Lubricating an old AC motor - need advice

[dungeoncrawler]

Sorry if this is the wrong section, mods, please move to correct section if needed! Also sorry for butchered title, posting before coffee.

I recently acquired a GE 26136 motor, (identical to one seen here https://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37571) and in the process of cleaning and oiling it (with w20 synthetic), found out that these motors, due to brass or copper sleeve-wick lubrication system they use, require a particular kind of oil.

Here is where it got confusing for me. Most places online mention the "blue can" of 3-in-one oil as being perfectly good for this purpose, as it does not contains detergents people caution against with those types of motors. I assume this is the product in question - https://m.3inone.com/3inone-motor-oil.php

Same sources caution against "general purpose" 3-in-one and "red can" asbeing the wrong 3-in-one, except I can't find what that looks like, only other can I find is black and white. There is also some confusion with some places cautioning against paraffin in oil, and some extolling it as a good and necessary thing. I wasn't able to determine whether the blue can of 3-in-one linked contains paraffin or not.

Some also talk about oil saturating and soaking the bushing or bearing, except I am fairly certain that in my motor it's a solid sleeve of metal with a spiral groove. It shouldn't be possible to "saturate" it.

General sentiment seems to be to use any 20 wt. non detergent oil, but when it comes to particular oil to buy I get hopelessly lost. Any help clearing this up would be greatly appreciated!

 

[lilredex]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

That motor is about "100 years old" and probably has had just about any oil thrown at it. If the bushings are still good, use that Three-In-One blue can oil.That is what I have always used on my electric motors........no failures to date.

Besides, how much time will it really run? A few hours a year if that?


You should be just fine.

 

[Davefr]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

Clean bearings and new wicking is the most important factor.

Your motor is similar to what was used in old fans. The antique fan guys have always preferred a 20 wt non detergent synthetic oil for these old oil cup style motors. (or ISO 68)

I wouldn't overthink this for a low duty cycle motor. Just use 3 in 1 for Motors or Supco Zoom Spout Turbine Oil.

If you want to get fancy then seek out Royal Purple Synfilm ISO 68 or Amsoil 20 wt compressor oil. Just don't go lighter then 20 wt. viscosity.

 

[fasteddie]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

The 3 in 1 oil I remember always came in a red black and white can, that's what we always had around the house. When you needed oil, that was the oil. It had a picture of a motor right on the can so I always put it in motors and my bike and and my roller skates and everything else. The important thing to remember is that you need oily oil that contains oil and has the pointy little spout thing that fits in the hole. Ahh, the smell of 3 in 1, brings back such fond memories of my youth.

 

[dungeoncrawler]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

That motor is about "100 years old" and probably has had just about any oil thrown at it. If the bushings are still good, use that Three-In-One blue can oil.That is what I have always used on my electric motors........no failures to date.

Besides, how much time will it really run? A few hours a year if that?


You should be just fine.

You are quite right, in fact when I bought it from the local fair, it was covered in saw-dust and had a grinding stone on the arbor. I inspected the bushing when cleaning it, and they seem to be in decent shape - you can see the lines, but the bushing feels smooth and a toothpick doesn't catch on on any of them. There is some expected play front to back, but axially there is no play at all.

Regarding the ever-confusing to me 3-in-one - is this the can we are talking about?

 

[dungeoncrawler]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

Clean bearings and new wicking is the most important factor.

Your motor is similar to what was used in old fans. The antique fan guys have always preferred a 20 wt non detergent synthetic oil for these old oil cup style motors. (or ISO 68)

I wouldn't overthink this for a low duty cycle motor. Just use 3 in 1 for Motors or Supco Zoom Spout Turbine Oil.

If you want to get fancy then seek out Royal Purple Synfilm ISO 68 or Amsoil 20 wt compressor oil. Just don't go lighter then 20 wt. viscosity.

Ah, thanks you for the link and the image of the can!
Regarding new wicking, how would one go about getting some? Despite the link in my first post with the guy opening and extracting the wick, I am not sure how to do it myself. There are thing metal press-fit caps with a drain hole on the bottom, and trying to pry them seems like it would mangle them.

 

[matt_i]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

With the bronze you could use a machine tool "way oil" (e.g. Mobil Vactra) or a hydraulic oil (e.g. Mobil DTE) or synthetic gear oil (e.g. MobilGear) (choose one minus the EP additives). I'm most familiar with the Mobil lineup. I have seen the 3in1 in a tall-necked plastic squeeze bottle with a plastic straw that pulls out of the neck.

 

[dungeoncrawler]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

Thanks for responses, all!



This is what the bottom of the wick enclosure looks like, capped with a small drip opening. Top is just a pin-hole for oiling. How would one go about opening this cap without damaging it, if I were to replace the wick? It's very thin sheet-metal.

PS don't mind the wires, it came with the original cord that was badly frayed, bad enough that it shorted (just the cord, thankfully) when I plugged it in to test, so it's getting replaced with a 3-prong grounded wire.

 

[Davefr]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

Thanks for responses, all!



This is what the bottom of the wick enclosure looks like, capped with a small drip opening. Top is just a pin-hole for oiling. How would one go about opening this cap without damaging it, if I were to replace the wick? It's very thin sheet-metal.

PS don't mind the wires, it came with the original cord that was badly frayed, bad enough that it shorted (just the cord, thankfully) when I plugged it in to test, so it's getting replaced with a 3-prong grounded wire.

You can buy felt wick here:
http://vintagewireandsupply.com/antique-fan-supplies/

I bet that tin cap is just press fit on. I'd try and see if you can pop if off with a small screwdriver.

 

[dungeoncrawler]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice



Got the caps off with some struggle, trying hard not to mangle them - very thin metal with a tiny lip. Seems they have never been opened, the wicks inside look like originals too. They are about 5/8" thick so the fan wick Davefr linked (thanks, I might get their black braided wire) are far too thin, biggest being 1/4". But at least for now I got the old dirty wicks out, keeping the caps in good shape, so the hard part is taken care of. Once I get a new cord, new wicks, and the oil, this thing is back in business

 

[matt_i]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

One could also source round wool felt at McMaster Carr. This has the same function for drip oiling on old-time machinery. Its basically just a long labyrinth filter which dust particles cannot penetrate. However the oil will flow, slowly, to the bottom.

 

[GrayFlattop]

The 3 in 1 oil I remember always came in a red black and white can, that's what we always had around the house. When you needed oil, that was the oil. It had a picture of a motor right on the can so I always put it in motors and my bike and and my roller skates and everything else. The important thing to remember is that you need oily oil that contains oil and has the pointy little spout thing that fits in the hole. Ahh, the smell of 3 in 1, brings back such fond memories of my youth.

Yep - oily oil is what you need, lol. These bearings are very tolerant, I wouldn't over-think it. Clean it up, get new wicks and put some oil in it.
3-in-1 was the only oil we had in the house when I was growing up - until we got a fancy new forced air furnace in 1960 that had TWO blower motors (on one blower - early 2-stage furnace). From an early age (8 or 9), it became my responsibility to change the filters and oil the motors twice a year after watching him do it several times. IIRC he bought a can of 10W straight-weight motor oil. Since we only needed a little bit we didn't use a spout - he showed me how to use an awl to puncture the can and then how to wet a piece of paper with the oil to "seal" the can back up. Also how to make a funnel out of paper to guide the oil (mostly) into the oil cups. The motors worked well for ages beyond that - and they were whisper quiet.

Fast forward a few decades and I can't tell you how delighted I was to learn of the zoom-spout product!

Somehow dad made me feel important that I had this responsibility! It was a great learning opportunity in home maintenance (one of many), but also I think dad got me to do it so he didn't have to. Smart man!

 

[dungeoncrawler]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

One could also source round wool felt at McMaster Carr. This has the same function for drip oiling on old-time machinery. Its basically just a long labyrinth filter which dust particles cannot penetrate. However the oil will flow, slowly, to the bottom.

Thanks for the idea! I am struggling to find a direct replacement for the wicks it had, which looks like a cotton or wool rope wrapped in a felt sheath. Ideally it would replace it with the same thing. Is the felt on the outside with the purpose of resisting the friction of the shaft?

 

[Charlie51]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

Just remember...oil is better than no oil.

 

[23ford]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

HA HA NEEDED A LAUGH saw the neef advice and it made me laugh.

 

[bubinga]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

Just remember...oil is better than no oil.

was going to say that too.....LOL

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Lubricating an old AC motor - neef advice

Just remember...oil is better than no oil.

I just used some Kroil on an electric motor a few weeks ago. I was able to put a few drops where I wanted using a Zoom oil pull out spout.