Mgn Linear Guide Repair Guide

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MGN Linear Guide
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Introduction

Some possible causes of a linear guide not working properly are:

Bearing balls that are the wrong size (slightly oversized or undersized).An inconsistent diameter of a few balls in the carriage.Thick grease that prevents the balls from rolling freely.Burrs (leftover pieces of metal from machining) on the linear guide or in the carriage channels.A mismatch in size between the carriage and the rail. The carriage is slightly too big for the rail, or vice versa.

Step 1

              Linear Rail Inspection

Inspect your linear rails. Make sure there is a red stopper in the screw holes on each end of the linear rail. I would recommend you leave these in until you’re ready to mount them to the frame
The carriage should slide along the rail with little force required. I don’t have the preload information on these but it’s not uncommon to have to apply slight downward force on the carriage for it to slide smoothly
There should be a small gap on the along the bearing channel
Teardown

Inspect your linear rails. Make sure there is a red stopper in the screw holes on each end of the linear rail. I would recommend you leave these in until you’re ready to mount them to the frame

The carriage should slide along the rail with little force required. I don’t have the preload information on these but it’s not uncommon to have to apply slight downward force on the carriage for it to slide smoothly

There should be a small gap on the along the bearing channel

Teardown

1024

Step 2

              Cleaning the linear rail/MGN carriage

The MGN carriage comes with manufacture lube on them. The carriage should slide along the rail with little force required. If you feel resistance along the rail or hear what sounds like grinding you should clean the rail guides and the MGN carriage

The MGN carriage comes with manufacture lube on them. The carriage should slide along the rail with little force required. If you feel resistance along the rail or hear what sounds like grinding you should clean the rail guides and the MGN carriage

Step 3

              What kind of lube do I use?

There’s been many discussion about what type of lube to use. First off DO NOT use WD40, JB80 or similar. These are penetrating solvents. These are not to be used as a lubricant.
The MGN carriage comes with manufacture lube on them. The carriage should slide along the rail with little force required. I don’t have the preload information on these but it’s not uncommon to have to apply slight downward force on the carriage for it to slide smoothly

There’s been many discussion about what type of lube to use. First off DO NOT use WD40, JB80 or similar. These are penetrating solvents. These are not to be used as a lubricant.

The MGN carriage comes with manufacture lube on them. The carriage should slide along the rail with little force required. I don’t have the preload information on these but it’s not uncommon to have to apply slight downward force on the carriage for it to slide smoothly

Step 4

              Removing Stock Grease

Cheap Chinese linear rails are often coated with a thick grease that prevents rust and corrosion. However this prevents the carriage from traveling smoothly.
Do not use any magnetic tools on the ball bearings. This will magnetize the balls causing more friction.
Remove the 2 screws and the rubber seal on both sides of the carriage block.
Using a small flat head screwdriver to nudge the retaining wire out if it’s groove.
The retaining wire needs to bent slightly in order to remove it. Take care to not bend it too much.
At this point the ball bearings are free to fall out so when you remove the retaining wire have a container to put the bearings in ready.
There should be 66 ball bearings.

Cheap Chinese linear rails are often coated with a thick grease that prevents rust and corrosion. However this prevents the carriage from traveling smoothly.

Do not use any magnetic tools on the ball bearings. This will magnetize the balls causing more friction.

Remove the 2 screws and the rubber seal on both sides of the carriage block.

Using a small flat head screwdriver to nudge the retaining wire out if it’s groove.

The retaining wire needs to bent slightly in order to remove it. Take care to not bend it too much.

At this point the ball bearings are free to fall out so when you remove the retaining wire have a container to put the bearings in ready.

There should be 66 ball bearings.

Step 5

              Removing Stock Grease

With the ball bearings in a container pour in a little degreaser.
Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, or WD-40 Degreasers(not regular WD-40) are all great products you can use. Do not use it on non metal parts. Petroleum-based degreaser can eat away plastic and rubber components.
Cleaning the oil off is simple. Put a lid on the container and shake it. When finished remove the balls from the container and set them on a microfiber cloth to try.
Degreasers can be harmful to skin. I recommend wearing rubber/latex gloves.
Wipe the inside of the metal block and end caps with a microfiber cloth. I use a pipe cleaner to clean the channel.

With the ball bearings in a container pour in a little degreaser.

Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, or WD-40 Degreasers(not regular WD-40) are all great products you can use. Do not use it on non metal parts. Petroleum-based degreaser can eat away plastic and rubber components.

Cleaning the oil off is simple. Put a lid on the container and shake it. When finished remove the balls from the container and set them on a microfiber cloth to try.

Degreasers can be harmful to skin. I recommend wearing rubber/latex gloves.

Wipe the inside of the metal block and end caps with a microfiber cloth. I use a pipe cleaner to clean the channel.

Step 6

              Reassembly

On one side reattach the plastic block to the MGN block. Slide in both retaining wires and screw in the rubber end cap.
Add a drop of Super Lube into the holes where the ball bearings drop in(this will help prevent them from falling out. Start inserting ball bearings into the hole channel. When they fill up place the second plastic block into the MGN block and attach the retaining clip.
Insert the remaining ball bearings into the inner channel. There should be a small gap in between the ball bearings.

On one side reattach the plastic block to the MGN block. Slide in both retaining wires and screw in the rubber end cap.

Add a drop of Super Lube into the holes where the ball bearings drop in(this will help prevent them from falling out. Start inserting ball bearings into the hole channel. When they fill up place the second plastic block into the MGN block and attach the retaining clip.

Insert the remaining ball bearings into the inner channel. There should be a small gap in between the ball bearings.

Step 7

              Applying Grease

High viscos(thick) lubrication will prevent the ball bearings from circulating freely. If it’s too thin you’ll need to re-apply often.
I recommend Super Lube 51010. It’s an excellent PTFE-based lubricant. 51014, 51004, 51008, 51025 can be used as a substitute. They’re the same product but in a different packaging.
Shake the bottle well. Apply 1-2 drops into the ball bearings on both sides of the carriage block.
If you notice dust and hair collected onto the rubber seal give it a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget to do the opposite side of the block.

High viscos(thick) lubrication will prevent the ball bearings from circulating freely. If it’s too thin you’ll need to re-apply often.

I recommend Super Lube 51010. It’s an excellent PTFE-based lubricant. 51014, 51004, 51008, 51025 can be used as a substitute. They’re the same product but in a different packaging.

Shake the bottle well. Apply 1-2 drops into the ball bearings on both sides of the carriage block.

If you notice dust and hair collected onto the rubber seal give it a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget to do the opposite side of the block.

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