Class 57XX Pannier Tank Maintenance

"Matt F"

Early Hornby locos with XO4 motors had built in felt pads around the motor bearings which were designed to ensure plentiful lubrication to those same bearings. Experience over a number of years suggested they were not necessary and a small amount of light oil (sewing machine oil is ideal) on the motor bearings is adequate to ensure a long motor life.

Other than that, a small amount of the same oil on the gears (assuming they are all metal) and also on the driving wheel axles (after cleaning away any old oil & dirt) is probable all that is necessary.

You may also wish to clean the motor's commutator and brushes (but do not lubricate these).

John.

The motor bearings at each end need a bit of oil. A drop or two carried to the bearing on a pin or on a pointed toothpick is enough. It's best to use oil made for models, but any light oil for fine machinery will do. The "oil retaining pads" are little bits of felt in a brass box around each bearing. You should find them on X-70 and X-62. That's where you put the oil. And it helps enormously to put s drop of contact cleaner-lubricator on the commutator. It reduces contact resistance something wonderful.

If you can set up the motor so that it's easy to get at the commutator while the motor is running, a polishing with crocus cloth glued to a bit of wood will also help. Clean the motor after doing this, and then use the contact cleaner.

HTH

Thanks guys.

MattF

A final thing: The commutator will have 3 segments. The horizontal dark bits are insulated from each other and it helps to clean these out. A small blunted modellers knife drawn gently down the slot will do the trick -- then polish the commutator as described.

Regards

P.A.