Importance of good lubrication!

I did the same to an MPC GP9 a few years ago.  What a change!  It was a different engine.

Its slow speed range was much improved also.

I recommend motor oil rather than grease or other types of oil for all lubrication.  Motor oil has a very low vapor pressure and will not evaporate and get hard or gummy.  I could not find any data on LaBelle products, so I cannot recommend them.

I had a 2025 loco in the closet for 40+ years.  When I took it out of the closet 5 years ago, it ran just fine.  I have a 2053 that was lubed about 38 years ago, and it runs just fine.  

Don't use Lionel Lube, 3 in 1 oil, grease, lithium grease, WD-40, light machine oil as these all dry out and get hard or gummy.

been using LaBelle products for years with no ill effects.

labelle

or factory direct trains

How often do you have to lube your locos?  And does the LaBelle oil or grease dry out?  Have you ever put a loco in the closet for 10 years and then checked the lube?

I have used LaBelle products (oils and other lubricants) for longer than many folks here have even been alive.  I am fully satisfied with the line and would not hesitate to recommend it.

I second Allan's recommendation for LaBelle lubricants.

Be aware that some of their older product is not plastic compatable.
I mention this because I see some of it for sale from time to time at train shows.
The products that are not plastic compatable are clearly marked.

It would help if LaBelle would publish data on their lubricants.  Personally, I don't have any reason to change from motor oil to something more costly.  I got my first train in 1950, so I have been at this a long time.

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 I got my first train in 1950, so I have been at this a long time.

Then you have a few years on me.
I don't think anyone is trying to change your long established practices. Just providing an alternate point of view. Here is a detailed article provided by Just Trains. I have not tried the lubricants they recommend.

Hmmm. That does it for me.

Didn't know how old Labelle........

hello guys and gals........

Try Red & Tacky #2 .................for gears

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678

Tiffany

I am an engineer, and we engineers don't use opinions.  Test data is required for everything.  That is especially true of lubricants.  I have two engineer friends that are experts on lubricants, and I have discussed motor oil and other lubricants with one of them, and he agrees that motor oil is a good choice.  

If you want to do us all a favor, get some data from LaBelle.  Get them to tell you the vapor pressure.

I did some checking on Lubriplate which is a white lithium grease.  It has a vapor pressure more than 100x motor oil.  I cannot recommend it for that reason.

I looked at the article you recommended:

"Here is a detailed article provided by Just Trains. I have not tried the lubricants they recommend."

It is by Lionel and has a lot of bad advice.  Lionel Lube is very bad and dries out rather quickly.  Using sandpaper on a commutator is bad advice.  A ScotchBrite pad is much better, or a pencil eraser.  Sandpaper can leave grit on the commutator and charge it with grit making it a good polishing wheel which will wear the brushes out quickly.  I have seen this problem with brushes on alternators.  

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It is by Lionel and has a lot of bad advice.

The article does reference the original Lionel material as a jumping off point, but it was not written by Lionel. It is nineteen pages. Are you certain you read it?

quote:

 A ScotchBrite pad is much better, or a pencil eraser

Many consider using a pencil eraser on contacts, including commutators to be bad practice because it can leave residue.

The article on lubricating Lionel trains has some serious errors.  1. They showed a turbine engine (similar to a 726 or 736) and failed to mention that the worm gear needs lubricating. 2. They showed a diesel truck and failed to mention that the motor needs to be disassembled so the lower bearing and worm gear can be lubed.  3. They showed a whistle motor and failed to mention the rear bearing.  So the article is essentially worthless and could cause a person without experience and/or advice from the members of this forum to seriously damage his trains.

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The article on lubricating Lionel trains has some serious errors.

I found this in the article:

quote:

The only a areas within the chassis of the 671 that require lubrication is the worm shaft on the 1946 model and the worm gear and smoke cam on the 1947 models and thereafter. You will find specific service information in the Service section of our website pertinent to the 671 Turbine.

It is very easy to critize some elses work. Let us know when you publish your material.

I found the article interesting especially about the Zoom Spout oil.
I have seen the "Liquid Bearings" oil on eBay but never tried it because I could find no other info on it. Recently I have been experimenting with oils and grease due to boredom.

The Zoom Spout oil is already in my tool box because it works like magic on all the vent fans and electric motors in my home. It can be had cheap on Amazon also. The bottle is very large and a lot less costly compared to Labelle 106.

In my testing, the Zoom Spout oil will dry out on a freight car truck sitting still for 7 days, but it lasts for a year in the kitchen and bathroom vent fans which are run several times daily. Mobil One 0W-20, and 20W-30 regular motor oil will dry out quicly too even when the lubed part is in motion. Not a lot of oil in the bottle due to all the additives. This went for my trains and the vent fans which squealed from dry bearings within a week of being oiled with these products. I am now testing 30 weight non detergent motor oil. It doesn't dry out but does seem to thicken after about 20 days if the lubed parts are not kept in motion. As far as grease for my trains I use either high speed wheel bearing grease or Red and Tacky. No grease I tried does well IMO adhering to the worm gear in a 736 or 671. 

I would believe that if the ones posting here are so concerned about what is in the La belle lube they would contact concor@con-cor.com and ask them.

me, I'm not concerned because they do what I need, do not drip all over my track and layout and lasts a long time, over a year.

Ditto!

According to their web site, Zoom Spout Oilers are no longer made. I don't know the reason. The oilers were filled with Unocal 76 Turbine Oil.

A number of sellers have it listed on Ebay, and I imagine plenty is still out there in retail outlets.

I purchased a bottle at my local appliance parts store years ago, and use it around the house once in a while.

I'd like to find some clear Dri-Slide. It was discontinued some time ago, and I am on my last bottle.

I am using Red n' Tacky #2 and transmission fluid. 

So what kind of trains did father time have?

Joking aside, after experimenting with a few different lubricants, I also have settled on LaBelle. 

Ok, what is vapor pressure?

Everything from postwar to current in O gauge, and also models in Z, N, HO, On30, and Large Scale starting in the mid- to late-1970s.

I honestly don't care if others choose to use bacon grease, axles grease, or something else to lube their trains.  Just stating what I use and prefer to use, with consistently good results over a number of years.

Allan, I am not looking for something that only lasts a year.  I have about 100 engines, and I am not going to lube them every year.  I want something that lasts forever.

I'm also an engineer and the voice of experience (Alan, et al) is MORE than enough for me. Also use LaBelle and especially like that it is a very good electrical conductor and compatible with all of the different materials used in my trains.

Hmmm, bacon grease though, wonder what my dogs would think about that . . .

Don't we all!  

nice try.

One of these days I am going to try Valvolene chassis grease.  It has MoS2 in it and it should last a long time.  Valvolene doesn't give a number for the vapor pressure, they just say the evaporation rate is very slow.  I have a bit of it in an open container in the garage, and it has been there for 15 years, and it has not gotten hard, so it should work well.

I use LaBelle lubricants and have found them to do the job for me.  After lubricating a new locomotive with LaBelle lubricants everything smooths out and they just run better.  I can't see anything changing as far as what I use. 

The old saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Steve, Lady and Tex

My opinion exactly. 

I'm using LaBelle products in my HO and O gauge trains...Motor oil in my Chevy Cobalt, and Castrol Syntech in my Colt 6920LE....Huzzah !

Are you running all 100 every day? If not its not likely you'll need to lube them every year.

I put red n tacky in the gearboxes of my locos and have no intention of adding any more grease in the future. Its not goin" anywhere.

I use labelle 102 on the rods and bushings when they appear dry, whenever that is, much longer than a year.

I don't understand why people act as though what little stresses are in toy train gearboxes are comparable to "real life heat and loads" like those in heavy construction equipment, racecars or whatever.

The degree of  high heat and load simply is not there. You could probably put vaseline in a train gearbox and it would be just fine as long as the gears aren't dry.

I find that there is a noticeable difference in speed when using the LaBelle teflon grease or the gear lube.  My thoughts are to use the heavier grease on units that will see heavier use, long trains, etc., and go with the lighter gear lube on units that won't be hammered as hard.   One Lionel engine you want to take especially good care of in this regard is the #41 switcher and her relatives.  These critters get fresh lube every year without fail.   The Big Illinois Central F3 just got gear lubed because she'll only be dealing with five to twelve cars at most, for now.

Not big on motor oil for some reason when we coated the moldboards they rusted by the time we went to use them again. Not sure where the oil went but it didn't last.

Grease always worked and it didn't matter which tube or brand you used. In fact on the bearing that have to deal going through tons of dirt on disc's and the like again any type of grease did its job.

I have never found a grease that works for ever though.

When it comes to the little things such as trains just about everything will work. Any non hobby grease will work a lot of people go to the one with the red color but heck all of that tube grease works just as well.

I use many different types of light oil and again never found one that didn't work well from Labelle and the others.

I think we worry far too much about brands and it really comes down to just doing the lubrication when you should do it. Try to get that forever product and well your going to run into a wear problem sometime down the road.

Granted a$100,000 piece of farm equipment is a little different than my Lionel/MTH engine but they have one thing is common. They need lubrication.

If I had to count the different lubrication products I use on my guns over the past 20 years I would need more finger and toes to do a proper count.

I use the LaBelle products as well. 

My thoughts are that it probably is less important what you use (other than plastic safe) and more important that you periodically take a look at the locomotive.  Not only can you make sure there is oil/grease where needed, you can also check for loose parts or screws that occasionally appear.

Jim

some of my train cars have not had to be re-lubed and it has been over three years.  I am only lubing them when I noticed a difference in how the wheels roll.

as far as engines they still look wet so I figure I am good with these also.

imo, your mileage might very.