Flesher: Technical Support

System 3 Service Bulletin 009:

Spindle bearing lubrication for System 2 & System 3

System 2 and System 3 printwheel spindles use close-tolerance bearings which, with proper lubrication, should last many years.

The spindle bearings should be lubricated at least once a week with a MINIMUM of 30-40 DROPS per week. Lubricating once per day with five to ten drops is ideal.

Any excess lubricant will drip onto the table or the cover material. These drips are the ONLY indication that there is adequate lubricant in the spindle. Expect to wipe off an occasional drip from a cover. If the spindle on your machine does not drip lubricant occasionally, it is probably not being lubricated sufficiently.

On System 2 machines the bearings are spaced one inch (25.4mm) apart and in normal operation the front bearing receives most of the lubricant. For this reason, we suggest that after you add the lubricant, you turn off the air supply and tilt the printwheel to the LOWER-CASE position for a few minutes. This will allow lubricant to reach the rear bearing.

On System 3 machines, add the lubricant then issue a "HOME ALL AXES" command and allow the spindle to idle for several minutes. This will put the spindle in a nearly vertical position allowing both bearings to receive lubricant.

Proper lubrication is CRITICAL. You must use a 100% SYNTHETIC lubricant capable of operating at temperatures of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. We highly recommend AMSOIL Reciprocating Compressor lubricant or as an alternative, AMSOIL 10W50 Motor Oil. Petroleum or mineral based oils will bake out at too low a temperature. These will build up a hard 'varnish' on the bearings that drastically increases friction and results in erratic character spacing on horizontal titles and, erratic base lines on System 3 vertical titles. Bearing life may also be drastically reduced.