Hello All, I recently purchased a used Athearn SD70M from Ebay. The engine looks great but just runs OK. I believe the issue is over lubrication. You can see massive amounts of grease on the truck gears from the bottom. I can just imagine the rest of the mechanism being the same way. Any suggestions on how to fully clean out all the lube ? And once clean what would be the best lubricants wo use and where to apply them. Thanks in advance, Amato
In the past I used TV tuner cleaner for these types of things. It has been ages since I last needed to undo a mess, so I am certain others will have a suggestion or more. For lubricant I prefer LaBelle #102 Gear Oil. Just a tiny drop is plenty, and will work its way through the gears as they turn.
WD 40 to clean gear train and any good electrical solvent for the motor , any good sewing machine oil to lube very lightly the gear train , no grease as it will attrach and capture " junk" off the track. Since the gearing is plastic on brass , or plastic on plastic , you do not need a lot of lube , if the gear train is brass on brass or metal on metal like the linkage on a steamer , you want the thinest old you can find for recipocrating parts and that is sewing machine oil . just a dab one of the gears and run it by hand to spread the oil , I don't recomment Q tips unless you are fastedious in your clean up as Q tip could shed fibers that will work their way around the gearing and cause a drag.
3 in 1 oil or marvel 005 works great as a lubricant. TV tuner cleaner or electro chem ( replaced 556 several years ago ) ----------------------------------------------- It's never too late to have a happy childhood ! http://mikesshopping.com
