I’m looking for an online dealer that sells this stuff. What number should I buy for O gauge?
It depends what you are using it for. I use #108 for things like wheel bearings & side rods. #102 for gears.
As a bottle of this stuff lasts me for years, it has been a while since I bought any, but I would thing all of the online dealers should have it.
J. Fred Muggs,
For sources, you might try Googling “Labelle oil” with and without the quotation marks.
Labelle makes a number of fine lubricants from Teflon powder to grease to very fine oil. Some are plastic compatible, some are not, which could be very important. What type you use depends on what needs to be lubed. Another consideration might be electrical conductivity.
As a general rule, I use grease for gears, medium oil for shafts, and some sort of powder (Teflon or graphite) for things that don’t move a whole lot (and don’t ever get hot) such as coupler assemblies – if I have feel I absolutely have to.
Grease and oil will attract dirt and gunk up; some things are better off just cleaned and dried and not lubed at all, IMHO. One semi-serious wag has been quoted as saying that if you can see it, you’ve used too much. Many modern plastic parts, such as nylon gears and wheel sets made of Delrin probably never need lubing. Lubing certain types of plastic is likely to do much more harm than good.
Strange as it may sound, the “oil” that is generally sold as LGB smoke-fluid has been recommended as track-cleaner. It is said to clean and improve traction. I’ve tried it and it seems to work well. Not sure about it’s use with rubber tires, however.
Sewing machine oil, and Wahl hair clipper oil, are often recommended by train buffs.
Recently, in answer to a similar question I mentioned Lucas Red ‘n’ Tacky grease as noted in an article by OGR’s technical guru Jim Barrett. This stimulated absolutely zero interest on this forum.
Perhaps it is best simply not to let your trains run totally dry, as they WILL rust, drag and squeak; but also to lube very sparingly when you do.
wolverine49
Since I posted the last response I searched a couple of on line dealers that I buy from and the only one that lists it is Walthers. I suspect that more may have it but they don’t bother to list a low priced item like this.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?quick=Labelle&quicksrch_butt.x=8&quicksrch_butt.y=3
J. Fred Muggs, lube away. Some gear sets will seeze and lockup unless lubed. If you do routine maintance, you will not have a problem. First thing I do is put a drop of very light synthetic oil [that I have filled an old Lebell needle oiler] behind each gear to reach the axle and gear shafts. Then I smear some Lebell lube on the gears. Then a drop of the oil on the non-drive axles. Then a small amount on the coupler [sure makes them open and close easier]. Let her run. On rolling stock, a drop on each axle end and the couplers. I’ve been running on carpet for two years and no trouble.