Lubricating Locomotives

[hamltnblue]

Hello All
At this point I've been running my layout for just over a year and a half. My oldest loco's are the same age and are running fine.
At what point should I consider lubricating them?
What is the proper procedure to Lube? I.E. removing old, Grease/oil etc.

 

[UP2CSX]

How much do you run the engines? If it's the normal couple of time a week for an hour, I wouldn't do anything to them if they are running well. Most engines that are correctly lubricated to begin with will run for at least five years with no additional lubrication needed. This is especially true for anything built in the last decade, since so many of the parts are Delrin and other slippery engineering plastics. I've seen many more engines have problems from over lubrication than under lubrication.

 

[Selector]

I agree with Jim. I have several engines purchased in 2005 that get a total of perhaps 3 hours a year of running each. I lubed their rods and axles/bushings a couple of hours into their running lives and have not done so again.

I don't know about the hobby oils and lubes, but I learned soon after entering the hobby in 2005 that Dextron III auto transmission fluid is a wonderful lube for side rods, valve gear parts that move, and for the bushings. It doesn't seem to evaporate, it is harmless to plastics and paint (apprently, now four years into their exposed lives), and it is super-slippery. It is what I use exclusively. I wouldn't recommend against using appropriate greases in the internal drive, but I would guess that ATF on the engineered plastic gears is more than adequate. Just don't add a quarter teaspoon of the stuff to one pair of gears...that would be about 10 times too much.

-Crandell

 

[hamltnblue]

Thanks
I cycle them so they get a couple of hours a month.
Looks like I'll be good to go for awhile.