How Many of You ......

I would AND do it all the time. take out can motors and lube the gear box.

I have purchased several Williams locomotives in the past and the 1rst set I bought found out the hard way that this should be done, even right from the factory. Had a drive gear strip, had to replace the entire truck, because Bachmann doesn't carry parts. pulled both can motors, little or NO grease in gear box. Every Williams loco I have purchased since has gone to the work bench and been taken apart. Each one little or NO grease in the gear box.

Well, I don't do it. the reason I will give is that the instructions don't mention it but laziness also probably has something to do with it. 

I only lubricate new engines per the instructions. I don't take them apart unless it's absolutely necessary, or in the manufacturer's instructions. I have yet to get a new engine where the instructions called for taking anything apart for lubrication.

The above is for new engines only as that's all I have purchased. If purchasing an older used engine I might consider taking a look inside and lubricating where anything looks like it needs it.

I notice that some manufacturers...3rd Rail, I believe, comes to mind...request that you oil the mechanism before initial running.  I believe this has to do more with protecting the cosmetics of the engine during shipping from manufacturing to dealer to customer than anything else.  Oils tend to migrate in time.  Also, they can wick onto some of the wrapping tissue, paper, or films encasing the engine, thereby exacerbating the migration to painted finishes, etc..  Those manufacturers suggesting as such may feel it's better to put the onus on the owner for first lube than risking paint/lettering damage.  Perhaps?

So, I would tend to read the instructions or the stickers plastered on the wrappings to determine whether the manufacturer requests/recommends lubrication before running.

If there's no such advisory, I'd run it........and lube it down the road as prudent periodic maintenance requires.

But, then, that's just MHO.

KD

If you want it done right, lube it yourself!

I do not disassemble the locomotive to lube the gearbox unless I have some reason to believe the gearbox may be dry from the factory. For instance, there were a bunch of posts on this forum about Conventional Classics GG-1's received with dry gearboxes. If I'd bought one of those I would certainly have pulled it apart for inspection. Otherwise, I do the external lubrication as recommended and leave it at that. Some locomotives do have access hatches on the bottom to grease the gears without taking the whole thing apart. 

It's important to note that Lionel says its warranty is void if the customer disassembles the locomotive. I don't know how aggressively they enforce it in practice, but some Lionel higher-ups have posted on this forum underlining the policy. 

I can honestly say that there are no can motors in my entire stable (100% prewar).

Over the years I'm seeing more and more pieces brought to me for initial service. More and more NIB trains sit waiting their turn each week. The majority of these are from owners who have learned the hard way concerning factory lubrication practices. I don't mind as it prevents boredom.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

I can see the value of doing it, but I would probably mess it up, so no.

MTH in the manuals that are packed with their locomotives recommends removing the motor from the motor truck around every 50 hours of operation and lube the worm wheel of the armature and the worm gear in the motor truck.

If it is a locomotive that is used or new/old stock, I remove the shell, scoop out the grease, and add my lube of choice.  New currently catalogued items get inspected and I add grease as needed.  I've had a few arrive with no grease at all.

New new locomotives, nope.  New old, old new, or old old locomotives I do.  But it also depends on how it's running, as I run everything at least once after I get it out of the box.  If it runs smooth, nope, but if it's a bit jerky then it gets opened and greased.  I have found that doing so lowers the starting voltage and improves low speed running.

I hope that isn't too important or I'm in trouble.

Art

A friend gave me two loco trucks with can motors that I need as replacements. When I took the motors out of the trucks, low and behold, absolutely no grease! I didn't take the motors out of the loco needing the replacements, but it will be interesting to see if these gears are greased. I don't know how old the trucks are with the replacement motors, but to me, it looks as though they were never greased. I don't know if this is standard procedure, but I think not, or at least it shouldn't be.

Don

I think my entire fleet is about to SEIZE up lol.