Have a PK 1 Erie Built that is starting to make a sound that sounds like Weepie, Weepie, Weepie? When first stared there is no racket, but the more I run it the louder it gets. Stills pull well but I don’t want to hurt it.
It was bought used so I have no idea how many miles are on it. My track is around 320 feet and has made at lease 200 laps so that is 12 miles in 1:1 scale.
I have lubed the trucks before with Lubriplate # 105 motor assembly lube. Ok, it is 1:1 engine lube but is plactic freindly as far as I know. Worm gear have been lubed with the same stuff.
Motor shaft bearings, worm shaft bearings. Put a small drop on each gear and gear shaft bearings. Do not put any oil on the commutator. You will have to remove the bottom clip on the trucks to access the gears, but it comes off easily, also breaks easily if you’re not careful.
Jeffrey has got it right. Also, dont worry about mileage, I have locos with several hundred miles on them that still run like new. If you do a little maintainance now and then a good quality loco will last for a long time.
I had lubed the worm gear and the trucks but been a month or so, worm gear I have not checked but trucks (I opened ) is still lubed well.
So you never lube the motor it self?
Ok, just looked at the worm gears, rear one looked a little dry, greased them both up and added a little oil made for slot cars on the brass bearings. Not as loud as it was, but still there.Will give it some running time and see what it sounds like warmed up.
Hum, 3 passes and getting louder?
Any other ideas? Longer it run’s the louder it gets.