've just had a thought. Looking at that 'hidden' and capped off reservoir, do you think that is the only place the oil should be? Otherwise, why does it even need to exist? I'm wondering if we've all got it wrong with all our previous speculation. I never spotted that reservoir so assumed (I now think incorrectly) that the purpose of that large enclosed motor casing was to fill it with oil up to the gear level. Now looking at it again I'm not quite so convinced. Surely those small bottles of original oil never contained enough to float the whole of the bottom of the casting AND the small reservoir? In that case I'm thinking that the bottles originally supplied with the machines were intended to simply fill that tiny reservoir before the cap is screwed on. The purpose of the enclosure to the motor is therefore ONLY to contain the splashes of oil that normally dissipate from an oiled governor. The oil is then contained and gradually falls back into the 'sump' or central reservoir.

These motors need no more oil than their predecessors so I now think the idea of semi-filling the bottom of the large casting is superfluous to say the least. I think the bottom of the motor casing should be 'dry' apart from the sunken and capped off reservoir. Otherwise what would be the purpose of this reservoir anyway? What do you think? Also the often mentioned problem of grease 'flushing' from the spring barrels doesn't even come into the equation.

Regards

Steve

Hi Steve

I think it should be filled a little more than the reservoir, the reason I think this. The pump piston has an opening that I think could be there to allow oil in to keep it well lubricated, also there would have to be enough oil available to pump up while the oil is draining back to the reservoir.

Another interesting thing I noticed, the lid for the reservoir acts as a filter, the centre of the cover extends down to the casting bottom leaving a very small gap so as not to allow rubbish going into the oil pump.

Have you pull yours down again?

Regards Marcel

[emgcr]

The same is true for the Garrard Super Motor. The reservoir (or pump body) is small and a few turns of the winding handle will quickly cause the piston to empty it before gravity has a chance to replenish. 100 ML of oil seems to be a good balance affording every desirable option---constant lubrication/supply during a full wind, whilst not immersing the barrels in oil. The majority of the casework really only acts as a dust cover and to contain/drain spray. A calibrated syringe is useful when introducing oil into the top of the case after a rebuild.