Can anyone give me directions on how to lubricate an N&W J without all the technical words? I know a little bit about steam but not enough! Also does one need to lubricate a shay? If so were, how and how often?
Thanks,
Brad
You need light, plastic friendly oil. LaBelle is a good choice. You need to put NO MORE THAN ONE DROP of oil on each place where two of the moving metal parts that move the wheels touch. Do the same with the little parts above the first pair of drivers, where the cylinders are.
Do NOT grease anything,
The frequency depends on how often the locomotive is run
Gene
Use a plastic compatable lubricant made for model locomotives, such as Labelle 102 Clear Oil and Labelle 108 Lubricating Oil and NOT any household lubricant like WD40.
Using the Labelle 108 Lubricating Oil, oil very lightly, VERY lightly, a drop of oil on the end of a pin for example, all moving parts of the valve gear motion and the driving wheel bearings.
Although Gene advises against using grease, you do need a very light grease for the gear train, like Labelle 102 Clear Oil. Using Labelle 102 Clear Oil, oil very lightly, VERY lightly, the locomotive drive gearing. ONE, repeat ONE drop of oil on ONE gear is all you need.
The above applies to all model locomotives, steam or diesel.
Over lubrication is the worst thing you can do. Once again, oil VERY LIGHTLY.
You'll have to figure out yourself how to access the drive gear train on all your various locomotives.
As for frequentcy? No more than once per year should be enough. I usually wait until I hear a sqeek from somewhere and then LIGHTY and carefully lubricate the locomotive.
Roger,
My advice on gear train lubing comes from several angles.
1. Many of the Bachmann gear towers are enclosed and can't be lubed without destroying the tower.
2. Most of them, especially the Spectrum, are hard to get to and harder to put back together.
3. NWSteam implies that he is at the bottom of the learning curve.
4. I've yet to see/hear evidence that any of my Bachmann steam needs greasing.
For others who say/imply they can get to the gear tower, then, yes, a bit of grease may be in order.
Gene
What Gene said.
Thanks for the help guys. I have already purchased Hob-E-Lub. I have the ultra light oil and the gear lube. Will that get me by or will I need something else?
Thanks,
-Brad
To oil a gear tower, heres what i do. I take off the bottom plate and put lube on the bottom gear, run it a few minutes to allow teh oil to spread.
I don't remember the numbers, but I also lube each axle where it goes into the frame with one small drop of Labelle light oil every couple of months or so. Also, both ends og the motor shaft.
If you ever hear a screeching sound, no matter how faint, it's telling you it needs lube.
Dear Friends,
To add my two cents:
Several of our members, including me put a small amount of lube (Wahl clipper oil, Rail Zip, etc) on the rails to minimize arcing and oxidation. Would not the extra lube do a similar thing, presuming it is not dripping on the rail bed? I think Jim Banner recommended one drop per one hundred feet of rail. Jim, please correct me if I am wrong.
Best Wishes,
Jack
Note to all -
Put any oil, of any type, on the rails at your own hazard, and if you decide later on your own that it is a complete fiasco, remember some people here warned you.
If you decide you like it, you can thank Jack.
Dear Virg,
Tried it on my O gauge stuff and it seemed to work well. Would you please enlighten me why you advise against it?
Best Wishes,
Jack
It combines with any dust and/or dirt in the environment and forms a nasty gray ooze that is not conductive. It spreads to everything. It is not conducive to better traction in my opinion. Oil is a lubricant. Real locomotives used sand. That tells me a lot. I do use Wahl's. On my clippers.
Some of these lubes may work. However, it is vital, I mean VITAL, to clean the track often, remove the lube and the junk they attract, and then lube again.
This is why I'm using alchohol. But not Lafite Rotschilde '29.
Gene
Dear Friends,
Sounds logical, and thank you! Do you have any experience with Gus Del C's track cleaner? It is a dry system, I believe. Too, there are those wet systems. Any preferences?
Best Wishes,
Jack
I clean loco wheels with Goo Gone, but than dry them very thoroughly.
I have always cleaned track dry or with alchohol. I know some who claim good luck with the clipper oil thing, but like Virginian, I think it defies logic.
Also, if you have locos with traction tires, you most definately do NOT want oil or chemicals on the track. Achohol evaporates!
Sheldon
I use "Rail-Zip".
I clean my track very rarely.
Once per year, maybe.
I use only metal wheels, no plastic.
I never use traction tires, nasty things.
If I do "clean" my track it's with 95% "rubbing alcohol" using a soft, lint free cloth followed by an application of a six inch strip of Rail-Zip" on each rail on the approach tracks to my three staging yards.
My locos run well and rarely stall due to poor pick-up.
I do use traction tires wherever I can. Mine are quite well mannered; hardly nasty.
I clean my track maybe once every 9 or 10 months with laquer thinner or acetone. I do not get either on my traction tires. I clean metal wheels with the same stuff, when I have to, and any plastic wheels with alcohol.
I too avoid plastic wheels, vertually all my freight equipment has sprung metal trucks with metal wheels.
Sheldon