I have used turbine oil and found it as satisfactory (or unsatisfactory) as other things that have been mentioned in this thread.
Let's face it--a small steam loco is a lubrication nightmare. And it gets worse if it's not carefully scratch-built but a commercially-produced loco with the loose clearances needed for larger-scale production. If you use a lubricant and find that it contains no bronze flakes at all, that is more a testimonial to the high quality and newness of the machining in the model rather than to the virtues of the lube used. This doesn't mean the some lubes aren't better than others, just that you have to experiment to find the right one for your engines and conditions. Anywhere I have a crankpin, where the radial shock is bad, and the clearance is enough to admit it, I put in a tiny bit of moly-disulphide grease. Don't do this if the clearance between bush and pin is what it should be--.0002" or less. It isn't needed. However, if the bushing is loose this will lengthen its life and, if only a few crankpins have the grease, it makes no perceptible drag on the engine. Victor Lacy -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Friday, November 16, 2001 10:07 AM Subject: Re: sslivesteam-Digest - Number 638 >> Jon has a point about the commonly available product >> that is sold in the red can, but I recommend that >> final judgment be withheld until the merits of the less >> commonly known 3 in 1 Electric Motor Oil, a 20 weight >> product packaged in a distinctive blue can, are considered. > >I looked around my local True Value Hardware store, and found "turbine oil" in a small bottle with a long, telescoping spout. It says it is specifically for electric motor bearings... > > Pete
