I’m just learning the hobby and one thing I’d like to know is how to properly perform maintenance on a locomotive (HO in my case). I would like to know how to properly lubricate the loco so as to not apply lubrication where it isn’t needed while making sure I get it where it is needed. I was hoping to find a video on this in MRVP but so far haven’t found one. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Ken
Hmm, let’s see here. First off, you don’t need to worry about lubrication very often. Certainly not more often than once a year.
Second, try and find the manufacturer’s instruction sheet for your specific locomotive and then follow the suggestions therein. If you don’t have the printed version that should have been packed with the locomotive at the factory, you can probably find a copy posted on the Internet. Google for the maker’s name, and the model number and you will often find it.
Third, go EASY on the lube. Excess lube just gets flung off as the locomotive runs, making a sticky mess inside the locomotive and on your layout.
Rule of thumb 1. Gears want grease, everthing else gets oil.
Rule of thumb 2. Never lubricate a motor’s commutator.
The motor will have two bearings, one at each end. They want a small drop of oil. The worm and worm gear want a dab of grease. The powered axles want a drop of oil. The unpowered axles (if any) can use either a puff of powered graphite or a drop of oil.
For oil, you want something nice and thin, in a bottle with a hypodermic style applicator that lets you reach deep into the works and deposit a drop in just the right place. For grease I have been using the white molly grease that comes in small tubes at my auto parts store.
David Starr covered everything well. Your grease and oil need to be plastic compatible, for good reasons.
Half a drop is better than a fat drop.
Dave
Here are some links from a Google search, videos included:
As I’ve been doing some diesel conversions from Dc to DCC I’ve been getting into the locos and learning the lube aspect. The worst cases are locos that have sat for many years and need a good cleaning first, especially if they had grease that began to set up. If practical it’s best to dis-assenble the gear towers. I was nervous to pop off the axle and worm gear covers (I broke one) and/or completely dismantle the gear tower. In some cases I swisch the gear tower in alcohol to clean it farily well rather than completely dis-assemble it. How far I dis-assemble depends on appearanve plus fear of breaking something.
For routine lubing, the above is not needed. But access to the point needing a bit of lube can be a challenge depending on the loco.
One curiosity I’ve not resolved is why folks put grease on the worm gear but then put oil on the axle gears, when they are part of the same gearbox like in many diesel truck gear towers. I just use LaBelle plastic compatible grease for all in that system. I guess the theory is that grease at the axles is more likely than oil to accumulate dirt. But it bugs me to have grease at one end and oil at the other of the same “system”. Probably not a big concern in practice.