FLEX SHAFT LUBRICATION

For longest life the flex shaft’s inner shaft should be cleaned and greased after every 50 hours of use. You should also clean the shaft with rubbing alcohol or acetone every 100 hours, and then regrease it. This will reduce friction and extend the life of both shaft and sheath.

You will need a 1” Crescent Wrench, a small screwdriver, a tube of light synthetic grease, a rag, and a long piece of newspaper or butcher-paper to work on.

Unplug your flex shaft from the speed control.

Remove the handpiece with a gentle tug.

DO NOT remove the gray motor-connector.

Unscrew the set-screw on the motor-connector.

Slide off the sheath from the shaft, exposing the long spring containing the inner-shaft. The spring holds the grease in place.

Gently wipe the spring with the rag and remove any dirt or grease.

Add a thin bead of grease to the outside of the spring, starting at the end near the gray motor connector and going down the spring to about 6” or 8” from the other end. The bead does not have to be continuous.

The grooved end of the sheath goes into the handpiece. The handpiece connects to the sheath, not the shaft.

The smooth end of the sheath goes into the gray motor-connector. Be sure to install correctly. The sheath will bottom-out when inserted all the way. DO NOT tighten the set screw yet.

The handpiece end of the shaft should stick out of the sheath 3/4". Adjust as necessary. NOW tighten the set screw.

Reconnect the speed control to the unit. Hang the unit vertically over a trash can and let it run at high speed for 15 minutes WITHOUT THE HANDPIECE. This will redistribute all the grease.

Wipe off any excess grease that comes out of the sheath BEFORE attaching the handpiece. The handpiece will run hot if the grease has traveled down the shaft and gotten into the handpiece. If the end of the shaft or the inside of the handpiece opening is black and greasy you will have to take the handpiece apart and clean it.