Greasing MTH engines

Hi Jeff,

 

Use the screw that's under the engine. They are direct ports to the gears. It doesn't hurt to do it from the top under the shell when you have it off.  I use a monoject syringe with Labelle 106 with teflon. That's my preference. I have had good luck with it and it's plastic compatible.

 

Ralph

Trains-n-Lanes

MTH ASC service tech

It all depends on the model of the engine. Some have a screw underneath that you can remove to add grease. These are usually labeled. Some you need to take the top off to get to the gear box. Some you need to do both. This is a good reason to keep those instruction books. If you don't have the instruction book go to the MTH web site and look up your engine. Most of the engines will have a PDF copy of the instruction book you can look at or download.

 

Al 

Just be careful greasing the gear box on the engines without shaft couplings were the motor is directly connected via the gear box.  Starter set engines as an example.  I have seen a few were the gear box is filled and the grease squeezes out around the worm and shaft.  It can enter the can motor via the openings.  This can lead to motor failure.  G

Thanks Ralph: I will try and find out where to get such a syringe and the Labelle lubricant(s).

OK thanks for the heads up on that situation.

OK Thanks. The MTH N&W "J" was my first encounter. The instructions say to pull the shell, while underneath there are the screws to open the ports (as I would call them) to grease. I did not see am mention in the instructions, other than to pull the shell. These replies, once again, are always a big help!!

Both my LHS gurus told me to use the screw/port method and not to worry about taking off the boiler.  Don't use a ton;  I was a victim of the start set over-lube issue mentioned above.  I got lucky and didn't have any motor damage, but I had big grey globs of grease all over my drivers that I had to clean up.  

Red N Tacky #5 is also an excellent lube for gearboxes.

Available at any decent auto parts store for low cost.

Stays on the gears better than anything else I've seen.

Too little lube is better than too much, actually. Axle grease from your auto parts store
is great - a syringe will get it in through the lube "ports". The auto grease has also
been recommended by 3rd Rail/Sunset. Any good grease will do; I find that the Labelle
tube itself will get plenty of grease in through the access screw hole - no syringe needed.
Lubrication is not rocket science; what you use is less important than the amount (moderate)
and regularity of lubrication. Better a little regularly than a bunch every few years.

I use a toothpick as a dipstick; if nothing comes back on the wood, I lube it. If the
wood is meaningfully "wet", I don't.

"I use a toothpick as a dipstick; if nothing comes back on the wood, I lube it. If the
wood is meaningfully "wet", I don't."

 

Not sure if this is a good guage.  The ports sit at the bottom where the grease collects.  Most/all of the MTH drives have the worm sitting on top of the axle gear.  I have seen engines were the top (gear mesh area) is dry.

 

Some MTH engines especially when the board is in the tender are easy to disassemble and remove the gear box cover to inspect.  I then lubricate the gear and worm, ensuring lubrication is in the teeth area.  G