Originally Posted By: davefr
Originally Posted By: moribundman
MMO is not a clock oil. Clock and watch oils have very specific properties that pertain to volatility, resistance to oxidation, thickening, drying, etc. A low viscosity clock oil like Moebius 8030 or Novostar Oil "R" should work. Google "clock oil Otto Frei." Expect to pay ca $12 plus shipping for a small bottle.
Ironically it's the clock guys that swear by MMO or 0W M1 for these rotors. Is clock oil anything special or just super expensive on a $/qt. basis. I'm also not sure they have any cleaning properties.
Clock movements are typically cleaned prior to lubrication. These rotors are sealed so some cleaning properties are needed for "in the can" rejuvination. Also these rotors run much faster then most clock movements. They're more like little motors then clocks.
I don't know about the rotor in your clock, so different rules may apply. I already stated some of the properties that make clock oil "special." You need to obviously clean clock parts before lubricating them.
Does MMO tend to "creep" a lot? From my experience, yes, it creeps very well. That's why I like to use it for soaking/cleaning tools. The tendency to creep would be a bad property for any clock oil, because clock oil is supposed to stay in place. It may not matter much in the rotor/pinion assembly of your particular clock, but in clocks and watches, if oil were to get from pivot points onto gears, it would be disastrous.