Lubrication and Maintenance of Lionel Engines

I don't "grease" the exposed gears on my models, either. I use a heavy oil for that, as I always thought that ANY "grease" is for the enclosed gear boxes.

I've been greasing (usually with Labelle 106 grease) the external and internal gears on all of my locos - Modern and Postwar Lionel, MTH, and Williams for 25 years and have never had an issue. I think if the grease was going to cause something to go wrong, it would've done so years ago. I'll keep greasing!

Metal gears need grease.   Red N Tacky works well and does not get hard and looks like oil when on.  A synthetic grease may be better.  I use a synthetic oil like Mobile l (or cheaper one) for oiling wheels and armature bearings etc.

Charlie

SJC posted:

I've been greasing (usually with Labelle 106 grease) the external and internal gears on all of my locos - Modern and Postwar Lionel, MTH, and Williams for 25 years and have never had an issue. I think if the grease was going to cause something to go wrong, it would've done so years ago. I'll keep greasing!

Just my opinion but, the thick grease tends to pick up much more dust/dirt in the area of the exposed gears. That may be why Lionel does NOT recommend using "grease" on those exposed gears. Besides that, the "grease" can be slung off on all sorts of things under the model as it runs.

Labelle 106 grease

https://www.con-cor.com/websit...06-grease-with-ptfe/

guess I have to post this from the above web site.

"–Model Trains: Exposed or Enclosed Gear Boxes (all scales)"

I've seen on other threads that some folks are using synthetic oil; sounds like a good idea; but any particular weight???

Grease in enclosed gear boxes only. Synthetic oil on everything else. I use Labelle's.

When you guys recommend synthetic oil, my mind goes immediately to Mobil 1; ergo the weight question.

I'm not sure the weight would make too much of a difference as long as it isn't as runny as water or as heavy as molasses.

I've used Liquid Bearings in the past and had good results. It was fairly thin. http://www.liquidbearings.com/

I've also used the Labelle oil and it is thicker. Worked equally as well.

I'm betting Lionel recommended not using grease on exposed parts to prevent the engine from flinging grease everywhere, which can happen depending on amount applied. The oil, when put on thin, sticks better in my opinion.

LaBelle 107 is a synthetic medium weight motor oil. Probably a 20 weight would be equivalent. I also use red n tacky on my exposed gears. I put it on only 5 or 6 teeth and let the rotation of the gears carry it to the other teeth.  I am not running on a carpet. If I was I would rethink this.  Grease on the carpet and carpet fuzz in the gears would not be good. 

RickM46 posted:

When you guys recommend synthetic oil, my mind goes immediately to Mobil 1; ergo the weight question.

I use Mobil 5-w30 left overs from the jug when I change the oil in the truck. You will get years worth out of a 5 qt jug. I put it in an old Lebelle's container with the needle point.   I also use Mobil 1 synthetic grease that is left over in the tube after it will no linger come out of the grease gun. You will get about a life times worth there for your trains. I fill a cleaned carmex jar with it for storage of the grease. But to each his own.

KRM posted:

RickM46 posted:

When you guys recommend synthetic oil, my mind goes immediately to Mobil 1; ergo the weight question.

I use Mobil 5-w30 left overs from the jug when I change the oil in the truck. You will get years worth out of a 5 qt jug. I put it in an old Lebelle's container with the needle point.   I also use Mobil 1 synthetic grease that is left over in the tube after it will no linger come out of the grease gun. You will get about a life times worth there for your trains. I fill a cleaned carmex jar with it for storage of the grease. But to each his own.

Thanks, I have plenty of 5w30 for my truck.