Robert, Thanks for the great info. I used a small file on the bearing blocks and the results were excellent. I did add Labelle 106 grease on the gears and it was running very well. A few days later it was slow going again. It seemed like the grease had hardened. I cleaned up the gears and this time used Labelle 108 oil and it seems much better. What do you guys use for lubing Z locos?
there is many guys more experienced than I am, but for what it is worth - I have found that if you can see it with naked eye than you probably added too much. It will affect the running both mechanically and electrically. I have found that bad running locos are 100% changed if you clean/remove the oil totally! obviously you can't run like this forever so I add oil, but really, really tiny quantities (and oil - never grease!) Chris
I use Labelle 108 for everything Z, following advice from the scales seasoned veterans on the yahoo z list.
Some grease and oils are not compatible. Some are hydrocarbon based (from crude oil), some are synthetic and some are similar to vegatable oil. Heat can break them down too but not in bearings. Of a more critical note is most oils will attack plastics. The Labelle 108 is plastic compatible. It is possible that the 106 grease was not compatible with the original oil and gummed up. You should completely remove all parts and clean them with a plastics compatible cleaner (electronics supply houses). Note: even your everyday isopropal alchohol can ruin seemingly hard plastics. Re-lube with minimal amounts of oil, a pin head drop on each gear. No more. The motors in the SD70 are sealed and cannot be lubed but the bearings, worm gear, drive gears and the ends of the axles need a tiny drop. Don't forget to re-lube every 10 - 100 hours. Strip and clean if they left not running for a year or so.
Heard a guy at a train shop once say, "Now, just threaten that loco with oil. Hold the oil bottle next to the loco, take the top off, threaten it, then put the top back on and you're set." I've never personally used the threatening method, but putting on just a trace of oil works great.
