What lubricants are best for the Bachmann 3 truck shay? Those small bevel gears might not need the thick worm gear lube of a conventional loco. The smaller parts that are just for decoration should probably have a drop of LaBelle or greasm. Are there any gears inside that need attention?
The reason I ask is mine has a small whine as I am trying to break it in. I say amall as I cannot hear it with the sound turned on.
This may be of help to you.
http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=61179
SLOW DOWN! If your Shay is making a whining noise you’re running it way too fast. A real Shay had a top speed of only 10-12 MPH because their main purpose was to haul log buggies up and down steep grades, not fast main line running.
Automatic transmission fluid is an excellent lubrication for models because it can withstand temperature variations of hundreds of degrees without degrading, thickening, or drying out.
What would AT fluid do to the plastics in models? (I assume that your comment was made tongue in cheek?)
Ummmm… Have you looked inside an automatic transmission in the last 20 years? Drop the pan sometime and start counting the plastic parts. In most cases (I don’t say all any more), the plastic parts won’t be under high load - but they are often used for things like your odometer drive and the like.
I first learned about ATF for model railroads watch Lionel and 3 rail O display layouts at shows where the trains were running 8 hours a day for several days at a time. ATF was the only lubricant that was good for more than 1 day without reapplication on the gears and larger bearings. Other folks have used it very successfully in even tiny bearings.
I also like ATF because it doesn’t collect dirt the way most greases and heavy oils do in exposed locations. An example of this was the sliding door tracks and rollers on my minivan. Trying to keep them reasonably lubricated with a light oil resulted in no lube in short order as it dried out. Heavy oil and grease collected sand and dirt. The ATF worked superbly for about 6 months after application without making a gritty mess. It has become my standard lube for these types of situations. And ATF is cheap compared to specialized lubricants.
just my experiences
Fred W
Not tongue in cheek at all – ATF is more plastic compatible than some of the LaBelle hobby lubes and will stay in place much longer. I have 3 LaBelle products and only one is plastic compatible. LaBelle 101 and 104 are not; 107 is. Most modern automatic transmissions have many plastic parts.
Depending on where you shop, the price differential is also substantial. I can get a quart of ATF for less than a local hobby shop wants for a 14.9 ml bottle of LaBelle oil.
ATF may well lubricate but it is also used to remove paint from plastic. Be careful.
There has been no mention yet of Bachmann lubricants. They make a grease, a heavy gear oil, and a light gear oil. I initially purchased the Bachmann lubricants as they were what was recommended for their line of 1:20.3 (“garden”) locomotives, but that is what I have used on my HO Bachmann shay with a seeming ease of operation and no noted ill effects.
Bill
Isn´t that brakefluid you are refering to? I´ve never heard that ATF would do that.
Graffen, you are so right. I knew it was used on a motor vehicle. Duhhh