What oil for general lubrication?

Jasper

Jasper

Hey, I'm only being creative here!
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What oil do you use for general lubrication, like rods and axle boxes? (Not talking about Steam Oil here.)
I have WD-40 in the house but I don't know whether it's appropriate.
Thanks.
 
Is this an electric or live steam loco ? If electic what's it made out of, metal or plastic. Max
 
Edited opening post to specify Live Steam. Didn't think it necessary at first, as we're in the Live Steam section.
 
Jasper said:
Edited opening post to specify Live Steam. Didn't think it necessary at first, as we're in the Live Steam section.
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Oops ! Sorry ! Didn't read the section name. I use 20/50 grade engine oil. Designed for reciprocating parts in a hot environment, so,why not ? Some suggest a loco should have anything external and moving below the boiler immersed in a degreaser after every run and then re-lubricated. Something to do with oil attracting particles that form a lovely grinding paste that will cause excessive wear to bearings and pivots. Max

Edit - 20/50 recommended by Roundhouse for their locos. Thought I'd look it up. Must have been where I got it from.
 
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maxi-model said:
Oops ! Sorry ! Didn't read the section name. I use 20/50 grade engine oil. Designed for reciprocating parts in a hot environment, so,why not ? Some suggest a loco should have anything external and moving below the boiler immersed in a degreaser after every run and then re-lubricated. Something to do with oil attracting particles that form a lovely grinding paste that will cause excessive wear to bearings and pivots. Max
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That is the reasoning behind why we do that on the 1:1 locos at the railway I volunteer at then all points are greased.
 
Jasper said:
What oil do you use for general lubrication, like rods and axle boxes? (Not talking about Steam Oil here.)
I have WD-40 in the house but I don't know whether it's appropriate.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

For many years I have used a product called Inox MX3 for all my trains and points. I find it performs at least as well as the LGB lubricant oil and is much cheaper and easily available (at least here in Oz).

www.inoxmx.com

MX3 Lubricant

The only lubricant in the world with the special MX3 anti-corrosion, anti-moisture formula for the twenty – first century. MX3 is an anti-corrosion anti-moisture lubricant designed to be sprayed on surfaces and between moving parts.
www.inoxmx.com www.inoxmx.com
 
20/50 car oil long recommended by live steamers for moving parts on LIVE STEAM locomotives. I seam to remember Tom Cooper of Merlin recommending it back in the day and we are talking 3 decades ago here, plus thinking 16mm live steamers.
 
Jasper said:
Here I get recommendations for, shall we say, a different kind of lube.
:wasntme:





Will look into it.
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Whoops - the problem of living in Holland

Try this - no red lights here ;);)


There is an oil in this pack for almost everything :p:p
 
A number of us who run the 16mm modular layout use 'Ways oil' on the motion work of live steam locos. This is sold for use on lathe bed ways, it is quite thin but does stay put on the motion. I have found that when I tried some at a show, it worked well and so that is what I use now. Obviously this is not for use in the steam lubricator where steam oil is the stuff to use. If people want reference numbers I will look them up when I go into the workshop. Hope that helps. David.
 
I use a really light turbine oil. The clearances on linkages are small, I have a hard time believing lathe way oil would work its way into the joints.
When I’m done steaming I put the loco on a couple layers of newspaper and place a folded paper towel under the connecting rods, then wash all the moving parts with WD-40, I keep spraying until it’s clear. This seems to flush all the dirt and crud off
 
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I ordered some 20/50.

I also ordered this cute 160ml oil can with flexible spout:

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For years, decades, I've used ISO60w hydraulic oil on all my locos and in fact for all general workshop lubrication. It can be had in several sizes up to 5gal pails at most automotive and farm & home suppliers. This is NOT a substitute for a proper steam cylinder oil, but is used entirely for mechanical lubrication.
 
Jasper said:
What oil do you use for general lubrication, like rods and axle boxes? (Not talking about Steam Oil here.)
I have WD-40 in the house but I don't know whether it's appropriate.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Although many use WD40 as a lubricant, that is NOT what it is. The clue is in the name - WD = Water Dispersant.

I've used high grade motor oil since the early 1980's. Applied sparingly with a syringe, NOT glooped on by the 'glug'.

Similarly, sewing machine oil is good.
 
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