Thread: Why Tri-flow?

If I use the triflow on a newer machine am I gonna run into problems? I just got a copy of the manual to my original sewing machine and I CAN open it up... I didn't think I could. So I'd like to baby it a bit to see if I can solve the issues it's been giving me. But I imagine it's mostly plastic inside. So I know I can't use it on the motors anything else I should know.

Originally Posted by Kittywolf13

If I use the triflow on a newer machine am I gonna run into problems? I just got a copy of the manual to my original sewing machine and I CAN open it up... I didn't think I could. So I'd like to baby it a bit to see if I can solve the issues it's been giving me. But I imagine it's mostly plastic inside. So I know I can't use it on the motors anything else I should know.

I really can't see how you'd hurt it. Just don't put oil on any of the rubber parts. I also go pretty light on the plastic / nylon parts as well.

As a follow-up to my comment about contacting Tri-Flow.... I submitted a question via their contact form, it too the 2 weeks to get back to me with a link to Krylon's site, saying use the dealer locator form there. Well. The people in the city who carry Krylon paint are not necessarily the ones that carry a bearing grease. I spent almost 2 hours looking at sites and calling shops. There's -1- place in Edmonton that can order it for me. They're making me work pretty hard to give them money. This is about par with what I read on the bicycle sites too when I researched the stuff.

Originally Posted by J Miller

You can use the Tri-Flow on oilable motors, but I don't, and here's why. The Tri-Flow oil label says it's fortified with P.T.F.E. or Teflon. Sewing machine and small motors usually have bronze bushings for bearings. The bronze bushings are porous and most times have a felt wick surrounding them. I'm not sure how that P.T.F.E would work with the porous bushings. Will it pass through or will it plug the microscopic holes? So that's why I don't use it on motors.

Joe

Wow Joe,... thanks for this bit of information! With Singer Lube being so difficult to find here, (my huge order from SMS is arriving today, but they found their inventory to be wrong with the Lube, so it's back-ordered, so it's another month away) I was thinking of taking a SM motor to an electrical motor shop and seeing what they recommended (after they stopped giggling at the size of the motor). I didn't know about the porous bronze...

BTW, I asked the supplier for the Singer Lube in Canada where I could buy a tube or two while I'm waiting for their stock to come in. They looked in their database and said there's 1 account in all of Alberta that -used- to buy it, but the account closed 3 months ago. Something stinks here... what are the shops using when they get a machine in? I know not a LOT of vintage machines hit the service places, but there will be a couple, no?

Thanks Joe! As usual you are a wealth of information.

I was haveing trouble finding singer lube too. I found it odd that Walmart and Joanne's carried the oil but not the lube. Weirdness. I ordered mine from see classic, but would love a local source for when im in a pinch.

I think the main reason you don't see the lube in most of those places is that newer machines don't need the lube in the motor, and I haven't seen a lot of newer machines with gears. Mostly belts. There's not a lot of call for the Singer Lube anymore, so the big box type stores (and I'm lumping Joanne's and Fabricland (Canada) in here too) don't see enough of a market for it, and drop it. Wal-Mart used to carry it, about a year or two ago here. That's where I bought my first tube,... I think. That said, the tube lasts a LONG time. The reason I ran into trouble is that I was repairing machines. There were easily 10 machines I did gears and filled grease tubes on. If you ordered when you had 1/2 to a 1/3 of a tube left, you'd be more than fine. In the US, shipping is quick. My problem is, Sew-Classic won't ship chemicals over the border, so I need another source. That and in the 2 weeks it takes to clear customs, even if I could get it here, I'd still be looking for an interim solution.

guess what! I went to ebay canada, put in tri flow as a search, and a bunch popped up. Yes, shipping is a little pricy(4 bucks a bottle), but that still is do-able. Amazon Canada has it also, but only in a 12-pack.

Thanks for that! I didn't even try e-bay. Amazon only has the oil. I've been able to find that at MEC, for $.40 more a bottle and I don't have to buy 12 at a time. The Grease has been the tough one. I see fleabay has that.

Hah! $4 a bottle is nothing. You should see the other listings. $25 and $31 a bottle. Hence the reason I gave up on ebay and Amazon.

Believe it or not, even with the $4 shipping, it's still cheaper than the "supply place" that can order it here.

Thanks Joe,.. that's sounds so much better than Stubborn as a Mule,... which I've also heard as a way to describe me.