Smoking Steam Engine?

R

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Mar 22, 2006
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Two nights ago I lubricated one of my old British 00 (similar to HO) locos with Wahl oil and I was amazed at how smoothly & quietly it ran afterwards. (This is a Hornby Dublo loco made in the early '60s.) When I ran it again tonight, it continued to run well although I had to often wipe up some excess crud from the tracks -- which often happens after using Wahl oil. This is a side benefit because it causes me to clean the track (Wahl oil is supposed to be good for this).

Well, tonight I noticed a couple times that some fine smoke was coming from the loco and I could smell a faint burning smell! :eek: I was running it off & on for about two hours and this happened mid-way through. After a few minutes, this smoke/burning stopped. The loco ran well the entire evening though, even when the smoking was happening.

I suspect that the motor was simply burning off some excess oil or debris but I just thought I'd ask folks here if there could be anything else causing this.

Thanks!
Rob
 
Hi.....If oil was dripping on the rails, and the motor smoking, you used too much..!! Oil goes a long way in spreading itself out. You should use a hypodermic type applicator when lubricating and apply just a very tiny amount to the surface being lubricated. One drop is way too much....
 
steamhead said:
Hi.....If oil was dripping on the rails, and the motor smoking, you used too much..!! Oil goes a long way in spreading itself out. You should use a hypodermic type applicator when lubricating and apply just a very tiny amount to the surface being lubricated. One drop is way too much....
Click to expand...

That's almost certainly what happened then -- I tend to be too heavy-handed with these things! I'll try to use a fraction of a drop next time. Thanks! Rob
 
Robert: when oiling, put a drop of oil on a small piece of aluminium (or aluminum, if that's all you can get) and use the point of a pin to transfer th smallest amount to wherever it's needed. The only place I would put any more is the felt pads at the ends of the motor shaft in the Dublo locos, and then two drops from the blunt end of the pin.
I try to do my lubes with LaBelle's grease with teflon. (my tube still has an address sticker on it from my single days.)
Which loco?
 
60103 said:
Robert: when oiling, put a drop of oil on a small piece of aluminium (or aluminum, if that's all you can get) and use the point of a pin to transfer th smallest amount to wherever it's needed. The only place I would put any more is the felt pads at the ends of the motor shaft in the Dublo locos, and then two drops from the blunt end of the pin.
I try to do my lubes with LaBelle's grease with teflon. (my tube still has an address sticker on it from my single days.)
Which loco?
Click to expand...

Thanks, David. Guess I'll have to settle for aluminum though! I'll try this method. I've experimented with both LaBelle oil and Wahl. Both seem to work well. Several folks on this forum and Dave Morgan formerly of Railview Trains swear by Wahl so I gave it a try again. The pin idea certainly sounds like a good way to transfer the oil.

This loco was my Dublo City of London. It's still running really well -- smooth and quiet.

Cheers,
Rob
 
I like to use a tooth pick (wood) It holds the oil in it and releases a little when it touches something.

Les
 
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