Estate sale find

[planeandsimple]

Picked up an old Craftsman reciprocating saw at an estate sale, looks clean but had oil residue inside the case. Manual's vague. Anyone know if these were sealed units or need refilling?

 

[Vanya]

The residue is probably just grease that broke down over time.

 

[HerrFixIt]

Picked up an old Craftsman reciprocating saw at an estate sale, looks clean but had oil residue inside the case. Manual's vague. Anyone know if these were sealed units or need refilling?

Good find! They weren't sealed units so the oil you saw is probably from the gear case. I think a lot of people just use a good quality grease instead of trying to find the right oil. Try to clean it out the best you can and pack it with something like Lucas Red 'N' Tacky or even just a general-purpose lithium grease. That should keep it running for a long time.

 

[ben tiffi]

That oil residue is designed to be maintenance free aside from keeping the blade clamp clean. You can occasionally add a drop of light oil to the blade shank for smoother cuts. As long as the tool runs smoothly and there is no grinding noise. Just wipe out the residue and keep using it.

 

[Kiw111]

That oil residue is designed to be maintenance free aside from keeping the blade clamp clean. You can occasionally add a drop of light oil to the blade shank for smoother cuts. As long as the tool runs smoothly and there is no grinding noise. Just wipe out the residue and keep using it.

true! that oil residue is a mix of old grease and dirt. the internal gearbox is a sealed unit, and that stuff is designed to last for a long, long time.
just give it a good wipe down and you're good to go. the real key to longterm health is making sure you apply a drop of oil to the blade shank before each use to keep it from binding and wearing out

 

[FB-eye]

I feel if it doesn't sound like it's grinding itself to death, you're fine. If it's rattling or getting hot, the bushings or gears might be toast, no refill needed unless you crack it open for repairs.