Lubrication of engines

I'd be interested in hearing from you regarding tips/hints/preferred products for lubricating your locomotives with particular emphasis on diesals.

 

Several things come to my mind about lubrication on engines, both steam and diesel. Be sure that the oil/grease that you are using is made for plastic. A very quick way to trash a new engine is to use a lubricant that is not compatable with plastic. Read the label, the label will state if the oil/grease is plastic compatable. Don't use too much, a little goes a long way. If you just slop the oil/grease in there, any excess oil/grease will pick up dirt and dust. Buy a quality oil/grease, I use LaBelle products myself. There are others on the market check your local hobby shop.

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I have heard of, but not tried, a product that is supposedly sold by a company that deals in automotive lubrication additives that is supposed to be the slickest thing this side of diarrhea (but without the smell). It is a household lubricant, teflon based and plastic compatible. The only problem is that I have not been able to find it in my area. Maybe someone else has heard of it or has used it and could enlighten the rest of us.

 

I have access to some lubricant that is used on our Xerox laser printer. It is very slick stuff but I don't know if it is plastic compatible. The bottle says it is Polydimethyl-Siloxane. Does anyone know if this is plastic compatible or does anyone know someone they could ask?? For what it's worth, the lubricant IS packaged in a plastic tube. But, I know there are many kinds of plastic and that might not mean anything. Any help would be appreciated.

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Mike Drzycimski
Arlington, TX
The Southview Lines
www.crosswinds.net/~mdrzycimski

 

I used to be involved in radio controlled car racing, so I had a left over supply of lube oil used on the motors and wheel bearings of the cars. Applying this oil with a needle type oiler seems to work for me. Since the oil is made for bushings and bearings that turn much higher RPM's than model trains, it holds up quite well in this application. R/C motor and bearing lube is easy to find, sometimes just across the store at a local full-service hobby shop.

Kevin Stevens www.trainweb.org/KernJunction

 

I have access to some lubricant that is used on our Xerox laser printer. It is very slick stuff but I don't know if it is plastic compatible.


put some on the XEROX and come back in an hour...