5340 Lionel Scale Hudson- Scale Speed?

It is a great engine but remember the era it was built. The open frame motor does not make for  smooth operation.

i would oil it and grease it where appropriate. After sitting for 14 years you may have to clean out the grease and repack it with some new red and tacky grease. 

 I

Good luck

I can't speak for your locomotive, but I can report my experiences with my 783. 

1: Lionel gave very specific instructions for lubricating the gearbox.  They should be followed exactly.

2: It requires a long break in period before it will run well at low speeds.

3: It reaches top speed at 20 volts.

I don't know how much of this applies to your particular model.  I'd recommend finding an instruction sheet (try contacting Lionel) and studying what it has to say.

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ents/71-8005-250.pdf

This is the link to the 18005's owners manual that's on Lionel's website.

I agree this is definitely one of Lionel's best USA made engines and even by today's standards impresses me. Mine ran smooth as silk even for an AC motor engine, is a decent puller, and the old RailSounds technology has stayed pretty robust. If there's any downsides though, it's tedious to take the shell off and put back together since there's so many parts to pull out and push into holes.

Fortunately, most of the maintaining of the engine can be done without doing so. Only time I have to take off the shell is to clean the reversing unit.

As far as speed goes, it was made to have the same low gear ratio as the original scale Hudson so it could go realistically slower than other, more-toy-like steam engines Lionel was making.

If it has been sitting that long, you need to take the locomotive apart and clean out the white grease that has no doubt hardened, particularly on the main worm wheel and gear.  Then re-grease everything.  This will aid break-in considerably and avoid damaging the gearbox.  There are some great resources here (CW Burfle, ADCX Rob, and a few others) who are top notch when it comes to postwar and derivative postwar locomotives -- they have posted before on servicing this style locomotives.  Play with the search function a bit and the threads will come up.  Plenty of excellent advice in those discussions. 

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. The link to the instruction sheet was very helpful. I think that we are back on track now but I've also noticed that the high current draw of this engine makes it more sensitive to having a feed at the far end of the loop. The scale American made Hudson is a quality well made engine and I am glad that I own a couple. I really like it's detail, simplicity and inherent reliability. The Chinese Vision line Scale Hudson may operate smoother and be high tech but all of the features on that engine make it a complex product that brings an uneasiness as to reliability issues a few years down the road. Perhaps I am wrong about this but keeping it simple guarantees long term reliability.  

I have the "5344" (TMCC) version of this loco (now with the correct PT tender) and it does run well for a Pullmor unit. I'm not a big fan of the old AC motors, but these locos can

do a credible job (the scale Mohawk with Pullmor can also), if you are patient with them

as they break in. Mine is still a bit stiff - and hates to run if my train room/shop is

cold - which it has been this winter even here on the Gulf Coast.

I got a well-run-in but not worn out Commodore Vanderbilt (TMCC) a couple of years ago. So far as I know these and the 5340/5344 are mechanically identical. The Commodore

runs well and smoothly; the gearing is pretty OK. It runs as well as some newer

can-motored (with no cruise) locos that I have. 

Your 5340 needs using, and using, and using...but that's the point, isn't it? They

are very nice engines, old-fashioned or not - and I prefer the new stuff, usually.

Run it. The current draw will decrease with loosening-up, also.

Couldn't agree more.

Cold Basement= engines start out slower and need 2 turns on the loop (16' x 28') to get up to speed.

Current draw . Does get less with use. Noticing it after only a few runs

Low speed performance- better than a Pullmor engine but overall speed is also slower (scale)

Proper re-lubrication- absolutely essential on an engine stored for 14 years, even if engine is NIB. Made a big difference

Smoke Fluid-keep it in the reservoir or burn the smoke unit. Smoke also comes out of steam chest on mine .

IMO, detail, fit and finish is A1 on the 90's US made Hudson. Don't know about the TMCC version.

If you like the classic Hudson but you must admit that Lionel outdid themselves with the Vision Line Scale Hudson. The smoke unit, sounds, steam whistle, and fine detail is amazing on that model. I am happy with the conventional 5340 Hudson though.