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How to Lubricate O Gauge Steam Engines

O gauge model railroads have been produced for generations, although their popularity has been somewhat eclipsed by N gauge and HO gauge formats. Despite having a reputation for bland designs, O gauge is popular because of its larger 1:48 scale which allows for impressive room-sized layouts. While O scale sets also come in two-rail configurations, O gauge track has three rails. For this reason, O scale steam engines require similar maintenance and lubrication as their N gauge counterparts.

Things You'll Need

Smoke oil
Hobby lubricant or fine mineral oil
Rubbing alcohol
Cotton swabs
Grease (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Disassemble the engine by removing the retaining screws from underneath the engine and lift off the body. In older engines, the tender car is often part of the engine's electrical circuit so this should be disassembled as well, though you should be careful to not damage the wiring from the tender to the engine.
- 2
  Remove dry oil residue from the moving parts with rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs. If necessary, dab a wet swab onto the gears to allow the alcohol to flow into hard-to-reach areas. Dry off any excess and allow the engine to air dry for a few hours.
- 3
  Apply a very light oil to the gears linking the electrical motor to the driving wheel gears. Continue to apply oil to the wheel linkage. Use only a small drop on each gear, as excess lubricant can flow to the track and collect grime. Manually turn the wheels to spread the oil evenly though the mechanical linkages.
- 4
  Fill the smoke oil reservoir with an eye dropper into the oil reservoir. The reservoir is typically located within the smokestack or underneath the engine bell.

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