KWhat Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Hello everyone, new member here. I was hoping to find someone who might know how to add oil to a Champion number 60 blower (or fan as they call it in the old catalog from what I can tell). It's an aluminum cast body. The one I found is in really good shape other than needing paint but I didn't think to ask the guy that sold it to me how to oil it. If anybody has any clue, any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Those were old cold war Civil Defense blowers, for ventilation of '60s bomb shelters. Probably not intended for continuous use like a forge blower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Welcome aboard from 7500' in SE Wyoming. Glad to have you. Since the gear housing appears to be sealed I would say the only way to introduce lubricants is where the shafts go into the housing and hope that the capillary action will pull soe into the gears. Even if they weren't designed for blacksithing use if it were mine I would use it until it started making bad noises or failed. Otherwise it is just a large paperweight. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWhat Posted November 14, 2022 Author Share Posted November 14, 2022 Now I see why it was called a "fan." Ha ha Well, it's in good shape so I will take the advice and use it for as long as it holds out. May find a way to introduce some lube via a small hole I can drip non detergent oil into and just tap it and plug it with a bolt. Thanks very much for the help! Very nice to be here as well. Looking forward to learning a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 If you drill and tap an oil port, how do you intend to keep cuttings out of the gears? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWhat Posted November 14, 2022 Author Share Posted November 14, 2022 It's bolted together. I'll just take it apart. Carefully obviously. Unless you think I can sell it. Cuz what else am I going to do with it? I don't have a bomb shelter. Haha It definitely moves more than enough air for a simple forge. Pretty sure I can salvage it. I'll just have to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 I have seen a picture of one with an oil port in the area above the handle shaft. It looked like the type of port used on some electric motors with the little flip lid. That style was made at the end of Champions existence, I think in 1986 0r 87. I would drill a hole with the blower laying on its side, checking often to make sure it's not all the way through, then use a smaller drill to finish the hole. Use a rubber plug to keep trash out of the hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 I believe you can still get those capped oilers Randy. IIRC they use the same thread as a zerk fitting. I recall guys on the Forge .list griping when they'd get an old piece of machinery that had the oilers replaced with zerks and the innards packed solid with petrified grease. Okay, a light came on and I "Duck Duck Go-ed, (Duck ducked?) "oil cup industrial" for a selection that'll make your head spin on the first page of many. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 That's good to know because I'm using a rubber plug on my Champion 140 blower, which had a pressed in spring lid oil port that fell apart when I tried to open it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWhat Posted November 14, 2022 Author Share Posted November 14, 2022 Yeah actually I've seen that pic (drawing from their catalog) with the oil port at the top. That's where I got the idea to modify this one. Not sure how easily it comes apart or doesn't but it's worth a try. I'm a locksmith so Drilling and tapping is not unfamiliar I'll just have to see what happens. I'll keep everyone posted in case anyone's interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Seems press in oil cups are more common. McMaster Carr was one of the pages but I didn't look beyond the first. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted November 15, 2022 Share Posted November 15, 2022 I taped mine for 1/8” pipe and installed a radiator/air tank drain. It has a nice sized cup I fill with bar oil then open it wile I spin the crank. Generally do so once a forging session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWhat Posted November 15, 2022 Author Share Posted November 15, 2022 You did that on one like mine Charles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted November 15, 2022 Share Posted November 15, 2022 Pretty dang close. It had a broken off and smashed oiler I pulled with an extractor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 You can still buy all kinda different styles of oilers online from various suppliers, ive got a champion Lancaster that I’m fixing up to put on a rivet forge I’m restoring, the original flip top oiler was all boogerd up I found an exact replacement but I decided just for giggles imma order one of those cool lookin glass walled old style drip oilers a tap the cap on the gear box and thread that dude in there! I think it will look pretty slick! an considering the fact I ain’t met the champion forge blower that don’t puke oil anyways it will prolly be pretty handy to have something that has an adjustable oil drip! I say drill it, tap it an find a cool oiler to install on that dude! the reason those ol civil defense blowers had sealed gear boxes was probably because they didn’t want to risk petroleum lubricant fumes leaking into an inclosed space im guessin, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWhat Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Sounds like a good plan. I'll start hunting down oiler. May as well, otherwise this thing is just a bulky paperweight. I really appreciate everyone's insight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 I would suggest pulling it apart. As the case bolts on from the outside (forge blowers you have to pull the fan to get into the gear case) unbolting and pulling the handle and unbolting the side plate would allow you to clean out any shavings and gunk. Take pictures so if any thing comes apart you can put it back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWhat Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 That's outstanding advice. So just to make sure I'm clear you're staying basically leave the main housing bolted together and just unbolt the crank case and handle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 Don't drill and tap until after it's apart and you won't have to clean shavings at all. Hmmmm? Did you miss the post where I mentioned a simple web search for "Oil Cup, Industrial" suppliers? It eliminates the hunting down part unless that's your thing. A press in oil cut eliminates tapping the hole. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWhat Posted November 16, 2022 Author Share Posted November 16, 2022 Been working and haven't had a chance to look for one of those but I appreciate it. I've had to fabricate a lot of things in my time but I definitely would like to do this right the first time if I can. Once again I appreciate everybody's input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 Oil cups are on my "find an buy" list for the scrapyard. Nice to have3 a small pile of them for "reuse". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.