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I recall some forum members discussing gear lubricants in another thread but can't remember where.  Even in one of the VLBB threads, where someone opened up the case and thought it was dry and needed more lube.  I also recall people saying in both threads that Lukas Oil Red & Tacky is a good lube? Well, on my ride home from skiing up in Maine, the truck stop had R&T so I bought some.  But I spoke to my LHS train guy and he said it is way too viscous for a model train's gears. Opinions?  Recs?  Thanks. 

 

Peter

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Just a suggestion from a forum sponsor...Have you tried Excelle Lubricants. XL has both a gear oil that has a heavy viscosity that is recommended for oiling the exposed gears like diesel trucks, etc. They also offer a white grease for the enclosed gears like gearboxes.

Both are synthetic, plastic compatible, conductive, and they will not throw off in use. see more at www.megasteam.com. We are proud to carry their great line of lubricants that are made expressly for model trains. And, they are manufactured right here in the USA! 

Last edited by Mega-Steam

PJB,

I started using, Red-N-Tacky over thirty years ago. I used it building street rod engines. It worked so good back then, that I started using it on all of my prewar Std Gauge. Performance and benefits were noticed immediately. Years later I noticed others started using it on their trains. I've yet to hear of anyone having complaints with any of Lucas' products. Ten years ago I started using their Gun Oil also. It's a lighter oil with the same features as, Red-N-Tacky. Most negative comments come from those not familiar with it. I agree with, Rob. Maybe your LHS train guy is one of those.

I bought an MTH lube kit about 4 years ago when I got my first Premier diesel engine. The grease in the kit looks and smells an awful lot like Red & Tacky? So I got a tube of Red & Tacky at Home Depot for about $5 (full size grease gun cartridge) that will last several lifetimes, my grandson's grand kids will probably still be using the same tube if it lasts that long.

Originally Posted by Russell:

I use Red N Tacky on the Drive gears, CLP on everything else.

Leaning to setting a graphite powder for some locations, I tire of cleaning the accumulated drek off eventually.

I'm wary of "tacky" lubes because they retain dirt and foreign matter, if not in a totally enclosed gearbox. Ordinary oils and light grease are entirely adequate for typical model trains. Use "plastic compatible" where appropriate.

Last edited by Ace
Originally Posted by Russell:

I use Red N Tacky on the Drive gears, CLP on everything else.

Leaning to setting a graphite powder for some locations, I tire of cleaning the accumulated drek off eventually.

I don't know if I would use Graphite anywhere Russell. I was a locksmith by trade in another life and it makes a mess and gets on everything!

Lionel recommended using a molybdenum grease in the gearbox of my 783, so after buying it, I bought a tube of Hob-E-Lube 656 by Woodland Scenics:

 

http://woodlandscenics.woodlan...ow/Item/HL656/page/1

 

It's worked great.  When I bought my NIB 18009 Mohawk, it sounded like a bowl of spare parts in a blender.  But after loading the (mostly dry) gearbox with the Hob-E-Lube, it's quiet and smooth.  Now I use this stuff on all my internal gearboxes.  It even made a huge difference on my #41 US Army switcher.

 

Originally Posted by C W Burfle:

As far as I know graphite stains. Once its gotten on something, it never will clean off completely.
If anybody knows a way to remove graphite stains, I'd like to read about it.

This is to C W (or anyone else that can answer). Just seems like you do a lot of maintenance and repair on these sort of things and mentioned graphite in this post.

 

I think I remember reading that graphite was recommended for lubricating the lobster claw couplers as opposed to any kind of oil, or even anything else? Am I remembering that correctly or is a fine oil ok or stick with graphite for the lobster claws?

 

If graphite is the recommended lube, what is wrong with oil and why is it not recommended for the couplers? Is oil actually harmful to them?

 

 

 

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