Where do I lightly oil HO locomotives to maintain smooth running?

[jeffers_mz]

Clean the wheels with a Brite Boy once, then apply a thin film of MAAS metal polish, wipe it off before it dries, and look how much more dirt you get on your clean rag. A lot depends on your layout and environment, but I prefer to just start with the polish and skip the Brite Boy step.

[AntonioFP45]

For units that have sat on the shelf a very long time ,I disassemble the gears, wa***he dried up lube off with alcholol and a toothbrush, and apply fresh lubricant.

Upon the recommendation of several friends I've switched over to Labelle products for lubing. [;)]

[Budliner]

I use fine clock oil


works for me

k

[Anonymous]

I do mine once a year. I have a BLI Heavy Mikado and the PRR M1a That was done about 4 months ago and is about due again. These two get the highest mileage, the rest are in boxes until I finish my small 2x8 (Soon to be emprie that takes over the house but you gotta start somewhere =)

Other people probably lube them once every three months if they are in a club setting... I personally think that the methods used to build these new HO models have improved greatly and as long you dust your layout regular and otherwise keep things clean you should be fine.

Oil will attract dust, dirt and other stuff. Bottom line you may have to clean/oil yours more often than I do if you run em everyday. I defer to our heavier mileage runners for more ideas on service sceduling.

[skerber]

Thank you. This information is very helpful.

So it seems best once a year to lubricate the areas previously mentioned with at most one drop of oil--depending on what I am lubricating.

[Anonymous]

I use Labelle lubircants for plastic compatible. There is a heavier oil they use for metal gears.. that one gets the TINIEST DROP you possibly can get out of there onto each of the bolts on the drive rods, axle ends and the worm gear. Graphite goes into the coupler pockets.

One tiny drop will last you at least a month. Two drops or if it gets away from you is way way too much. Once a year I oil all my steam.

The Athearn desiels kind of get the short stick. I'll place a drop into the drive line and not touch them for 10 more years. But they still run well.

[Anonymous]

I put a drop of oil on each motor bearing and on the worm drive bearings on top of each truck. Each truck also gets a dab of grease applied to the gearing. Hope this helps!

[cwclark]

when i clean my engines, I tear them down and soak the parts in isopropal alcohol and clean them with an old tooth brush..i then clean the wheel flanges with a bright boy track cleaner... then i use wahl's clipper oil and place a very small drop on the gears after assembly...I run Athearn locomotives though....Chuck

[Anonymous]

I think you mean lubricants, such as conducta lube, motor bearing lube & gear lubricant.
Other modelers will respond with recommended cleaning procedures & applications.

[skerber]

Hello,

I have some well used locomotives: Kato SD80MAC, Atlas Dash-8-40B, Atlas GP40.

I recently purchased over the internet with an order of track some locomotive oil. Where should I apply the oil, and how much oil should I use so I do not over oil the locomotive?

Thank you for helping me.[:)]