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Post by ztrack on Jan 7, 2020 7:26:37 GMT -5
We received the following question from a customer. Our answer is below: I own an RDC for the New Haven line. It is a beauty and runs great. My question is if necessary how do you lube it??? Thanks, John
The Budd RDCs from AZL are just great! As with most AZL products, they are pretty much maintenance free. The gears are essentially self lubricating. I very rarely oil any of my AZL equipment. The only time I consider it is if I start hearing a lot of gear noise. Even then, I only put a very small amount of oil in the truck gearing. Over oiling a locomotive is a big concern. Too much oil can bind the gearing and damage motors especially if the gears can’t move. Also, oil will spread through the locomotive and interfere with the electrical pickup. Less is more in this case. The only really maintenance you will want to do is keep the wheels clean. Clean wheels will lead to good operations.
Rob
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2020 8:56:43 GMT -5
As we are speaking of oiling (despite of the fact I was not the customer with the initial question), which reference of lubricant (Labelle ? ) would You suggest for all AZL's, and is "Contalube" a good choice for the inner surface of the wheels, where the wipers are ?
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Post by ztrack on Jan 8, 2020 8:06:45 GMT -5
Correct. I am referring to oiling gears and the mechanism. Labelle 108 is one very good oil to use.
Conductalube is actually outside of this. When using Conductalube, it can really help electrical contact. I recommend applying a small amount where electrical contacts are made. One key area is where the wipers from the trucks make contact to the strips on the chassis. It is not meant to lubricate gears and such.
Rob
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Post by chuckb on Dec 16, 2020 16:18:49 GMT -5
I’m new here. I recently bought a NYC RDC and it’s noisey as all get out! I’m wondering if oiling is the solution or is it in need of service?
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Post by ztrack on Dec 17, 2020 8:47:55 GMT -5
Likely what it needs is more break-in time. New locos may be chatty at first, but the sound may diminish over time. In some cases, you may always have a loco with some noise. That is not an indicator that something is wrong. Just the personality of the loco. Since this one is brand news, I would just keep running it and see if the sounds diminishes.
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Post by chuckb on Dec 17, 2020 18:17:02 GMT -5
I hope so because this thing is screaming!!!
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Post by mark6910 on Mar 1, 2021 16:41:02 GMT -5
We received the following question from a customer. Our answer is below: I own an RDC for the New Haven line. It is a beauty and runs great. My question is if necessary how do you lube it??? Thanks, John The Budd RDCs from AZL are just great! As with most AZL products, they are pretty much maintenance free. The gears are essentially self lubricating. I very rarely oil any of my AZL equipment. The only time I consider it is if I start hearing a lot of gear noise. Even then, I only put a very small amount of oil in the truck gearing. Over oiling a locomotive is a big concern. Too much oil can bind the gearing and damage motors especially if the gears can’t move. Also, oil will spread through the locomotive and interfere with the electrical pickup. Less is more in this case. The only really maintenance you will want to do is keep the wheels clean. Clean wheels will lead to good operations. Rob |
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Post by mark6910 on Mar 1, 2021 16:50:48 GMT -5
Thanks Rob, I just acquired a new Alco DRG&W RS-2 and since I'm used to "literature" with most Z locos I was a bit intimidated in that there wasn't any insert for care and maintenance of this little jewel. Aside from your wise advice (above) on minimal oiling ( I have used Labelle 108 ever since my favorite old Crocodile got HOS); but I would appreciate any guidance on the safest way to remove the RS' shell without risk of damage to any of the components or the fine detail? I'd rather learn the proper procedure rather than find out the hard way.
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Post by gprose on Dec 14, 2021 14:25:25 GMT -5
To Chuckb,
Did your RDC ever quiet down on its own?
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