Need Help with Real Redbird Subway Roll Sign

Very interesting! Appears to be light surface rust on some parts. Tip the unit so the gears are down at the floor and carefully lube all the shafts with penetrating oil. Give it time to soak. That's what I would do, anyway.

those gears look very dry to me. like Ace says, I think a careful lubrication is in order.

Thank you Ace, I will try the penetrating oil and let it sit. Thanks for the suggestion.

Paul

Be careful. WD 40 contains kerosene which will damage the sign if it comes into contact.

I would remove the roll first just to be safe from overspray and drips.  Keep working the mechanism back and forth until easily turning.

RRMan, you would think that removing the roll would be an easy process - so far that is not my experience. But I'm being careful. Thanks,

Paul

Why don't you contact the nycta shops. Years ago I was working on a restoration project and they were extremely helpful. I am sure someone works there who maintained the roll signs.

645 posted:

You could also check with a museum that operates and restores trolleys such as Shore Line Trolley Museum which should be just down the road from you in East Haven, CT. They have a Redbird - R-17 #6688 - in the collection in operating condition.

I agree. If a museum has these, they probably know how to maintain them!

Tommy and 645 - both excellent suggestions - thank you.

Paul

Railrunnin posted:

RRMan, you would think that removing the roll would be an easy process - so far that is not my experience. But I'm being careful. Thanks,

Paul

Yeah, I was wondering how easy or difficult is it to remove the roll. Because they must have been changed out periodically.

How long has it been since those things were used? It's a pretty basic geared mechanism. If it's still sticking after lube, it looks like you can remove some intermediate gears by simply removing the cotter pin for each, then you can isolate where the binding is, or clean up the gear shafts and bores individually if necessary. The gears and shafts that are more difficult to remove can then be lubed and worked in place individually to free them up.