Rockwell 20" wood/metal bandsaw gearbox lube

[Norcal]

I have the above model that has to sit unused because of no oil in the gear box & there is no support from what is left of the manufacturer, would anyone here know what to use? The saw has been taken apart & reassembled years ago & it's a shame not to be able to use it.

[Shade Tree Welder]

Originally Posted by Norcal

I have the above model that has to sit unused because of no oil in the gear box & there is no support from what is left of the manufacturer, would anyone here know what to use? The saw has been taken apart & reassembled years ago & it's a shame not to be able to use it.

Worm gear set?

[digr]

The lube is listed in the manual if this your saw

[Norcal]

Originally Posted by digr

The lube is listed in the manual if this your saw

I don't have a manual, it is a former school machine that was a basket case when I got it.

[digr]

Originally Posted by Norcal

I don't have a manual,

I think you do now

[Norcal]

Is the lubrication specified a grease, or gear oil? when I cleaned the gear box out years ago, it was full of oil. My knowledge of lubrication is weak, & doing it wrong is going to be worse then just letting it sit.

What is rather sad is the fact that that it has sat unable to be used, since the late 1990's, it is a 1976 machine. When I got it the table had been ripped off the frame, thank goodness Rockwell used grade 2 hardware & the vari drive never would have worked as originally set up.

[Shade Tree Welder]

If that is the correct manual, I would recommend the following.

https://www.mcmaster.com/8670T12/

You will need 2 tubes of grease.

Spur gears so an EP (sulfur containing) is perfectly fine. The grade is an NLGI 0 grade. You can find it at your local farm implement dealer being sold as corn head grease. I have several tubes here in the shop for various applications.

Corn head grease is a good alternative for gear oil in leaky gear boxes.

[digr]

The rest of the story

[Shade Tree Welder]

Either the grease in the gear box or a #2 EP wheel bearing grease would be fine for that application.