LU-563 lubrication

[Mike2]

Hi- I've bought a used Juki LU-563 walking foot machine and have been working on it. Numerous online searches kept pointing to this forum and I'm hoping some of the experts here can help out.

There seems to be some confusion as to how this machine is lubricated. The manual states that there is some sort of oil reservoir underneath the machine where it draws up the oil. I can see the associated parts on the parts diagram. Where the confusion comes in is that all the online photos and videos that I've been able to find do not show this oil reservoir attached. They show a simple drip pan installed underneath, just like my machine.

There's a sticker from a dealer on my machine and it's a well known seller of Juki products and that's where the seller of my sewing machine initially purchased it from. He said that the oil reservoir did not come with it. I called another Juki dealer who has repaired a few of these and he said he's never seen an oil reservoir attached on the models that he's worked on. I contacted Atlas Levy and they said they too haven't seen one of these with an oil reservoir. So, other than the manual, anyone with any experience with these machines that I've contacted have told me that they've never seen the oil reservoir being attached. I called Juki direct and no one has returned my phone call.

There is a LU-562 model that does not have an oil reservoir as part of its design. So I'm wondering if, over the years, that dealers got lazy and started not putting the oil reservoir on the LU-563 models and just assuming that by oiling up above that the oil would flow downward.

I can order most of the parts for the oil reservoir, but a few of them have been discontinued. So I might just end up seeing what I am able to order and just installing the parts anyway. But it sure seems that it is very common for the oil reservoir to not be needed and I was wondering if anyone else had any experience with this machine. Super thanks!

[chrisash]

Is it not the tray you call the drip tray. this normally holds the oil and under the head there is a oil pickup or a flexible pipe that picks up the oil, though i do not know your particular machine, but do not use it until you know

[SARK9]

I bought a pair of 563's which had been set up for use in production....both had this original "reservoir" installed. The pan nails into place inside the drip pan, and directly under the hook shaft lower bushing. It contained a thick felt pad which was saturated with oil, kept at a level which allowed the spiral ground flutes on the gearshaft to draw oil up the shaft and keep the hook assembly lubed. The felts were still available the last time I inquired, but I don't use mine these days. The picture shows one of my old pans set into the approximate position they are used in....this is not the original table.

In the second photo, you can see the upper "shroud" attached to the underside of the machine, which controlled slinging oil at high speeds. The table I'm using won't allow the pan to be correctly positioned without some mods.

 

-DC

Edited September 11, 2018 by SARK9

[Mike2]

Thank you, both of you.

That's the first time I've ever seen that interior pan. The parts list showed the shroud that you have installed and I never could quite figure out what's its purpose was. I had assumed that the felt pad attached to the splash guard was intended on rubbing against a component to keep it oiled. Instead, it appears that it just allows directs the oil back into the pan.

Juki finally called back this afternoon and I talked to a guy who knew what he was talking about. He said that this whole 'system' with the interior pan and splash guard was simply to keep the hook lubricated, like you have mentioned. He said that I could eliminate the pan and simply oil the hook from up above. I had assumed that perhaps other components underneath were required to be submerged in the oil (like a few of my other machines), but that's not the case. I wasn't sure how large that oil pan was.

I noticed a felt pad installed in a tube near the hook/bobbin assembly. I had been applying oil to that for the sake of lubrication. He said that felt pad was actually intended to collect excess oil that got splashed around up there, and that the paid was supposed to soak up the oil and direct it back down to the pan underneath.

Between talking to Juki and your pictures, it now all makes sense. I'm relieved to see that this whole system isn't needed so long as I manually oil the hook.

[R8R]

These machines don't run at the same cheetah-speed that garment machines run at that need a full oil bath reservoir, so yeah just keep it clean and manually oil everything on a regular basis and you'll be fine. 

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

[ValJ]

I have recently acquired a Juki LU563 and in my manual, it says that they have self oiling Reservoir however, this machine does not have that, so it is my experience that this thread is always useful and never can be too old. It was very helpful to me to know that others have machines without oil reservoirs. Given that, my book also does not give any oiling points in or around the hook and gears that would have been oiled by a self oiling Reservoir, could you please comment on exactly where I should oil so that I am not missing anything. I don’t want to just put oil on all the moving parts unless that is what you recommend. 

[ValJ]

can anyone please tell me if the large and small hook shaft Gears are to be lubricated with oil or grease on a Juki LU563? Your help is greatly appreciated. I believe it is supposed to be oil but I would like to confirm that please.