UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Techman · 7th Jun 2019, 1:24 pm

I'm quite shocked by the suggestion of using 3-in-1 oil instead of clock oil.

For many years I used to use 3-in-1 oil for many things until I learned that the other two additives were likely to be one to make it spread everywhere and the other to act as a protective layer. I understood that the 'oil' part of 3-in-1 tended to dry up, particularly in a warm clock motor, leaving the protective layer part as a gummy substance spread over everything, so since then I've always kept the 3-in-1 for just the door locks and hinges etc.

I've actually got a Smiths Sectric clock up in the loft that I intend to put back into use, and although it actually works perfectly, was going to give it some lubrication using ordinary clock oil, but having seen this thread I'm wondering if I should perhaps go back to using the old 3-in-1 instead. I'm wondering if 3-in-1 has been recommended due to it spreading better for impregnating the pivot bearings in a better way than ordinary clock oil would do?

7th Jun 2019, 1:24 pm	#7
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: Lubricating Smiths Sectric Clock Type 1 I'm quite shocked by the suggestion of using 3-in-1 oil instead of clock oil. For many years I used to use 3-in-1 oil for many things until I learned that the other two additives were likely to be one to make it spread everywhere and the other to act as a protective layer. I understood that the 'oil' part of 3-in-1 tended to dry up, particularly in a warm clock motor, leaving the protective layer part as a gummy substance spread over everything, so since then I've always kept the 3-in-1 for just the door locks and hinges etc. I've actually got a Smiths Sectric clock up in the loft that I intend to put back into use, and although it actually works perfectly, was going to give it some lubrication using ordinary clock oil, but having seen this thread I'm wondering if I should perhaps go back to using the old 3-in-1 instead. I'm wondering if 3-in-1 has been recommended due to it spreading better for impregnating the pivot bearings in a better way than ordinary clock oil would do?