White Family Rotary motor lubrication
 

Do the wicks on the motor need grease or oil? How often? The manuals don’t say anything about it. There isn’t any grease or oil left in them so i can’t tell, but I thought it might be oil because there isn’t very much room on top for grease to sit and it could melt and run off the side
http://i64.tinypic.com/69fbig.jpg

I believe oil. The 15-75 has a similar set up, with foam inserts at the top of the needle and presser bars. Exposed grease would become contaminated with lint and dust.

I lean towards oil too. The open wicks make me wonder if grease cups might be missing? At least some sort of cover? You have to hunt down a service manual or compare with an identical White motor before you decide. Oil can be used on most motors, but be very careful with just one drop, maybe a second one until you can feel it has had any effect. It depens upon how much the wicks hold onto. I just had to mention it, an oil spill can be damaging. The motors I know take oil have some type wadding or wicks, and a tiny hole for applying oil. Their not nearly as large as on yours. I oldest motor I have taking oil is 1955, all pre 1950 has grease wicks.

Is this the same motor?

http://thriftyfarmgirl.com/users/280...01_2716283.jpg

Adding to what WIchix said, the 15-91 has open oil wicks. It has grease wicks in the motor area, but they are enclosed.

I also agree to oil being the correct lubricant. Somehow, I'm not sure that grease in an open area would reach the right temperature to melt and if it did, wouldn't a lot of it run off?

I pulled up the wick for the photo. It's usually not seen.

bkay

[ATTACH=CONFIG]598022[/ATTACH]

The only odd thing is the width of the wicks and opening. Are they firm round felt wicks, or sort of loose wadding stuffed in there?

They’re firm, and the motor looks mostly like yours

Well i put oil in them

Engine generators had wicks going into the bushings before sealed bearings came along. According to the owners manuals, you would put a couple of drops of oil into the cups every ten hours of operation or so.

For a sewing machine, I would say a drop of sewing machine oil onto the wicks before you start a day of sewing would be sufficient.

If the wicks are dry, apply a drop of oil, then wait ten minutes to see if the oil has worked its way into the bushing. If it is still dry, add another drop of oil.