Neither my Roundhouse 4-4-0 or Bachmann 2-8-0 came with instructions as far as how often or what kind of lubricant to use. After a little time digging around these forums I found the answer to how often. But my questions is what type. Is Labelle the best? What about Woodland Scenics Hob-E-Lube? With the Labelle I need to buy 106 and 108, and with the WS I can buy the whole package that includes all seven lubricants (WDS651 - WDS657) plus complete instructions that spell out precise applications and the exact lubricant to use. The price for the two Labelle and the package of WS are about the same. More = less! Any thoughts out there? I run mostly steam, but my son has discovered diesel and some of those may pop up soon.
Check your packaging for the bachmann again if you still have it. They usually place the instructions etc behind a cardboard wall. When looking at the box you cant tell the wall is there but if it’s a spectrum the graphic will pull out revealing the paperwork. Either way you want to use plastic safe grease and oil. Some use Dextron III transmission fluid and swear by it.
Good Luck
Labelle makes a complete set of all the lubes you will probably need for your trains. The following link will get you there.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/430-1001
[:)]
Thanks for the link. After digging around this appears to be out of stock everywhere I’ve looked so far. Not to say it’s not out there, I just have not found it yet. I’ll keep looking. Has anyone had any luck with the WS lubricants?
http://www.modelrailwaypo.com/ had it in stock last week when I was there.[:)]
Atlas sells a whole lube set too.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/150-193
I’ve seen it for about half this price if you do some searching.
I’ll have to second the transmission fluid though. It’s been working great for me. I got a bottle of fishing reel grease from Wal Mart and that’s working great too. (lot cheaper)
Jay,
I reviewed the product info on their web site. It appears that all of the products are ‘plastic compatible’. This is a major concern with any model train engine(steam or diesel). You do not want any oil/lube that will attack the plastic/composite parts found in most model trains.
I have 1/2 empty Labelle #102(plastic compatible gear lube), #106(plastic compatible grease), and #107(plastic compatible medium weight oil) sitting here at home. I have a well used bottle of #108(plastic compatible light weight oil) ‘somewhere’ at the model railroad club.
The #1 key item is ‘plastic compatible’. As long as you do not use stuff like WD40/Marvel Oil/3inOne on your model trains you should be good.
The #2 key item is do NOT over lube your models. A little oil goes a long way. I only oil when I hear a ‘squeak’ from the engine. New engines get a tear down in the first year and the gear boxes are cleaned out and filled with #106. I put a ‘little’ oil on the worm bearings, motor bearings, and axles if they ride in a bronze type bearing. Most of my engines run at least 5 years before a major tear down. A few drops of oil on a squeaky bearing usually is enough. That said, I have a friend at the club who does tear downs/lube every 6 months(and especially just before a club open house). We just had a two week-end open house and I had several engines running 4-5 hours a doay over 4 days. Other than a ‘squeaky’ valve gear on a BLI 2-8-2 - No problems.
Jim Bernier
You might also try ACT lubricants. They come in a kit ACT-4004 and include motor lube, conductive lube and bearing grease. I found it at Litchfield Station, here: http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=4004&cat=11&page=1
I stopped using those expensive, a little comes in a small bottle, lubricants years ago. I’ve been using Dexron III transmission oil on all my locos for several years now. It’s plastic compatible, doesn’t gunk up and it takes only a drop for eack gearbox. One bottle lasts for a very long time. What’s more, if you need some tranny fluid for the car, there it is. I keep a little in a 2 ounce squeeze bottle with a 1 1/2" needle applicator so I don’t have to dip a toothpick into the tranny fluid bottle every time.
Glad to hear @ tranny fluid as a lubricant, I didn’t know it is harmless to plastic, but sure is a great lubricant, thanks for the info.
Just make sure it’s Dexron. ATF and Type F will melt your gears. Dexron won’t.
That Aero-Lube looks like the same exact stuff Atlas sells for 3X the $$. I knew I’d seen it cheaper some where.
The good thing about Dexron is it has detergents in it that keep it from gumming up. I’ve got a couple cheap Bachmanns that have well over 1000 hours on them with no signs of wear.
So the Dexron can be applied to all lubrication points, or only for the gearbox?
I use it at all points.
I’ve had good luck with Mobil 90 weight!
Seriously, when the snow melts and you are able to get out of the mountains go over to Nashua or another major city where you can find a dedicated electronics supply house; many years ago I purchased a tube of plastic compatable lubricating oil at one of those in Phoenix, Ariz; it was dirt cheap and it has lasted me for all these years. It may well be this Dexron(?) that has been mentioned here in this posting but what is left of my tube is next door and buried behind a stack of boxes with my collection of model railroad magazines so I can’t get to it to check.
Only Labelle 106 & 108 are used here. The light oil on bearings and grease on gears. NEVER!!! use 3 in 1 oil for model trains. As for using Dexron ATF Ive used it in the bearings in older Athearn locomotive sideframes