Cutting oil as underwater lubricant?

[Timleech]

I recently took possession of a little boat which uses 'Neox' or similar underwater oil, gravity fed from a tank, to lubricate the propellor shaft. I've just discovered the tank is empty, maybe has been so for a while. There's no spare oil aboard and I can't get hold of any for a week or so, but I need to do a run of several hours tomorrow so I'd like to know there is some sort of lubricant for the shafting. I've got conventional and synthetic soluble cutting oils here, wondering whether one of those would be better than nothing. Bearing is probably white metal on mild steel.
Any views?

Thanks
Tim

[aboard_epsilon]

if you don't know Tim

no one does !

in north wales in a place called Rhuddlan ..
on the HTM industrial estate
is a place called "caldo oils"

Tel: 01745 591969

They also have a depot at

Worsley Brow, Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside.

Tel 01744 813535

whatever is nearest ..this company may sell the appropriate stuff ..
i know they sell underwater grease ..and every oil and grease imaginable

all the best.markj

[beanbag]

grease? marine bearing grease?

[sconisbee]

Is it a total loss system Tim? where does the waste oil go? On the older boats i've worked on we have used Hydrox 21 but i have no idea who supplies it as it was surplus from an older job, castrol also do an equivelent but both of these are for recirculating oil systems that we used on 100gwt upwards.


Simon

[Black_Moons]

Somehow I don't think 'cutting oil' as in, one designed to aid in material removal is gonna help you avoid.. material removal.. Just a thought..

Any 'normal' oil is likey much better then no oil, of course removing all traces of the wrong oil later can be a pain. You should probley find out what makes that oil so special. Does it combine with water? Is it heavyer then water so it will sink and displace water if fed from the top of the shaft? Those would be my first two questions.

[lakeside53]

Soluble cutting oil? I can't think of anything worse... any water getting to the shaft will flush out the oil... I'm sure it supposed to be a heavy "non-soluble" oil

[barts]

As an emergency substitute, I'd try a good brand of way oil designed to shed water-based coolants - something like vacuoline or the old Vactra oils.

Avoid a detergent-type automotive oil.... if you have any steam enthusiasts nearby, I would think that steam cylinder oil (Mobil 600W) would do in a pinch as well. This is also often used as a lube for worm gears....

- Bart

[Timleech]

Soluble cutting oil? I can't think of anything worse... any water getting to the shaft will flush out the oil... I'm sure it supposed to be a heavy "non-soluble" oil

No, it is actually an emulsifiable oil (oil, not grease) which I believe keeps good lubricating properties even with a fairly high water content.

The immediate panic is over, as there was enough oil in the 'used' tank to drain off & refill the supply tank. It's not a system that I'm totally familiar with, as it has a return pipe to a drain tank which has to pass through a swan's neck nearly the same height as the supply tank. Other vessels I've come across using Neox oils etc. have what is basically a 'total loss' system similar to the simple greased glands, but with an oil tank instead of a greaser.
I'll be able to source a proper supply of the right oil during the next week or two.

Thanks
Tim