How often should steam locos and diesels be lubricated and what type of oil should be used?
Thanks for your inputs.
Dr. Tom
well tom i use labelle light oil on the gears and the bearings.i use to use teflon grease on the gears by the same maker but i have gotten away from teflon and just use the light plastic compatiable oil(107 i beleive).i oil my diesels about once every two to four months as i do run them every day for several hours a day.i check them every few weeks to be sure they in fact have enough oil on them.don’t overdue it on the oil…maybe one drop on the gears,possibly two.have used labelle for many years and their are other brands that are as good or perhaps better.i have on ocassions oiled the shafts on the motor bearings.i put a very minute smudge of oil on an exacto blade and touch it to the two shafts.extremely important not to get to much on the motor bearings.others will have to chime in on the steam loco’s as i haven’t used any for many many years.terry…
I learned from a post by a petroleum engineer that he uses automatic transmission fluid, like Dexron by Castrol. 3 fl oz of the stuff in a clean container will last you a lifetime. It won’t attack the plastic, doesn’t have the vapour pressure and volatility of oils…it will take many years to thicken and dry out, and is a very good and light lubricant. It is ideal for your locos. I have begun to use it on my two newest engines, steamers, and they seem fine with it.
Selector, I started using tran oil and find it works very well, I also use white grease for the gears of locos( I think it’s an automotive grease) again, all in moderation.
i tried finding that post selector re the transmission fluid but couldn’t find it on this site.i have a hard time with the searches for some reason.im about out of labelle and might try the transmission oil.went to a train show today looking for lubricants today but no one had any,not even any atlas track.terry…
I and others have found that the search feature is hit and miss. I’ll try several types of syntax and see if I can find it. If I do, I’ll post a link.
I and others have found that the search feature is hit and miss. I’ll try several types of syntax and see if I can find it. If I do, I’ll post a link. Ahh, success…!
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=35111&REPLY_ID=355676#355676
Note the last comment by our intrepid modeler Don Gibson. I may not have seen his reply, but mine would have been that that is precisely what you want in a lubricant. A lubricant that does not suspend impurities is not doing a good job. Mind you, a filter will remove much of it, and a loco bearing has no filter, so, maybe it’s all moot.
thanks for the link selector.im going to try the stuff tomorrow.interesting reading.
wodland scenics has hob-e-lube
molly grease with molybdenum
ultra refined model quality
trains cars boats
safe on paint
$3.99 1/3 oz 9.7g
K
I use LaBelle teflon-impregnated grease in my gearboxes (just a little glob on one gear - it gets distributed as the gears mesh) and their plastic-compatible oil on the bearings and valve gear on my steamers.
I’d recommend grease over oil for the gearboxes. The oil won’t hurt the gears, but grease has one big advantage over oil for gears - it’s composed in part of long-chain molecules that keeps the grease on the gear faces, and oil isn’t. As the gears mesh, the grease (and oil) tend to be squeezed off the faces of the teeth as they come together. Those long-chain molecules in grease tend to pull the grease back onto the teeth surfaces as the teeth between two gears move apart. Oil does not have this reapplication action.
To apply oil to my valve gears and axle bearings, I cru***he end of a toothpick into a tiny fan shape and pick up a tiny bit of oil. I touch it to several joints on the valve gear, and when it seems to be empty, I just pick up a tiny bit more oil and keep going. I also put just a tiny bit on the crosshead guides to lubricate the sliding surfaces.
Hello, I’m new to this hobby and wife bought two g scale trains sets for xmas. I’m not sure where to lubricate the cars and engines. Train setup in suspended from the ceiling in an outdoor enclosed deck. It’s cold but not exposed to the elements. Wife won’t let me bring indoors.
Thanks for any help.
efi b
I use teflon based oil and grease. (From Remington gun company[}:)])
You manual(s) should provide guidance. Failing that (weird), watch the loco and make a note of any item that pivots or actually rotates around an axle. So, any wheels, sliding objects like the mainrod crosshead that slided back and forth on its guide(s) in front of the lower cylinder, any sliding rods that enter the valve cylinder and piston cylinder, side rod and mainrod pintle bearings, and the bushings/bearings in which each wheel axle rotates…you’ll have to invert the loco to do much of this.
As for the electric drive, you will probably have to remove either a cover plate between the big drivers, or in the cab, or you will have to remove the boiler. When it is exposed, a fine gear lube (90 weight in the summer, or a light grease that will not damage plastics, but use a lighter lube for temps below 32 deg F) should be placed on the gear teeth, including the worm gear if it is there, and lubricate any bushings/bearings on shafts that the motor uses to transmit power to the drivers.
That’s about it. If you want your loco to last, keep it well covered when it will be idle for long. Dust and sunlight will be grave causes for concern over time.
Thank you for the info. There was never any instructions with the sets, only a Bachman comic book type instruction manual for setup. That was really no help.
Thanks again.[banghead]