I was looking at my steers today. And I noticed that the front was getting softer.(where I was lubricating) I asked my dad, “is it ok if i use vasoline on rubber?” He said petroleum would deteriorate the rubber cows until they would fall apart![:0]
What type of lubricant should I use?
Are these operating cattle for the cattle car? I’d try ARmorall. Don’t know if it’s spelled that way. For moving parts, graphite.
NO Armoral!!! Take it from a former fleet guy. Armoral is bad for everything. If not used continously, will dry out rubber and vinyl and cause it to crack. I know as we use to use it on our vehicles. It will actually cause side walls of tries to crack. Try some synthetic lube or dielectric [will not attack rubber]. Surprised that Vasoline is attacking the rubber. Vasoline is usually good around rubber.
Thanks, Chief, I’ll dump the Armoral somewhere. Learn something new on the forum every day!
Well, it just bends more. These are the postwar operating cattle
I use mine as a static display, I don’t remember mine ever working right since I got it in the 50’s.
I would think that powdered graphite would probably be the best thing to use.
The [}:)] Doctor is in! Jerry, As far as I know, you are not susposed to lube the cows!!!
What made you think they needed to be lubed in the first place? I sent you instructions
on the cattle car & stockyard, did it say anything about lubing the cows? Please ask
before you do something like that again. I can save you much trouble in such matters.
I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangely [}:)] Doctor !!!
Yeah it said that in there, to lubricate the front of them to make them turn easier.
To much lube and your cows might get the shitz as we farmers say.[:D]
Lon
The [}:)] Doctor is in!!! Jerry, I owe you a big “I was wrong” I blame old age & Nayland
Smith for hiding my K-Line book. It did say to lube the front edge of the cows, What you
did not do was use Lionel Lube. Go to a Lionel Dealer and buy a tune-up kit(I think it is
called that) which has a tube of lube, track cleaner & a track cleaner eraser. Also, there
is a needle tube of oil. The oil & lube are for motors and wheels. The lube will work on
the cows. That is the only stuff to use. Hope this helps!
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly [}:)] Doctor !!!
I always thought that you needed to grease the platform the cattle glided on, and not their little feet. Powdered graphite is always safe, but messy if you get it on your hands.
Horrors! I recently sprayed my sidewalls with Armor All! Now, how do it get it off?
Doctor or anyone else out there,
My cattle car does not vibrate as well as it should, meaning the cows aren’t a moving very fast it all. When I took it apart I noticed that a couple of the circular pads under the track were missing. Any suggestions on how to repair and anything else I should do to get it up and running like new?
Mike
Utterly ridiculous,“bag balm”, of course!
Hi rrcrossing-fr, you can buy circular little replacement pads from most parts dealers that advertise in CTT. Your local hobby shop may even have some to sell.
Mike, The [}:)] Doctor is in!!! The pads are easy to get from most parts dealers. I also
think you should buy a repair book(K-Line or Greenburg) There also was a tune-up
article in CTT for the stockyard & car. I will look it up later if you can’t find it. It’s a simple
fix, then the cows will keep mooing along!(sorry, bad pun) You may also need to adjust
the screw that controls the vibration. They need tweeking now & then. If you need more
help, Email me and I will be at your service.
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble,Yet Strangly [}:)] Doctor !!!
Dr. Fu,
Thanks for the advice. I’ll pick up a repair book and see if I can find the CTT article.
Mike
Mike, The [}:)] Doctor Is in !!! I found the article, Its in the Dec 1996 issue of CTT. If you
cannot find the issue, send me your snail mail address and I will photocopy the article
and mail it to you.
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet [}:)] Doctor !!!
Hmmm…tweeking and lubing the cows–what is this, The Simple Life? 
Many thanks Doc!!!
Mike