Oil for hand crank blower

[jimbob]

I have a couple of hand crank blowers that I use; I have been putting 10w30 in them, the other day I added some lucas/slick50 type to what was in the reservoir ...you can really feel the differance!

[Phil Patrick]

huh,, pretty interesting. I am finishing an overhaul on my forge right now,, i think I might give it a shot. Thanks

[Ten Hammers]

I have a Canedy Otto crank blower for the trailer shop. I have had these blowers in the home shop as well in the past. 30 wt Phillips MM oil works well in them ( and other crank blowers ). Will assume that Lucas oil additive would help. Thanks.

[R Funk]

As a general rule I would not recommend modern detergent engine oil for lubricating gearboxes and bearings. (yes I am aware that some truck transmissions recommend 50 wt engine oil)

The engine oil has additives that can cause corrosion and other similar problems. The detergent is a prime culprit

The modern engine oil is designed to keep foreign matter in suspension. This is not what wanted for gearboxes and bearings

It would be better to use a non-detergent oil or a gear oil. Wally World still carries a non detergent oil, I am not sure why..... I have some for gear box, bearings and hydrostatic drive purposes.

[skunkriv]

R Funk-As you said detergent oil is designed to keep foreign matter in suspension.

That is so these contaminants can be carried to a filter. On non filtered systems such as lawn mower type engines and air compressors you want the junk to settle out. I haven't bought anything new in many many many years but I know Briggs and Stratton used to specify non-detergent oil. Still run it in mine and that is probably why Wally World still carries it.

[HWooldridge]

Straight ATF works well in most blower gearboxes and won't be too stiff to turn in cool weather.

[the_sandy_creek_forge]

Last time I changed out the oil in mine (I only use the handcranked for demos, so it rarely needs a complete oil change, usually just a top-off) I swiped some of the hydraulic fluid that we use in the farm tractors. Worked really well.
-Aaron @ the SCF