Late in the day oiling?

Hi All.  I have a couple of Bachmann 0-6-0’s, the first is an 08 diesel shunter, the second a class 57xx Pannier tank, as to yet neither of these Loco’s have been oiled. I cannot see anything about “ where to oil “ or indeed when, and do I have to remove the bodywork ??? Or are there “ oiling ports/ holes “ in the chassis??? Please advise.      Best wishes.  Kevin

From this website

  it does say Lightly oil the motor bearings & gears as required

and if not sure, contact the manufacturer.

Hi Ron.   Thank you for your reply. I purchased my 08 shunter new, and that leaflet came in the box. I encapsulated for safe keeping. But , alas it didn’t tell me how to dismantle the Loco or if I needed to, for oiling. There is also another leaflet , and that one warns about “ over oiling “ and using a “plastic compatible oil. “Best wishes. Kevin

Hi Kevin,

How old are they? Lubricating the gears can be done from the bottom with the plate off, just a small spot of gear grease on the axle gear, the axles with appropriate oil from a fine tip or the end of a bit of wire. Use oil and gear lube for locomotives. Mineral oil can swell and split some plastics.

Good practice to clean and relube the gears in a regular basis, I go for once a year. That means taking it apart. Oil once a month.

That said, I've bought models ten years old that have never been lubricated. And run fine.

Nigel

Hi Nigel.   Thank you. I purchased both Locos in 2015, the 08 from Kernow and the 57xx from London Transport .When I received my “Crowd Funded Class 71” I purchased an oil recommended by Dave Jones , he of Model Locos fame , I am hoping that will do the 0-6-0’s too. No one else has mentioned “ gear lube “ , maybe they don’t realise that.    Best wishes. Kevin

Hi Kevin,

I use Labelle products, white grease for gears and a light oil for axles. Both plastic compatible. Gear trains tend to lose oil through gravity, white grease stays put. One spot on one gear is enough. It will get distributed. It's the axles holding the plastic gears (not the gears) that need lubricating, plus the brass worm. Wheel axles are steel on plastic or MAZAC/ZAMAC, drop of oil is all that is required. Plus a very small drop on the rod linkages.

Nigel

Hi Nigel.   Thanks again.   I do understand that the two Bachmann   Loco s in this thread are a different matter, but in the “instructions” supplied by Dave Jones with the Southern English Electric Class 71 Loco , which has oiling ports to make it easier, there was not a mention of grease. Best wishes  Kevin 

I know grease has been used by USA modellers for years.
And I have had a tube of LGB 51020 Gear lubricant for about 12 years and hardly used any.
Engine grease like LGB-51020 (1tube 50g.))

and from UK
http://www.justgardenrailways.co.uk/lgb-51020-50grm-gear-lubricant/

Hi Ron  Thank  you again for you reply. As I stated the Bachmann leaflet doesn’t say much. Not a mention of removing the bodyshell, a bit about “ running in “, to bed the gears in, and oiling, using a plastic friendly oil.But it would make sense in a garden or seaside layout to use a light grease.    Best wishes. Kevin

Hi Kevin,

It's not exclusive to over here. If you open the Bachmann or Hornby you should find the gear train (worm, idler gears/axle pins, axle gear) is lubricated with white grease (sometimes red). The assumption seems to be that this will not require any servicing for the life of the engine. Although I do mine on a yearly basis, it is probably good for 5 years or more between services. Modern gear plastics do not actually need lubricants, it's the pin axles that require it. Metal gear trains need them to reduce friction and keep noise down. You will also find grease in the gear towers of B-B and C-C diesels as well as the gear trains in the bogies. Unlike oil, grease stays put, and does not drip on the rails. If you have to oil regularly, where is it all going? Axles literally require a drop on the end of a bit of wire or a needle (I use a bit of 10 thou wire).

Nigel

Hi Nigel.   At the time of posting my thread, I emailed Bachmann on the subject, today, I received there reply.Which included “ Blown up diagrams “ idicating the screws that need removing , of two Locos in question , and the mention of white grease on the gears and axles, accessed by removing the baseplate . This last job? is one that I would prefer to leave for someone else.  Kevin

Just been reading this thread and lubrication of locos does seem to be a bit of a dark art - some do, some don't. 

Less is more it would appear otherwise you end up with a sticky grunge that collects every stray bit of fluff - something I'd have loved to be able to do when I was younger………………… :roll:

You say you oil yours monthly Nigel - wow - do they do a big mileage ?  Mine are currently snuggled up in boxes awaiting a layout but, when they did have one, an annual service was an absolute maximum - and only if they were lucky.

I'm with you Pete,
hardly ever oil - but clean pick ups regularly

Hi Petermac.  Thank you for your reply. “ Dark Arts” indeed, it is just like going into a tunnel without a torch.. Even more so than DCC when one is a novice.   Best wishes. Kevin

Hi Dave.   Thank you for your reply. You have raised an interesting point there, cleaning pickups? That really is“ Dark Arts “ they seem so fragile , especially the ones on Bachmann Locos, or at least the ones in question .
Best wishes.  Kevin

[user=1801]Passed Driver[/user] wrote:

Hi Dave.   Thank you for your reply. You have raised an interesting point there, cleaning pickups? That really is“ Dark Arts “ they seem so fragile , especially the ones on Bachmann Locos, or at least the ones in question .
Best wishes.  Kevin

I find the same thing - there are some locos - such as the Bachmann panniers, that seem more prone to dirty pick ups or maybe its because I tend to run them more than other locos  :roll: