Re: Motor Maintenance

Thanks for that John - it says on the 'lube packaging it'll clean wheels and rails, so that's what I'll do. Thanks again.

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Personally I don't like Electrolube, I consider it too thick. As John suggests use a fine oil such as for sewing machines or clocks. Of late there's been some adverts in the magazines for a company offering specialised oils, I think their web site is

as well as the oil they can probably supply plastic safe grease for use on gears.

...

Widely accepted wisdom is don't try and apply it directly from the can or tube. Use a piece of wire, a needle or a pin (I use dress making pins) to apply a tiny amount of oil directly where it's needed. This has two advantages, you'll be much more accurate and there's no risk of a rush of oil swamping the model.

If it was some time ago and / or you heavily over oiled you models you might benefit from cleaning off the old oil as best you can. With time the original oil may have thickened and also picked up dirt and dust such that it's more of a goo than a liquid by now. There are various mechanism cleaning fluids available, these are just solvents but you need to ensure you're using something that won't damage you plastic.

Don't be put off if I've made this seem a bit of a horror story. It's quite easy and simple just requiring a bit of care and patience but you need to be aware of the various caveats :-)

=>On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 19:10:55 +0100, "John Turner" => wrote: =>

=>>

=>>"Dave" wrote =>>

=>>> Quite a lot of years ago, I tried 'Electrolubing' some of my (then) locos, =>

=> Personally I don't like Electrolube, I consider it too thick. As =>John suggests use a fine oil such as for sewing machines or clocks. =>Of late there's been some adverts in the magazines for a company =>offering specialised oils, I think their web site is =>

as well as the oil they can probably supply =>plastic safe grease for use on gears.

I use Aero-Car products - three weights of oil, and a contact cleaner-lube. The latter is amazing - reduces current draw on older motors by 30-50%.

Labelle also makes several weights of oil and a teflon-loaded light grease for worm gears. Very good stuff.

If you have trouble getting these in the UK, I can order them for you at cost

• shipping + for my efforts.

Do not use light oils sold in DIY or hradware stores, etc, for sewing machines, fishn=ing reels, etc. Most of them are too viscous and/or sticky, increasing drag and a attracting and holding dirt. Also, most of them are not compatible with styrene plastics.

HTH

LPS-1, available in a 312g spray can for under CAN$6 (~£2.50 in UK), or in spray bottles, is a "greaseless light-duty lubricant ideal for precision components and delicate mechanisms" I have seen it recommended for cleaning model rail track and wheels, and for slot car contact strips and pickups. A major plus is that it doesn't attract dust. It should be available at major hardware stores.

- under 'Clean Rail' Another quote: "LPS-1 oil has many uses: cleaning track, motors, switches, and even the volume slide switches on my stereo."