Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Blocked intermittent oil point

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Posted by Andy Muirhead (Member # 712) on 12-03-2003, 06:59 PM:

I have three machines where the intermittent oil can't be topped up by the fill cap on top of the intermittent assembly. The oil simply will not go in as if there is some blockage. Two of the machines are Monee, the other is a Century (which is not as bad as the other two, you just have to be very slow).

At the moment, the only way of topping up the oil is by removing the drain screw at the bottom of the assembly, draining the oil, quickly passing oil through the drain hole, and placing the screw back in before the oil drains out again. It's a messy procedure at the best of times.

Anybody have any ideas? As you can imagine, it's a real pain having to drain the whole assembly every time it needs topping up!

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Posted by John Westlund (Member # 913) on 12-03-2003, 07:05 PM:

On the Century movements I have seen there is a small hole on the non-operator side of the movement. This hole is on the top of the movement behind the intermittent flywheel. I have used that to add oil before. If you have a blockage the only way I can think of to get it out would be to have the movement taken apart by someone who has experience in that if you dont. If the blockage got down into the movement there could be a disaster.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-03-2003, 07:08 PM:

Thats very easy. Look on the gear side of the machine between the flywheel and the intermmittent casing for a small breather hole. Fill the movement through the breather hole.... Its much easirer this way and faster. Just be careful to not overfil as excess will be pumped out this hole. There is an added advantage to this method as there is a small felt wick that feeds oil to the outer cam shaft bearing where the flywheel mounts. Fillint the movement this way also assures that the wick is staying wet with oil. Filling from the front end does not guarantee it'll stay wet unless you overfill it and some is pumped out through the breather hole. This is really the preferred way of filling a Century type movement!!

Eventually the movements should be removed and be checked for what ever blockage is in there. Probably film dust.

Mark @ CLACO

P.S. It helps to haev a pump style (Plews) oiler, not a regular oil can with a straight spout!!

Posted by Andy Muirhead (Member # 712) on 12-03-2003, 07:12 PM:

Thanks for that info, does it apply to both the Monee's and the Century?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-03-2003, 09:21 PM:

Yes, there should be a breather hole on all movements of that type. I never could figure out why they put the little oil cup thingy on the front side anyway...takes forever to fill em up that way.
Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Rick Meister (Member # 689) on 12-03-2003, 10:35 PM:

I have found that if you stick a straw in the oil fill on the operators side then fill it thru the straw it works much better and faster