need some advice

[T-Wolf]

I have an old Burke mill,and the motor on it has 3 plugs in iton the front(pulley side).it reminds me of the fill and drain plugs on the truck transmissions.one at the top (fill?) one close to the bottom(level check?) and one at the bottom(drain?)never saw a critter like this .it's dry now,and i'm wondering if you put oil in this thing. the front appears to be enclosed.(stuck a wire in the plug holes and hit the back side.maybe Don Robinson or one of you machinists got the answer.....thanks

[Don Robinson]

Well, somehow you got my attention.

I imagine that old motor runs on bronze bushings instead of roller bearings, so those may very well be oil or grease holes.

I don't remember ever seeing an electric motor with oil plugs. Most had a grease fitting on each end for the bushings.

I can only suggest you take the end bell off the motor and see what those holes are for. Strange there isn't a fitting at each end for both bushings, but maybe there's an internal tube connecting with the other bushing.

In any case, lightly lube it. Too much lube will coat the armature and it won't work.

I hope this helps.

[T-Wolf]

thanks Don, glad i'm not the only one that's never seen this.I imagine this old girl came over on the Mayflower,but it works great.it's got a Rusnok vertical head on it,and everything is nice and tight on it.maybe it's like it's owner...still got a little work left in it!

[Don Robinson]

Better check the bearings and make sure they're lubricated.

A Rusnok is from Russia, right???

[T-Wolf]

done a little research..the Rusnok was made in Chicago,Ill.Evidently it's a pretty pricey machine-two to four thousand dollars.mine was given me by a man who likes my knives.it's just about the right size for knifework.

[Don Robinson]

Long, long ago in a time far away I traded a machinery dealer for a Harig used surface grinder. I traded a knife I had on hand and made him 2 or 3 more, including a carving set. Fortunately for me, he was a knife collector. He had his mechanic deliver the machine and a new phase converter and set it up for me. His name was Joe Lawton and the name of his company was Texas Machinery or something like that.

I had previously bought a vertical milling machine from him when I lived in San Antonio and had known him for years.

[T-Wolf]

here's an update,Don.I logged onto the practical machinist websire and found a link to yahoo burke mill owners forum.the motor does indeed take 90 wt oil.the three plugs are just what I thought they were.thats a handy place...nice talking to you,amigo.

[Don Robinson]

Hey, that owners forum should be interesting for you. Glad you solved the mystery. This probably means the motor has bushings instead of bearings.