Maintaining the Nova Mercury
General Maintenance
Interval Maintenance
After each use
Clean the work area and lathe. Vacuum scraps and dust from the
inside the headstock, between the lathe bed rails, and under the
toolslide and tailstock.
Monthly
Wax exposed cast iron parts with a good quality paste wax or
silicone spray, especially the bed rails. Buff out the wax thoroughly.
Check tightness of nuts and bolts; especially the grub screw (set
screw) on the motor pulley and the lathe mounting bolts.
Lubricate, with one or two drops of light-weight oil, the tailstock quill
threads, index pin shaft, and the toolslide camshaft (remove plastic
plug) and toolslide camshaft bores.
6 Months
Grease tailstock quill threads. Turn the handwheel so the quill
threads are exposed, apply grease to the threads, crank the
handwheel back and forth to work in the grease, wipe off any
excess.
Lubricate the tailstock slot with one or two drops of light-weight oil.
Lubrication Locations
8 21