Lc+ mikado maintenance, slowing down

If these are built similar to how the Berk Jr.s and similar are built, the entire bottom plate comes off with little work....that’ll expose everything you’d like to lube....

are you sure it was a locomotive problem and not something else?..transformer warming up, something else lit up that’s pulling amperage,....I’d check all the boxes before condemning the locomotive......usually lack of lube would result in some sort of audible noise like a squeak, or something.....I’d think....but certainly go for simple fixes first....no need to get the cart ahead of the horse.....

Pat

Turn the flywheel by hand to check for unusual resistance or binding. Then run the engine with the shell off to see if anything is getting hot, besides the smoke unit. Maybe even leave the smoke unit off.

Pete

@harmonyards posted:

If these are built similar to how the Berk Jr.s and similar are built, the entire bottom plate comes off with little work....that’ll expose everything you’d like to lube....

are you sure it was a locomotive problem and not something else?..transformer warming up, something else lit up that’s pulling amperage,....I’d check all the boxes before condemning the locomotive......usually lack of lube would result in some sort of audible noise like a squeak, or something.....I’d think....but certainly go for simple fixes first....no need to get the cart ahead of the horse.....

Pat

Thanks Pat.  Since this happened during "public running " I really didn't have much time to troubleshoot.   I cleaned the tracks beforehand and was using a Z4000 that I bought second hand and admittedly don't have much time on. 

Trick or treating time was almost up anyway.   I ended up jus parking the train until the next customer came up.

Even though it's only a couple times a year, this engine is my only one that will consistently see multi hour running.   I figure a lube job is in order no matter what.

I would clean the track again, the pickup rollers, the wheels that serve as a ground; had the same with a Lionel Polar Express and a Lionel Birney trolley till I cleaned the ground wheels.

@Norton posted:

Turn the flywheel by hand to check for unusual resistance or binding. Then run the engine with the shell off to see if anything is getting hot, besides the smoke unit. Maybe even leave the smoke unit off.

Pete

You know , I had the shell off twice this morning (forgot to plug the back the first time), and I didn't think to spin the motor enough to see a full revolution of the wheels.  🤦‍♂️

I do run with the smoke off so no one needs to keep refilling it.

@RickM46 posted:

I would clean the track again, the pickup rollers, the wheels that serve as a ground; had the same with a Lionel Polar Express and a Lionel Birney trolley till I cleaned the ground wheels.

Yep....start with simple stuff first....then graduate to complicated stuff...good call Rick...

jhz563, if you take the bottom plate off to lube everything, you’ll be able to spin the worm like Pete mentioned, although it can’t be that bad to pop the shell off...no??

Pat

Pull those 6 screws on the bottom plate and get some grease on those gears.

I've never seen remotely enough grease on a new Lionel Loco. Usually whatever in there is just stuck to the inside of the gearbox and not even on the gears.

I'had a similar experience with my old conventional PE for around the tree. This model is underpowered ,but the grease made an improvement. The gears were basically dry from the factory.

Yes, lube is important too; with every new Lionel loco, I first get it on the tracks to see if it runs OK; then off the tracks and into the cradle and lube it with gun oil and the gears with Red n Tacky; keeps it very quiet.

Stretched traction tires can also cause a locomotive to slow down.

MELGAR

Cracked open the bottom before work this morning. Not the worst I have seen by far, but definitely could use a little lube.  i wiped out the old stuff best I could and re-greased with Red and Tacky.

Fyi, I found the leading and trailing truck wheels were particularly filthy.   These are both part of the ground path for this engine.  I got them cleaned up and I ran it on the regular layout for 1/2 hr last night with no issues.   

Like other folks have said,  it's usually the basics. 

I wonder what that "clear" grease Lionel uses is?

I've never seen clear grease anywhere but in the gearbox of a new Lionel locomotive.....vaseline??? LOL!