levers:
Levers that are attached to sleeves that ride on shafts should not be oiled in the same way that pivots and/or mainsprings are oiled, and/or lubricated; particularly those levers that depend on gravity to operate. The reason for this is that when the oil thickens up slightly the lever will not drop every time; or it will drop too slowly . The friction added by slightly thickening oil (even the best clock oil) is just enough to impair the motion of the lever that only has gravity causing its motion. A classic example is the count arm, or the rack as it is sometimes called. It will work just fine at first: then after several months the oil will thicken and the common complaint is: the clock only strikes 1 sometimes. If you feel you must oil the lever ; be sure that it is only the thinnest possible film; and .at that, you will be taking a chance. The more oil the more the chance of a problem. So, only the thinnest film of oil need be applied to the shaft that the lever rides on. If you can see the oil on the shaft, then it is too much.