Lubricating the belt drive on a Sunset steamer

Ed Kelly posted:

Hi All,

Do the belt drives in the Sunset steamers need lubrication

Not to my knowledge. I have about 20 Sunset/3rd Rail steam models and have never lubricated the belt itself.

and, if so, what lubricant is best for it?

Thanks,

Ed

So, the noise which gets higher pitched as the throttle increases must come from the universals and/or gearboxes.

Yes/No/Comments?

Thanks,

Ed

Ed Kelly posted:

So, the noise which gets higher pitched as the throttle increases must come from the universals and/or gearboxes.

Yes/No/Comments?

Thanks,

Ed

Noise????   If I shut off the sound on mine, I don't hear any noise. I do use Red-N-Tacky grease in the gear boxes, but can't recall ever lubricating any universals. I lubricate all the axle bearings and all the rod bearings.

Ed Kelly posted:

So, the noise which gets higher pitched as the throttle increases must come from the universals and/or gearboxes.

Don't lub the belt!  Truthfully, noise getting higher in pitch as the throttle increases could quite possibly be the motor.  What kind of "noise" are we talking about?

The noise gets too high pitched, I think, for the axle bearings and rods.  Muting the engine sounds like the way to isolate the noise.  Great idea.  I will try it.

Thanks,

Ed

The engine is a Sunset USRA Y-3, 2-8-8-2, with DCC/sound.  I have to look up the decoder mfg.

Ed

Always the chance that something is rubbing against the boiler.  Look for shiny spots.

Ed,

If the toothed belt is set too tight on the pulleys it will make a good bit of noise.  There should be just a little slack in the belt.  The motor's mounting bracket is slotted to allow for belt adjustment.  Worth a try anyway.

Joe

Ed Kelly posted:

So, the noise which gets higher pitched as the throttle increases must come from the universals and/or gearboxes.

 

It might be that your flywheel is a little out of balance, or that its set screw is loose.  The hard, thin brass body will resonate and amplify that vibration (there's a reason they don't make trumpets out of die-cast metal!)  I put a small piece of Dynaxorb up inside the boiler shell of my Greenbrier, which quieted it down a lot.  I agree with what others have already posted.  Adjust the tension if it's too tight, but no need to lubricate the belt.