Trains packed away for five years

[Ted_Yor]

Hello All;

I started getting back into model trains about seven years back. I collected old and abused ones for restoration. Mostly because I could not afford brand new. It was fun bringing them back to life, Then five years back I had to pack them up. I carefully oiled and lubed each one and packed away. It was stored in an non-air conditioned home in moderate temp. i.e. 50 degrees in Winter 90 in Summer. At last, after five years, I'm ready to unpack and prepare to put up a great Christmas display for the house.

My question is, should I be tearing each engine down and re-cleaning and lubing. I'm not to concerned with the oil but with the lubricant. I used lubricant sold by Lionel, and am concerned it may have congealed or dried out.

Thank you

Ted

[sir james I]

If it was the white lube you should be good to go.

Oil is another matter, do re-oil.

[cwburfle]

Were the trains mine, I'd check at least one engine, and take it from there.

 

When I get out an engine that has been in storage for a while, the grease (labelle 106) is usually fine. Just a bit of oil is typically all that is needed.

[Ted_Yor]

Thank you!! Fast responses!

It was the white lube I used. I like the idea of just tearing one down. I know just the one to do it to as well. I always worried I used to much lube on that one. Now I have a good excuse to double check my old work.

Thank you all!

[Penny Trains]

If everything turns smoothly you should be good with just a little oil.  But don't forget, clean those wheels, rollers and rails!

Becky

[servoguy]

What you need to do depends on what lubricants you used 7 years ago.  Lubricants that cause problems are 3 in 1 oil, Lionel Lube, WD-40, lithium grease, light machine oil, sewing machine oil.  What works well is ordinary motor oil.  It never dries out or gets gummy.  If you want to get technical about lubricants, you need to know the vapor pressure of the lubricant.  Motor oil has a vapor pressure at 100 C of 10^-2 torr.  One torr is one mm of mercury.  At room temperature, motor oil has a vapor pressure of about 10^-5 torr.  I have had a loco in a box in the closet for 40 years that was lubed with motor oil.  It ran fine when I took it out of the box.  I can not get technical data like the vapor pressure for LaBelle lubes and other lubes so I don't use them.  You can use them if you want to.  I am an engineer with 51 years of experience.  I do not take opinions about technical matters.  I want to see the test data.

[Firelock76]

Servoguy that's interesting.  My Grandfather used to lube his shotguns with olive oil by the way.  Seventy years old and they still work fine.  Of course, Grandma had OO by the gallon in the kitchen.

However, I'm not using OO on the trains.  Might make me hungry for a pizza.