LUBRICATION AND CARE OF THE SEPARATOR 221 



with grease cups or oil-holes closed with plugs. However, 

 this means of lubricating cannot always be relied upon, as 

 the holes are apt to become clogged. All truck-wheels 

 should frequently be removed and the skein cleaned of all 

 caked grease and dirt. The skein should then be well 

 coated with axle-grease, especially near the large end 

 which has the greatest wear. It is well to spread some 

 machine-oil over the axle-grease. The separator truck- 

 wheels especially should have frequent attention, as the 

 dust and chaff of threshing quickly dries the grease or oil. 

 A good operator will not permit the skeins and hubs of the 

 machinery in his care to be injured for want of proper 

 lubrication. 



The Care of a Separator. With good care a separator 

 should last eight or ten years, and there are many "Case" 

 machines that have been in use twice that length of time. 

 When the threshing season is finished, the machine should 

 be thoroughly cleaned and housed in a dry place. Dirt 

 that has been allowed to remain on the machine during 

 the winter, holds moisture, ruins varnish and paint, and 

 rusts the sieve and other iron and steel parts. The appear- 

 ance of a machine usually tells a truer tale of its condition 

 than the number of years it has been run. The separator 

 should be given a coat of good coach varnish at least once 

 in two years, especially wood frame machines. Before 

 applying the varnish, the paint should be thoroughly 

 cleaned and all grease and oil removed with benzine. 



