Does anybody oil their boxcar wheels ?

Yes and yes.  I like using labelle oil on mine (not sure if I got that spelling right)

It depends on the type of axle/bearing.

 

If it is MPC era rolling stock with needle point bearings, then no.

 

If it is a 6464, then light oil or TriFlow. 

 

If it is an axle with a bronze bushing, then light oil (like Labelle, or that which comes with the Lionel or MTH maintenance kits).

Once in a blue moon one will start squeaking - then I'll oil it. If not, I don't lubricate rolling stock. 

 

Oil everything!! And oil often!!

 

Mike R

Thanks all for your replys guys.Now is there a tool I need to do this with?The last  thing I want to do.Is to put to much oil and get oil on the tracks.

Problem with oiling everything is it picks up plenty of dirt (and, in my case, cat and dog hair!).  I too only oil rolling stock axles if squeaking, and that doesn't happen too often.

Use a needlepoint applicator to put a TINY drop of oil on the axle. Turn the wheel to get the oil into the bearing. If there is even a bit of excess oil, wipe it off. Even a small drop of oil will accumulate dirt, hair, and other debris that impedes operation.

labelle oil.  lasts a long time and I have not noticed it to pick up dust.

 

http://www.con-cor.com/Labelle.html

It's a matter of personal choice and opinions. I've been using Lucas' Gun Oil for years. It's light and easy to apply.

God Bless,

Pappy

TCA TTOS

If its metal trucks with metal axles I use a drop of light oil.  None on trucks where the axle ends ride in plastic-type material.

There must be a way to edit your post to correct typo's or errors. I haven't tried to do it yet.

I simply put the car on the track and give it a push.  If it seems at all sluggish I oil it with LaBelle.  I usually end up oiling most cars as I can tell a difference before and after.

Alan

Have you looked up to the right hand corner of your post?   Put your pointer (?) anywhere on your post and 4 little icons appear in the upper right corner where that little gear thing is. 

 

The far right one is for editing your post. Click on it and your original post appears so you can change stuff.  

 

When you're done click on submit reply,and your new post will appear in place of the original, and say" edited by " at the bottom.  

 

I edited this one so you'd see the edited by thing at the bottom. 

My cousin is a nurse and she gave me a couple of medical syringes.  I used a Dremel cut-off wheel to remove the sharp point of the needle so I wouldn't stick myself. Then I filled the syringe with lite hobby oil.

 

Works great for putting just the right amount of oil, and the needle gets into hard to reach places.

 

- Roger -

Any rolling stock I buy gets lubed with Labelle before it hits the track.

I oil all rolling stock.  You only have to put a dry one on the track and give it a shove, then repeat the test with the oil applied.  I almost always see a significant difference.

I consider oil on the axles the same as I do aspirin for the heart. Makes the job of that all important engine easier over time.......

I pick them up and turn them over, then spin each wheel. If it runs rough or sqeaky I oil it. I have seen AMP draw on my track go down .5 amp just by oiling wheels. I do this after a few hours of running. I use Labelle or teflon based oils.

Rob

Yes if the wheels roll on the axle. If you don't have an oiler a drop of oil on a toothpick will work. As mentioned above remove excess oil.

Uncle Charlie's Magic Oil. Comes in a pen like applicator. Good for the tight spots.

 

I Oil only Post War Rolling Stock with 3 in 1 Oil, good stuff.  My MPC and New Rolling Stock move well without Oiling. 

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C

I'm only a part time modeler but I try to make sure that I maintain ALL of my equipment to manufacturer's specs.

 

On this topic, after I started buying newer product (I used to only own PW) I talked with 2 service reps at MTH and asked if I should oil my Railking Rolling stock.  I got a very emphatic and assertive, but polite, NO.  Unless there are brass inserts, such as with passenger cars, then YES.

 

I have read much on this debated topic and I agree that 'NO' is the answer.  I have NEVER oiled any of my rolling stock, well, my newer stuff that is, and some of it is 10 to 15 years old and rolling perfectly smooth, thank you.

 

Yes, I do oil my newer passenger cars with brass inserts and YES I do oil my post war rolling stock.

 

I wasn't going to say anything since my opinion may not carry any weight here being that I don't have a permanent layout.  But it's a topic that I kinda feel somewhat strongly about, right or wrong, so I said my 2 cents worth.

 

- walt

 

Walt rapp, Your two cents worth is welcome at this address.  Good advice regarding what you learned from the MTH people.

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C

That's interesting regarding the MTH response.  I have a lot of MTH rolling stock, and I've noticed a significant difference after lubricating a 15 car consist in rolling resistance.  I'd love to have one of those "official" RR pull force gauges to actually measure it sometime.

 

Until the wheels rot off, I think I'll continue to lubricate.

Old stuff, like PW, necessary to oil. Needlepoint axles in Delrin plastic, pointless (no pun in-
tended; ever notice how some "cheap" trucks roll so well? Delrin plastic is real tough
and slick, by design - which is why it won't hold paint very well). Other situations certain-
ly need a bit of oil occasionally. Not much. I use plain 3-in-1 oil in a needle applicator.
If it's good enough for Singer Sewing Machines, back in the day, it'll certainly do our little
job.

But most any oil will do - including plain engine oil from the auto parts store - though I
think that's it's a bit heavy. Some use it. Auto axle grease is also excellent for loco gearboxes.

Just don't use too much.

Oil can be your friend or your enemy...over time.

 

I lubricate motive power periodically in accordance with the instructions listed in the owner's manual.

 

With the exception of tinplate rolling stock or rolling stock that has pickup rollers, I almost never lubricate--or have ever needed to lubricate--most O gauge rolling stock (I operate only contemporary rolling stock items).

 

Too much oil can be as bad as too little, and it can certainly impeded operations (again, over time) if it works its way down to surfaces that make contact with the rails.

Can't argue that too much oil is as bad as no oil.  I use a needle-point dispenser and only add a tiny amount to the axles.  As far as the Delrin plastic trucks, I have only a handful of those cars, I am not a fan of the Lionel plastic era stuff, much of it was pretty much junk.  As I stated, I've seen measurable improvement with modern Lionel and MTH stuff with die-cast trucks and needlepoint axles using oil, so I do it.  Obviously, anything that has an axle through a bearing of any kind gets lube as well.

Try this on postwar

I spray some CRC 2-26 into a small bottle then apply a drop using a toothpick to both sides of the wheel / axle They will spin like a top

 

I would like to thank every one.Who took the time to reply to this post.I was gonna oil every  boxcar but I thought that would be overkill.I will just oil it if it runs rough or sqeaks.

Lightly oil postwar axles.  I always have.  I'm not worried about a little oil on the track, since I wipe it down regularly.

 

The MPC and newer Lionel trucks, I generally hit them once out of the box with a small drop.

 

I can't vouch for MTH.

 

I can pull many more lubricated cars.

I oil EVERYTHING including the hinges on my toilet seat! 

 

Oiling model trains is like feeding aquarium fish. When in doubt use less.

I oil all of my rolling stock. I even place a small drop on my pick up rollers axles. If something is moving there will be friction and where there is friction we have drag, then wear.

I do this about once a year no matter if it was on the shelf or not, oil dos dry out over time.

 

I like the Lebelle oil, but make sure you only use a very small amount. always keep in mind that the oil that is so wonderful in your wheels axles sucks when it gets on your rails.

 

You may have to clean your track rails a little more often but everything seems to work better.

I agree with oiling rolling stock bearing points, regardless of being needlepoint of just an axle revolving in the sideframe.  The only exception is on those cars with plastic truck side frames. I'm concerned about softening or at least affecting the plastic sides.  Besides, those cars, if they also have needlepoint bearings, roll the easiest since there is less friction between dissimilar surfaces.

 

Paul Fischer

It depends on the make of the rolling stock and when it was produced. Most modern lionel needlepoint trucks require no oil and have probably the least amount of rolling resistance of anything in o guage.