Bendix Model D ironer/mangle - maintenance, oil change

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dewal001

New member
Joined
Mar 29, 2021
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Location
Minnesota
I recently acquired a Bendix Model D ironer/mangle in great shape but without the owners manual, When it was moved it was tipped on it’s back rather than kept upright. Old oil leaked out of it. I cleaned it up but now I want to know how to change or replace the oil before I start to use it. I am not having any luck finding a manual or service information. Does anyone know how to change the oil or service this wonderful vintage machine. I found a manual for the IR brand but I don’t believe this will tell me what I need to know for my machine.
 
By the 1950's or so many ironers like other appliances began to have gears and other bit packed with grease instead of oil. This was supposed to last lifetime of appliance or least a very long time. As opposed to Ironrite where one had to periodically remove old oil, clean out gear box, then fill with fresh.

As such there may not be an easy way of opening up your Bendix ironer to "replace" oil. It might be that after many years whatever grease was used for gears has broken down into liquid. There still may be enough lubrication for ironer to operate, especially if you're not planning on doing hours long ironing sessions on a daily basis.
 
Leafing through owners manual for Bendix ironer saw this bit:

Oiling

"A six ounce tube of oil will be placed into transmission case by dealer. Check with him to make certain. The motor requires no oiling"

Thus it seems there must be a way to put oil into transmission case, which then implies a way must be had to get it out as well. Bendix manual makes no mention of this other than it was wise to have Bendix serviceman inspect unit periodically.
 
Bendix Model D

I am the director of Sew Loved, a charity in South Bend, IN, teaching sewing skills to underserved women. We were just gifted a Bendix Model D mangle. I need a manual. I saw "Laundress" refer to looking at the Manual. Is there any way you'd scan and email that to me, please? I'd gladly pay for it.

Thanks!

sew-loved.org
 
oil sump

The Bendix mangle has an oil sump, an oil pump and a nozzle that jets oil onto the chain drive every time you activate the heel depressor solenoid with the gray finger control or the knee control.

If you look at the mangle head on, you see the support unit that holds the roller, the speed control and gray the hand/finger button that activates (depresses) the heel. The right panel of that support unit is removable.

Take it off and you will see the chain drive, lubrications nozzle, oil pump and below is the sump.

The sump holds quite a bit, so if you only spilled a little oil, you are probably OK. Operate the heel activator with the cover off and make sure that plentily of oil squirts from the nozzle onto the chain. If it does I wouldn't worry about it.

If it doesn't, just pour some quality lubricating oil into the sump area putting in the approximate amount that you estimated leaked out.[this post was last edited: 9/1/2021-20:12]
 

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