Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-05-27
The Care Of Farm Machinery.

We have heard competent machinists
say that fully one quarter of the value of
machinery was lost by a fai, ure to keep
the bearing surfaces well oiled. Our OBJ
servation is, that farmers, as rule, use
too much oil on the be rings of farm
machinery, and to the detriment of the
bearings. They put on large quantities
of oil, but not sufficiently often.
The use and value of oil are to keep
the surfaces apart. SO they may not
grind, and TO furnish a medium upon
which they may slide or roll upon each
other with the least possible friction.
To do this properly judgment must be
used. Ii too much oil be given, the sur
plus Immediately runs away and is lost /;
if not enough is given, the bearings run
and wear upon each other and are soon
destroyed, or rendered SO loose as to be-
come comparatively worthless. So the
first thing to be considered is the exact
quantity of oil to properly lubricate the
surfaces without waste and the time in
which the oil will be worn away, which
will be in proportion TO the swiftness of
the motion.
According to experiments in France
the friction of wooden surfaces rubbing
on wood amounted to from one-quarter to
one-half of the force employed. The
friction of metal on wood was something
less; while the friction of metal on metal
surfaces was from one-fifth to one
seventh. Lard, applied TO wood on
wood, reduced the friction from one
tenth to one-twenty-eighth of the power
required TO move the surfaces dry; and
on metal running upon metal the fric-
lion was reduced to one-halt of what il
was before.
One of the best substances for lubricat-
ing cast-iron running upon castiron that
we have ever used is oil or lard and
black -plumbago. The best lubri-
Gator for wroughtiron axles and the
fast-running bearings of machinery is
pure oil entirely freed from all gummy
substances.
If machinery could be kept entirely
free from dust and other grit the bear
ings and journals would last indefinitely.
This is, however, impossible TO do per.
fectly; but by keeping the boxes through
which journals are oiled carefully COW
cred, and by occasionally wiping such
parts as may be got at when oiling
great waste Of power may be saved, and
the value and usefulness of machinery
prolonged. A case in point will suffice
for all.
Good wagoners always wipe the axles
of their wagons before they re-oll them /;
very few, however, wipe the boxes; and
yet the one is as essential as the other,
and one is as easily done as the other.
How? Shave spindle to fit the hole
through the hub, Cover it with piece
of cloth, and, twisting it within the hub,
il is easily cleaned. This will keep your
wheels true for a long time and save
much labor to your team and vexation to
yourself.
Manufacturers and those who sell ma
chimes well know that implements and
machinery will last more than double
the length of time for some farmers than
for others. The reason is simple: They
are carefully oiled and as carefully kept
when not in use; for any man who is
careful in the care of machinery when
in use is fully as sure to care for il when
not in use. Such men, for instance,
never have trouble with the earth load
ing on their plows; they never spend
half day securing their plows on the
ROAD in the spring; their plows are al
WAYS bright, winter and summer. They,
when the plows are done their spring
work, clean them thoroughly and paint
the brigh surface with kerosene and
lampblack and put them where this coat
ing may not be rubbed or get washed
away. When the bearings of machines
get gummy from the use of bad oil they
clean these also with kerosene and are
always particular to get only the best oil
when possible. There may be a great
deal OF money and horsefesh saved by
nroper attention to and cleanliness in
oiling farm machinery and in properly
caring for it while net in use.-Chsca9o
Tribune.