General Discussion (Model Railroader)

Any loco tech folks here had a chance to compare these two brands? I'm tempted to use the old stand-by La Belle for my new locos but wondered if the Woodland Scenics Hob E Lubes are the same thing anyway and maybe even from the same factory. Anyone know the skivvy? Couldn't find anything specific online. Thanks.

I have no experience with the LaBelle products. But the Woodland Scenic Hob-E-Lube's have kept my steamer fleet running just fine. The instructions sent with them have proven very valuable since most loco's are shipped without any maintenance information. Jay

The Woodland Scenics gunk is top shelf. They have some very good grease, powder, oil in there kit. Now Labelle also makes some good stuff. You can't really hold one against the other. They both make certail products for certain materials and applications. But after using both I would prefer WS slightly against the other.

 

Mike

Mike and Sparky, thanks for your responses. I'm heading for a train show tomorrow and didn't know what /which I might find there.***** Are the W.S. instructions really specific regarding lubing steam locos? That'd be great and a selling point for this newbie loco tech. I hoped to find some on their site but didn't see anything. ***** Has the Woodland Scenics lube been around very long? I've only seen theirs recently.***** Thanks.

Captain: 

Haven't had a chance to test out the WS lubes.  I've been using LaBelle for eons on my brass locos and have had nothing but good luck with them--especially with the various grades of their lubricants, from the gear oil and grease down to the very light oils for keeping my eccentric gears smooth.   

Curious:  Does the WS HobbeLube offer as many variants?   I know that as a 'brass man' I keep about three or four different consistincies of LaBelle in my workship.  If WS offers the same variations, I might be tempted to try them.  I like WS scenery products--they've always worked well for me, and if they're expanding their product line, I'd certainly be interested.  I think they're a darned good company.

Tom  

Hi Tom, Yes W.S. has just about the same number of viscosities and grease variants as La Belle. Similar, anyway. Sorry I'm too much of a "rope and pulley kinda guy" to know how to post a link but just google W.S. model lube oil kits and you'll find some pics. Heading out for the train show in a few minutes. Cheers

I've always used La Belle's oil and grease on my loco's and my Slot cars.  From what I've heard the Woodland Scenics stuff is great.  I think if you were to compare the two it would be like trying to compare Valvoline and Castrol motor oil, both great products that do what they are suppose to do, lubricate.  You can't go wrong with either one.

This is what you want. but I say again BOTH make great products.

 

G.T., thanks for posing the pic for Tom (and others.) Is there any chance that you could post a page or two of their steam loco specific oiling/greasing directions if they have any? There was some La Belle 107 available at todays train show in Lynden, WA so I picked it up for now.*******T.A., I figured the two companies' products would be very similar/same but wondered if it was going to be a problem switching from one to the other on any locos down the road so was wondering how similar they seemed to users of both******* I have a Heavy Mikado that has the slightest "titch" emanating from it's driving rods/valve gear....something.... and seeing as breaking it in hasn't gotten rid of it, thought I'd better try oiling it up sooner than later. (Hence the purchase of whichever oils I found at the show, today.) The sound is a cross between a tiny "click" and a "chirp" and haven't been able to find it with my Opti-visor's magnification or lighting.

I've become a proponent of automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for gears and bearings instead of grease or oil.  It's a little heavy for tiny motor bearings, though.  I got this from watching friends run 3 rail O display layouts in the '80s and '90s.  They quickly found that ATF was the only lube that would hold up to the continuous hours without drying out from the heat - including the much more expensive Labelle.  That said, Labelle does make excellent lubricants.

The only Hob-E-Lube I have used is the graphite powder.  And I found it inferior to Kadee's Grease-em graphite powder in both coupler and Pinewood Derby applications.

Capt. Grimek:

I have a Heavy Mikado that has the slightest "titch" emanating from it's driving rods/valve gear....something.... and seeing as breaking it in hasn't gotten rid of it, thought I'd better try oiling it up sooner than later. (Hence the purchase of whichever oils I found at the show, today.) The sound is a cross between a tiny "click" and a "chirp" and haven't been able to find it with my Opti-visor's magnification or lighting.

I do cringe at attempting to get rid of a mechanism issue by "breaking in" or covering it up with lubrication.  From the description, something ain't right and needs to be corrected for long term life and health of the locomotive.  Perhaps part of the valve gear is catching on a screw head or a driver is slightly out of quarter.  I have had bent pieces in the valve gear before cause a hitch.  The best way to trouble-shoot is to remove the motor and worm (and of course shell).  Carefully roll the chassis on flat surface (plate glass is about the best) to search for the cause of the glitch.  You may have to further disassemble some parts to isolate the cause of the problem.  I don't like to lube until I have resolved any issues.

just my experiences

Fred W