Surface grinder with unknown pump

Josh Rider

Josh Rider

Stuff maker
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Sep 2, 2014
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Hi guys, I bought a used surface grinder.
It's a Harig super612.
My question is about a pump on the side of the machine.
I checked for manuals online and never found this pump and contacted Harig who says they don't know what this is. Guess that's why it's not in the manual.


If I pull the lever I can see oil rise up the sight glass above the spindle.
Does anyone know anything about this system?
 
Yeah it's a one shot oiler. Just pull the lever a couple times whenever you use the machine.

Check your manual for what it recommends for way oil. Vacta #2 maybe, but a lot of surface grinders use bearings and recommend light hydraulic oil or similar, less sticky oil, especially if the oiler is attached to more than just the ways.
 
javand said:
Yeah it's a one shot oiler. Just pull the lever a couple times whenever you use the machine.

Check your manual for what it recommends for way oil. Vacta #2 maybe, but a lot of surface grinders use bearings and recommend light hydraulic oil or similar, less sticky oil, especially if the oiler is attached to more than just the ways.
Click to expand...

Thanks Javand,
The tech at Harig/Tru-tech recommended vactra 1 or 2 so that's what I'll order I guess.
Thanks very much for the help guys
 
The one shot oilers can develop a restriction on one line more than another and apply oil unevenly. I've seen them fail to oil a way well or at all. So double check you're getting enough oil everywhere and it's not all pumping out in one spot or a cracked line/fitting.

Also, surface grinders are gritty. It's good practice to actually clean the ways off from time to time on those old units. If the oil is wiping off black - that black is iron.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
The one shot oilers can develop a restriction on one line more than another and apply oil unevenly. I've seen them fail to oil a way well or at all. So double check you're getting enough oil everywhere and it's not all pumping out in one spot or a cracked line/fitting.

Also, surface grinders are gritty. It's good practice to actually clean the ways off from time to time on those old units. If the oil is wiping off black - that black is iron.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nathan,
The lines look good, but I've been trepidatious about taking anything apart for fear of messing something up.
Is there anything I shouldn't disassemble when inspecting the ways?
 
Josh Rider said:
Thanks Nathan,
The lines look good, but I've been trepidatious about taking anything apart for fear of messing something up.
Is there anything I shouldn't disassemble when inspecting the ways?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wouldn't fool with lines and fittings if I didn't need too, unless you're wanting to get into a rebuild, because stuff can get brittle when it's old. You just need to confirm all moving surfaces are being adequately lubricated because these single shot units can dump half the oil out a cracked line or an orifice can be clogged. A system that has set a long time can work at first and fail in use quickly so I'd also double check it again after a few months of use.

I've personally had two machine tools where the oiling system malfunctioned and had I not caught it the damage could have been irreparable. One was cracked leaking lines, the other was a failed component in the automatic pump itself. I haven't personally had an orifice clog yet, but it's not uncommon.

If the oil in the tank is old, dirty or dark it wouldn't be a bad idea to dump it, depends on how old it is.
 
I ordered some way oil from enco tonight.
I hope to keep this tool for a long time so I might as well do an oil change.
You guys have been so helpful, thanks for everything!
 
Check the manual Josh, I have a 6x12 covel and it requires two different types of oil. I think the ways are vactra 2 and the spindle is something else, I'm using hydraulic fluid on the recommendation of the guys at practical machinist.

Have fun and make sure there is nothing valuable down range!

-Clint
 
The DTE spindle oil I use is also used as a hydraulic fluid. Get the weight right and I think they're basically the same thing.

There are tackifiers and EP additives in way lube that don't generally work well in a spindle bearing. It foams and gets hot.
 
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