I was thinking of using wd40 on the switch machine of the lionel 022 what you use.
WD-40 is more of a solvent than lubricant.
Don't use any lubricant on 022 switches. They should work well dry and clean, free of anything that might attract dust & dirt. If you just can't avoid the temptation, use powdered graphite or Neolube.
Rob
I have never had sucess lubing the 022 switches. Any oily lube tends to attract dust making thier operation much worse. If your 022s are not running smooth the culprates are usually dirt and/or missalignment or bends in the mechanics.
I've been told to use Radio Shack contact cleaner and lubricate. Others have said not to use anything. Maybe someone else could wiegh in?
I have one that just doesn't snap it moves very slow and sluggish
You can add me to the count of people who do not use wet lubricant on switches. If they are binding, they might need a good cleaning, especially if someone lubricated them in the past.
When I was building my layout about 8 years ago, I cleaned all of the old 1122 switches(for 027) that I purchased at train shows with WD40. That was eight years ago, I use the switches all the time and they work fine.
I lube almost everything with motor oil 5W-20. I have done it for years with good results. Motor oil doesn't dry out or get gummy. The switch motors don't attract dirt as long as the covers are installed. I have 125 022 switches. I wrote a long thread about restoring these switches to proper operation. My experience says you will not get good operation without oiling the switches. Also, oil will not stain carpet. I put my layouts on the floor on top of the carpet. I have cleaned up a few black oil marks with WD-40. No stain.
I don't use WD-40, 3 in 1 oil, light machine oil, sewing machine oil, Lionel Lube, white lithium grease or any other grease as these all dry out and become hard or get gummy. There is some chance that Lucas Red n Tacky and Valvolene chassis grease are OK, but I cannot find any data on them to support a claim that they are OK. Ditto LaBelle products. If the manufacturer of the lube won't publish the vapor pressure, I won't use the product.
Servoguy,
This may be changing the subject a little, but I'm curious about your building layouts on the carpet. Do you prefer that method because it allows you to make changes quickly? Do you add buildings and accesories to your floor layouts? I love my permanent layout, but sometimes, I would like to experiment with different track plans just to see what they would be like to operate them.
Thanks,
George
Sevguy thanks for the reply I will try fixing it and the. If it needs good lube I will use the oil also if you read this I have a mth engine that runs on o31 and its front pilite in the front is jumping on the 022 switch right at the frog point can you tell me what you think.
The floor has some advantages: The layout can be temporary and/or changed easily. Things don't fall off of the floor. Since I got my first train in 1950 I have never had a space to build a "permanent" layout. My home is in Florida, and there are no basements in Florida. I had a 11' by 19' layout in my office recently, but it was just for Christmas. I don't usually add any buildings because of the necessity to walk on the floor to work on the layout.
I had a large floor layout in a town house for about 2 years. It occupied most of 2 bedrooms. When I left the apartment, it all came apart. It had 50 022 switches and 8 crossings. 40 of the switches were wired together in pairs so that when the loco threw one switch using the non-derailing feature, the other switch of the pair would also throw. It took 22 minutes for the train to go around the layout before it repeated the pattern. I had some wiring and switches that allowed me to run three trains on the layout on separate blocks.
Big Dog,
It is likely the wheels are out of gauge, spread too far apart. The wheels depend on the guard rail which is opposite the frog to keep them from climbing the frog. I have had to fix several post war cars that were climbing the frog. The frame of the truck was bent allowing the wheels to spread too far apart.
BTW, I have a long post on 022 switches. Look for it using Google. 022/711 switch operating pblms.
When I lube the switches, I check the friction by turning the lantern. Oil makes a huge difference in the friction and operation of the switches. In my thread on 022 switches, I give you all the places to oil.
Is this the thread?:
http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/164691.aspx
How do I find if they are out of gauge and how do I fix to get on gauge
Yes, this is the thread
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