Turntable oil bearing

I actually bought a 30ml bottle of vdH Zirconium TT spindle bearing oil as mentioned by dougwebb. It is insanely expensive -- now about $150 I think. It's great stuff though. I'm using it on my direct drive Goldmund Studietto, and there's absolutely no mechanical noise. Obviously, I've got more than I'll ever use, so if anyone wants to try some, I'm willing to sell a couple ml (2 cc) to a few people for, oh say $20, which should provide two full oil changes for most TT bearings!

I'm willing to express a different idea. I use Wet Platinum, a silicone-based ... ahem ... "personal lubricant." It is slippery as heck and has not become overly viscous in my turntable. Besides, you might find some other interesting applications for it.

OK, some beginner questions if you all don't mind. First, how do I get the old oil out? Second, how do I get the new oil in? Third, how much oil are we talking about? Finally, how do I know when I've put the right amount in? Your help is appreciated. (Oh, I have a Thorens TD-320, if that makes a difference.)

Assuming the platter comes off with spindle attached, there are still basically two types.

!. Bottom end of spindle ground to a half-sphere (be very careful to protect it!) which rides on a flat bearing surface at the bottom of the shaft, or:
2. A flat-ended spindle which rides on a ball bearing at the bottom of the shaft.

If you have the second kind, you need to get the ball-bearing out. The best and least complicated way is a magnetic screw holder/retractor which you can get at any hardware or auto-supply store. I've also used a short length of flexible tubing and by sucking on one end, you can hold the ball bearing long enough to get it out of the shaft.

I use Everclear grain alcohol (available at the liquor store and great for use in DIY record cleaning solution).
Get or make some large, wooden stick cotton swabs. Clean out/ soak up the old lubricant, and then get it really clean using fresh swabs dampened with the alcohol. It drys pretty fast.

You'll need to put in enough new oil (about 0.5 to 1.0 cc) to cover the (re-installed) ball bearing, or in the case of the round ended spindle, to the top of the rounded portion. Smear a thin film on the spindle (but not in the shaft or you'll have excess oil seeping out) and replace the platter and spindle.

The platter may not settle all the way down at first due to compressed air in the shaft but it will eventually. Give it a little spin occasionally to speed things up!