Hello Try1256 and others, I am interested in spindle lubrication maintenance. It's a pretty obscure topic since it seems to be almost completely ignored around here. I can't understand why a series of searches with a variety of terms turns up so little on HiFiHaven about an important topic. I reached out to the Turntable Basics link you provide, but I think that site might not be maintained. No updates since something like 2016. Waiting on them. I've seen all there is to see on other forums, like vinylengine, Hoffman, Av and various sellers, but can't get this resolved and since you do write about it here, maybe you have some insight.
Technics DD SL-Q2 turntables require Panasonic/Technics spindle oil product number SFWO 010, that's SFWO (a letter "O")[space]010 (both are zeros) --so "SFWO 010" at the rate of "2 to 3 drops of oil once every 2000 hours of operation" all as per my SL-Q2 and I believe the 1200 series instructions, among others possibly.
Technics discontinued the product in either February 2013 9the most likely date) or possibly as late as 2018. Sellers are variable in their information. Sellers offer various alternatives generally prescribed as original or replacement and so forth. I think I saw a comment in your earlier post on this topic about using hydraulic oil. But hydraulic oil is not spindle oil. Others talk about Anderol 465 as a replacement but that is I believe, turbine oil. Turbine oil is not spindle bearing oil. Others use SAE engine oil, like Castro Edge. That also is not appropriate for sintered brass bearing application. Distilling all the info I could from other forums since HiFi Haven has not discussion about it yet, led me to the following set of specifications to meet the viscosity of the Technics' specified lubricant, i.e. ISO 168 (which may be SAE 20 viscosity--I've not personally verified that), along with the other specifications for this application:
Synthetic, non-detergent, compressor bearing type application, no emulsifying agents, non-hydraulic, non-turbine, non-engine, non-sewing machine, no filtering requirements in order to allow particles to settle out as they should in this application, non-thrust pad damaging, non-clogging additives to avoid clogging sintered brass bearings, used in at least the SL-Q2 and the 1200 series, which are porous.
KAB sells what they market as the equivalent of the source Technics used. But I question that. I can't quote their extensive language in detail here , but the owner says he reached out to Technics when they discontinued, and was given details about their lubricant. But there are a lot of undiscussed issues about that referral. No one outside of KAB knows for sure that a knowledgeable source at Technics specifically said "this is the source and the exact specs of the oil we supply with our turntables and recommend for maintenance." KAB has much to say on the subject, but I am not convinced. Japanese suppliers of what they describe as the remaining stock from Technics sell online, as do US and European re-sellers. But the gaps and inconsistencies are rife. They know less than the knowledgeable commenters on various other sites. I've taken to contacting lubricant manufacturers because I want the right lubricant, especially after reading the considerable amount of variation in lubricants on these spindle bearings which control much of what commenters here are discussing.
I'm hoping someone here with the amazing quality and investment in turntables on display will have an in-depth knowledge of where to go for the true original, NOS, supply of SFWO 010 or a correct replacement.
