Dusting off an old Lionel Scout

[phillyreading]

I don't use WD40 on my trains at all!  I use a lite oil such as three in one oil or Labell 107 which can be purchased at most hobby stores.

Lee F.

[lionelsoni]

The ingredients of WD-40 are 50 percent mineral spirits, 25 percent liquified petroleum gas, 15 percent light lubricating oil, and 10 percent inert.  Far from containing water, it was designed to displace water:  The "WD" stands for "water displacement".  Nevertheless, as Lee says, it shoudn't be put on a motor commutator.

 

[phillyreading]

You may not need new brushes if it has been sitting for a while, just check the surface of the brushes-are they clean and not little pit marks? Brushes can be sanded down a bit and re used, armature plate can be cleaned with a pencil eraser on a pencil.  Don't use WD40, it is water based and won't work well as a lubricant.

Lee F.

[TomOnHudson]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I hope to take your suggestions and see if I can make this Scout run a bit smoother.

I've never been able to quiet my Scout no matter how much lube I've applied or where.  And it has to run quite fast or it will stall.  I suppose these issues could be fixed, but I simply consider them part of the engine's perverse charm.

That's how I remember it, and that's what I'm seeing/hearing now. Though, it does seem to make more noise and need more juice than I had expected.

-tom

[palallin]

I've never been able to quiet my Scout no matter how much lube I've applied or where.  And it has to run quite fast or it will stall.  I suppose these issues could be fixed, but I simply consider them part of the engine's perverse charm.

[dwiemer]

Just make sure you avoid any oil/greese on the commutator face or on the brushes.  While you are at it, might as well get new springs and brushes anyway.

Dennis

[1688torpedo]

Hello Tom!    Oil Both all moving parts with Labelle or other compatible oil formulated for toy trains. All four axle bushings should get a least two drops of oil & the Oil Wick on the Commutator Side should be saturated with at least 2-4 drops of oil for the Armature Shaft. & use Labelle or Lubriplate Grease on the Gears themselves & this will help quite the engine somewhat & it will also run smoother as well. Hope this helps. Take Care.

[EIS2]

Put oil on all moving parts except the gears.  The gears should receive a small amount of grease.  Oiled parts would include the side rods, valve guides, wheel axles, and armature shafts.

Good Luck, Earl

[TomOnHudson]

A few days back, I tried running my old Lionel Scout 1110. It had been sitting in my house, on "display", along with some other family "antiques."  This loco was a hand-me-down from my Mom, and she used to play with it in her basement, in the Bronx, as a kid in the early 1950s. I hadn't run it since I was a kid. When I tried it out, it showed some life, but was clearly in need of work.

So today I took apart that old childhood toy, to see what was what  Boy, that thing was packed with some antique crud! After cleaning it up a bit, and putting it back together, it actually ran quite a bit better. However, it sounds and feels like it could use a lube, but I'm not sure what to use or where to apply it. Any suggestions?

thanks,
-tom