There a few things that you have to do to keep a Metal Lathe running nice and smooth. Keeping the Headstock, Gearbox and Apron oil filled. The Leadscrew feed Rod, Tailstock, Cross Slide, Compound Rest, and the Carriage all have ball oilers that need oil added.

What you need:

8mm Hex Wrench
Mobil DTE Oil Heavy Medium
Rag to clean out metal chips and spilled oil
old soda bottle washed out and cut down
Pump Oil Can

Step 1: Lubrication of a Jet Lathe at TechShop

We have a 5 gallon Bucket of the Mobil DTE Oil heavy Medium, to make it easier on us, we use an old soda bottle that is washed and cut down. Pour oil in to the bottle.

Step 2: Lubrication of a Jet Lathe at TechShop

The headstock.

The inductor is located below the K L speed dial. If the oil line is below the red dot, you need to add Mobil DTE Oil Heavy Medium oil. The spout to add the oil is on the top of gear box in the back corner. Unscrew the hex nut with a 8 mm hex wench, and add oil till the indicator is fill.

Step 3: Lubrication of a Jet Lathe at TechShop

Gearbox

The inductor is located below the KC D 0 E F speed dial. If the oil line is below the red dot, you need to add Mobil DTE Oil Heavy Medium oil. The spout to add the oil is under the thread chart cover. To remove the cover just lift off the cover. Unscrew the hex nut with a 8 mm hex wench, and add oil till the indicator is fill.

Step 4: Lubrication of a Jet Lathe at TechShop

The Apron

The inductor is located below the K L speed dial. If the oil line is below the red dot, you need to add Mobil DTE Oil Heavy Medium oil. The spout to add the oil is on the top of gear box in the back corner. Unscrew the hex nut with a 8 mm hex wench, and add oil till the indicator is fill.

The the Headstock, Gearbox and Apron should be check no more then once a month.

Step 5: Lubrication of a Jet Lathe at TechShop

The Leadscrew Feed Rod, Tailstock, Cross Slide, Compound Rest, and the Carriage all have ball oilers that need oil added. Using a pump oil can, make your way around the lathe added two pumps into each one of the ball oilers, having a rag handy to clean up any over flow of the oil.

you should check the oil no more then one a week.