LO Machine Maintenance

[Znak]

Hoping to get some clear instructions on what I should be lubricating and what I should using isopropyl alcohol on my LO machine.

Currently, I'm only cleaning the clamps (teeth), rails, gripper with alcohol — but now there's alot of squeaking in the base of the clamps. I tried taking off the knobs to clean and noticed mini friction breaks. Should I be greasing those? What about the rail for the tensioner head? I have white lithium grease, would this work? Thanks and excuse the dust on my machine...

 

[esgee48]

Use 1 or 2 drops of very light libricating oil for the tension head rail. Too much and you will pick up dust and lint there. If you are saying that your clamps squeak when you move them, I would say that perhaps they need to be adjusted. Loosen them very little so that they move without noise, but are easy to throw into locked position

 

[struggle]

Only issue with lubing the track is that the string DOES drag across it during the process on occasion, could pick up any oil/grease/dust/lint etc that gets
trapped there. At very least, keep any lube limited to the very small section of the track actually used to crank the handle.

I'm guessing the clamps are squeaking when closed/opened? Perhaps cleaning the contact surfaces or the lock/knob/lever could help that.

 

[Uncoil]

Buy a good machine cover to keep the dust and dirt to a minimum.

 

[Znak]

Use 1 or 2 drops of very light libricating oil for the tension head rail. Too much and you will pick up dust and lint there. If you are saying that your clamps squeak when you move them, I would say that perhaps they need to be adjusted. Loosen them very little so that they move without noise, but are easy to throw into locked position

Yeah I'm noticing the squeaking specifically when tightening and loosening the clamp base

 

[Znak]

Buy a good machine cover to keep the dust and dirt to a minimum.

Any suggestions, right now I'm just using a makeshift plastic bag over it and it's not doing a great job haha.

 

[Znak]

Only issue with lubing the track is that the string DOES drag across it during the process on occasion, could pick up any oil/grease/dust/lint etc that gets
trapped there. At very least, keep any lube limited to the very small section of the track actually used to crank the handle.

I'm guessing the clamps are squeaking when closed/opened? Perhaps cleaning the contact surfaces or the lock/knob/lever could help that.

Yeah I tried opening the knob with an allen key and cleaned what I could, it was pretty grimey as I haven't cleaned it since owning it. Still quite squeaky but not sure if it's just a normal amount of squeak?

 

[struggle]

An appropriate sized grill cover would make a fine machine cover. In fact, my cover (Gamma) seems like nothing more than such.

 

[struggle]

I think the locking "knob/lever" could possibly be lightly lubed, but don't get any oil/lube on the gripping surface/rails.

Doesn't sound like a huge issue.

 

[Uncoil]

Any suggestions, right now I'm just using a makeshift plastic bag over it and it's not doing a great job haha.

Go for the lowest priced one you can find for any stringing machine. A small BBQ grill cover would be good enough.

 

[esgee48]

If you want cheap, use a large plastic leaf bag.

 

[USMC-615]

I bought a Gamma (MGSMC model) cover for my new Progression ST II for $35. No more than what it is, I’m liking the 40-gal lawn and leaf bag theory more and more. Just cut it left to right, half-way the depth of the bag and oughta be perfect…for a fraction of the cost.

 

[Irvin]

@USMC-615 i use an old beach towel seems to work fine for me.

 

[WYK]

I use machine oil on my bases - both on the clamp bases and their stanchions so they slide freely. Just a small amount goes a long ways and won't coat your strings...prolly...
My grips don't squeak, tho. Which is odd because though we have the same machine, mine was stowed literally in a barn in Ireland for a year while I was travelling the US and Europe because I lent it to a mate of mine who owns a farm. He got an ear full from me. It had bird droppings, as well as lord knows what else all over it, and rust. It took hours to bring it back to it's new sparkle. Yet, it worked just fine with no noise, and calibrated right on the nose at 50-55lbs. Go figger. I might have oiled the clamps..I do not recall. But definitely not the gripper.
IS the mechanism itself squeaking from somewhere? Maybe you have bearings without grease?
I decided there's likely no need to grease the track as it is chrome on chrome where the teeth are, and the bearing actually rides on the flat part, so lubricants aren't necessary there.
The bearings the crank rides on itself appear to be similar to a skateboard or roller blades'. It's way over built for it's purpose here, so should last forever. Mine were slightly rusted after storage and I had to remove them and clean them up a bit. The grease inside was fine as they are smooth as silk spinning them by hand.
I clean the clamps with alcohol maybe twice a year. But I only string a few dozen sticks a year. They hold everything well with only modest pressure.
Never have it covered, and it is absolutely filthy with dust often as it lives in the bottom of my closet now.
It's about 5-6 years old. Mebbe more, I forget.

PM me if you have any other questions.

The typical condition of my poor thing: