Lubrication of Magneto Oiler Felt

[MARC BOUCHER]

I recently downloaded the manual for my 1952 Evinrude 15 hp. As I was reading it, I noticed that it suggested the following “The magneto is provided with a lubricating felt riding against the breaker cam to minimize wear on the breaker point arms. To function properly, the felt requires an application of light machine oil at least one a year – five to six drops will do. See your Johnson Service Station.”

This is the first I have heard that this is a yearly maintenance task – one which I have never done… Is this something I should be doing? Have any of you actually ever done this?

Curious minds want to keep learning 🙂

Thanks,
Marc

Boats: '47 Dunphy, '64 Starcraft
Motors:
'53 Evinrude 25; '54 Evinrude 7.5; '55 Evinrude 7.5; '56 Evinrude 30 Lark; '56 Evinrude 16; '58 Johnson 18; '60 Evinrude 10; '64 Evinrude 40

[crosbyman]

5-6 seems a lot I use 30 grade oil 1-2 drops

I doubt to many people pull the flywheel every year some haven’t for 20-30years !!! by the looks of things

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[aquasonic]

Haven’t heard of anyone doing that before. Usually just a drop or two of oil when the flywheel is off is what I’ve read. Maybe lack of oil is why so many of these felts are found to be disintegrated when working on motors that have sat idle for many years.

Improvise-Adapt-Overcome

[crosbyman]

http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/showthread.php?422341-Oiler-Wick

if the new wick is greased per this old post no oil needed …for a while anyway

today wicks come with new points generally

for some reason I prefer 30 grade oil seems to me it won’t sling away like thinner oils …

up to you 🙂

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[frankr]

Five or six drops of oil is absurd. The wick won’t absorb that much. I don’t think I’ve ever added any oil, or possibly a drop maybe. A new wick will have enough lube. Some new points will include a capsule of cam grease, That is preferable to oil. I suppose auto parts stores still sell it in a small squeeze tube??? Not to be confused with cam lube for 4-stroke camshafts.

[Mumbles]

1-2 drops of thin oil, such as turbine or ATF works for me. Too much oil and your points will burn. Cars and trucks with points ignition never had lubricating wicks and ran for ages with just a bit of grease on the cam.

[rudderless]

I use STP oil treatment for wicks. Kinda between grease and oil.

Just as important…which way do ya aim the wick..some put it against rotation and some put it with the rotation. My 1976 15hp manual says against the rotation.

[foot_doctor]

For many years I have relubed the wicks by soaking them in melted bees wax. It’s slippery, and wont sling off after it has cooled. R.T.

[crosbyman]

well very interesting….Looking at an RD oiler wick it does show it kind of oriented with clockwise rotation looking down

what is the general opinion on this ??

update: see text on qd 10-11s !! hard to tell if against… means against rotation or… “touching” the cam as in leaning against something ??

my english is vague on this 🙂

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.

[fleetwin]

crosbyman wrote:

well very interesting….Looking at an RD oiler wick it does show it kind of oriented with clockwise rotation looking down

what is the general opinion on this ??

update: see text on qd 10-11s !! hard to tell if against… means against rotation or… “touching” the cam as in leaning against something ??

my english is vague on this 🙂

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by crosbyman.

Sorry buddy, not clear about what you are asking…..The felt in the picture looks oriented properly though. Looking down on top of the crank, it rotates in a clockwise direction…The wick is oriented to the left of the retainer so it will “follow” the cam.

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