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2020 Grease?

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2020 Grease?
Posted by Michael6268 on Saturday, November 17, 2018 2:36 PM

Does anyone know if you apply grease to the worm gear on a 2020 later model, or just oil in the oil hole?

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, November 17, 2018 3:52 PM

Hi Michael,

 you'll want to grease the worm occasionally. If you have the later model with the diagonal motor, you will remove 2 motor screws to lift up the motor. When you put the motor back, be aware of 2 locating pins on the frame to locate the motor in the correct alignment.

Paul

also, the turbine is an easy engine to work on. Just 3 screws to lift off the shell.

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Posted by Leverettrailfan on Saturday, November 17, 2018 3:54 PM

As a general rule for toy trains, gear teeth should be greased, and axles/bearings should be oiled. So I’d say yes, you should. Not greasing the worm gear would make the motor work harder, and put exccesive wear on the gearing, making the locomotive a poor and noisy runner.

"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"

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Posted by Michael6268 on Saturday, November 17, 2018 4:15 PM

The only reason I ask is when I had it apart I took the cover on top of the worm gear off and it did look like at some point it might have had grease in there. But all the Lionel service documents I can find say just to put oil in the hole up near the motor. They don't mention anything about lubricating / grease on the worm gear. Thinking maybe oil wicks down onto the worm gear? It would seem oil might follow the path from the oil hole, down past the washers and thrust bearings to the worm gear? Normally any gears / worm gears I hit with red and tacky grease. Just wondering if maybe the 2020 was different.

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Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, November 17, 2018 6:02 PM

You have me searching the internet on this ! I am reading from the Just Trains site, they are saying a little grease on the worm, and the smoke cam. You can check it for yourself by googling "Lionel 2020 Lubrication".

The consensus also seems to be just a little oil down the oil hole, a little greases on the worm, but do not fill up the reservoir.

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Saturday, November 17, 2018 9:20 PM

Michael6268

The only reason I ask is when I had it apart I took the cover on top of the worm gear off and it did look like at some point it might have had grease in there...

I use Lucas Red 'N Tacky #2 and inject it into this hole with a Monojet type syringe while the motor is running.

Rob

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Posted by Trinity River Bottoms Boomer on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 8:52 AM

WOW!  You mean the motion picture GREASE will return in 2020 with new actors?

LOL

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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Posted by Michael6268 on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 2:23 PM

I'm 50 and I've never watched it. Never had any interest. Maybe because of John Travolta. 

 

As far as the 2020, I hit the worm drive with some red and tacky this morning.  It's purring like a kitten.  A post-war kitten that is...

 

 

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Posted by Trinity River Bottoms Boomer on Friday, November 23, 2018 2:22 PM

The music from GREASE is great.  Oliva Newton John, beautiful.  John Travolta, please pass the barf bag.  Watched the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 on German TV yesterday just to see the the New York City subway trains.  Could have been much better.  The shots of the trains weren't bad, however, please don't make me sit through it next time the rerun plays!

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