Turntable Bearing Lube...

Posted by blake (A) on October 30, 2019 at 13:35:40

In Reply to: This fancy oil might be interesting for turntables. posted by Ugly on October 27, 2019 at 11:53:07:

Over the years I've read some very heated debate on the subject of turntable bearing lube; it can be very intense.

I think it's very important to understand what type of bearing you have and how it functions as different bearings will have very different requirements in terms of lube. As such I'd be reluctant to recommend a particular oil/grease to anyone unless I was extremely familiar with their actual bearing.

I've become a bit more interested in the topic though in the last year or so after ordering some oil from Johnny at Audio Origami for my Gyrodec, which I've quite liked. It seemed to give me a small improvement in sound quality as well as reducing friction in the bearing at the same time.

Well, you say, you're just hearing things and imagining things! Perhaps I am imagining the small improvement in sound quality and hey, who's going to believe me anyway on that one?

But the friction thing is simply not arguable. How do I know? I operate the table, which still has its original early 80's AC motor, with a variac, starting around 115 volts and then ramping down to around 60 to lower motor noise and vibration (which is one of the things that the VPI SDS and Linn Lingo also do to improve sound quality, although they tend to drop into the 70 V range after startup) following start up.

With Amsoil 0W-40 (Michell has always recommended Mobile 1 0W-40 for the newer oil pumping inverted bearing), I could ramp down to around 60 volts before the motor would not power the platter during play and stall out. With the Audio Origami oil, I can ramp down further to around 50 volts before stall out. There's less friction in the bearing; it's not up for debate.

I've been running with the AO oil for about a year now with no detrimental effects and the table still sounds great. It's a green coloured oil and it is very low viscosity. Pretty sure that it is lower viscosity than the 0W-40 that Michell recommends. Am I slowly destroying my bearing? Possibly, but I don't think so and if I do I can buy a new one for $300 and install it in 5 minutes (the advantage of the Michell modular design).

I've also run a grade 3 Silicon Nitride ball from Boca Bearings in the bearing, replacing the stock steel ball, for well over two years now with no ill effects or bearing wear evident (I've changed the oil twice since installing it). That, I can tell you is a serious bang for the buck upgrade for any Gyro or Orbe owner for about $5. You'd have to be deaf not to hear the improvements it makes.

Nevertheless, both of these changes are not manufacturer approved but I've seen guys on forums argue that putting motor oil in a Michell bearing will ultimately destroy it when Michell has been recommending it for 30 years (and I've been using it for that long).

The Audio Origami may indeed be repackaged motor oil-wouldn't be surprised if it is one of the green (in colour and fuel consumption designation) 0-20 weight synthetics currently on the market.

The lower viscosity oil should, in theory at least, work better in terms of being quickly pumped up to the top of the shaft upon which the ball sits in the Michell inverted bearing. Whether it does its job better once it gets there I suppose is up for question but the consistent running for over a year with lower friction and no additional bearing wear would suggest that it is.

The trend in Asia and Europe in particular has been toward even lower viscosity synthetic motor oils. I just bought a quart of Eneos 0W-16 that I think I'll experiment with on my next oil change.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - This fancy oil might be interesting for turntables. - Ugly 11:53:07 10/27/19 (35)

Turntable Bearing Lube... - blake 10/30/1913:35:40 10/30/19 (1)

My usage guide says 5-30 - beach cruiser 02:33:55 11/10/19 (0)

You're thinking of using this oil as turntable bearing lubricant? - Lew 09:27:04 10/28/19 (22)

RE: You're thinking of using this oil as turntable bearing lubricant? - pictureguy 21:45:52 10/29/19 (14)

Actually, we don't,... - Lew 09:07:30 10/30/19 (13)

RE: TT bearing oil ... - andyr 13:35:03 11/5/19 (0)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - JonM 04:14:34 10/31/19 (1)

Wow, Mobil Velocite #6 is less than SAE 5W viscosity with its ISO of 10. - alaskahiatt 11:56:33 10/31/19 (0)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - pictureguy 10:28:21 10/30/19 (9)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - Lew 11:28:01 10/30/19 (8)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - pictureguy 14:16:11 10/30/19 (7)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - pictureguy 21:36:54 10/30/19 (1)

+1 on the film strength - alaskahiatt 12:41:32 10/31/19 (0)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - blake 15:10:02 10/30/19 (4)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - pictureguy 16:15:30 10/30/19 (3)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - Ugly 20:37:05 10/30/19 (2)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - pictureguy 21:32:52 10/30/19 (1)

RE: Actually, we don't,... - Ugly 10:03:15 10/31/19 (0)

Yes. n/t - Ugly 23:07:46 10/28/19 (6)

RE: Yes. n/t - Lew 15:05:07 10/29/19 (5)

Car guys buying looney oil? Heck Yeh - beach cruiser 01:48:44 11/10/19 (0)

RE: Yes. n/t - Ugly 21:21:11 10/29/19 (1)

RE: Yes. n/t - Lew 09:09:41 10/30/19 (0)

SuperLube is all Use - ctbarker32 16:39:31 10/29/19 (1)

RE: SuperLube is all Use - Ugly 22:58:09 10/29/19 (0)

These graphene nanoplatelets sound very good, but I wonder if - alaskahiatt 15:09:12 10/27/19 (9)

RE: That's a good point. - Ugly 16:16:14 10/27/19 (8)

RE: That's a good point. - JonM 12:21:48 10/28/19 (0)

RE: That's a good point. - bmarton 06:49:54 10/28/19 (6)

RE: That's a good point. - Ugly 17:34:40 10/28/19 (0)

Vintage Kendall GT-1 with Molybenum - FenderLover 07:21:52 10/28/19 (4)

RE: Vintage Kendall GT-1 with Molybenum - bmarton 07:29:30 10/28/19 (3)

Mobil One is consistently good stuff. - FenderLover 09:58:13 10/28/19 (2)

Mobil One is not as good as it was when first released... - EdAInWestOC 07:30:08 10/29/19 (1)

Mobil 1 is objectively & provably better than when it was first released. - David S. 07:39:42 10/29/19 (0)

Follow Ups

Turntable Bearing Lube... - blake 10/30/1913:35:40 10/30/19 (1)

My usage guide says 5-30 - beach cruiser 02:33:55 11/10/19 (0)

Turntable Bearing Lube...

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