[texmaster]

I've got an MTH Big Boy from about 6 years ago. https://mthtrains.com/80-3209-1

Haven't run it much until this year because I mostly run my MTH O gauge but the kids wanted to see it so I put it out. Its making an awful squeaking sound.

Now I've oiled it of course from the bottom and the squeaking is down significantly but it is still making noise the longer it runs. I've found its mostly coming from the coal car and specifically the middle axl wheels if I apply any pressure to them and spin them. I'm loathed to take it apart because I dont have a lot of experience with HO scale. Is this just normal or do I need to either do a deep dive or take it to a specialist? Unfortunately MTH does not have a presence in Dallas.

 

[Tom_C]

Did you apply any oil to the tender axles?

 

[texmaster]

Did you apply any oil to the tender wheels?

Not to the wheels directly but to the axel.

I can hear the squeak now only if I run my fingers along the middle axle wheels of the coal car and apply slight pressure. The other wheels don't make any noise.

 

[Tom_C]

Yeah, I edited my reply to say axels.

I sometimes hear squeaks from car axles, and a bit of oil corrects it.

 

[texmaster]

Yeah, I edited my reply to say axels.

I sometimes hear squeaks from car axles, and a bit of oil corrects it.

Yeah I'm afraid to apply any more oil and it alarmed me that the squeak was louder when I applied slight pressure to those wheels only.

 

[Jscullans]

When you load an axle the squeal will occur. If it’s plastic you may want to do a truck tune on it. If it was mine I wouldn’t worry too much unless the axle is metal and the side frame was plastic. Another thought would be pop the axles out and clean the axle tips with rubbing alcohol as well as the side frames re oil and try again. The second option I would think is more cost effective if you don’t have the truck tune tool from micro mark

 

[texmaster]

When you load an axle the squeal will occur. If it’s plastic you may want to do a truck tune on it. If it was mine I wouldn’t worry too much unless the axle is metal and the side frame was plastic. Another thought would be pop the axles out and clean the axle tips with rubbing alcohol as well as the side frames re oil and try again. The second option I would think is more cost effective if you don’t have the truck tune tool from micro mark

Sorry I missed this. The axle is metal and I believe the housing around it is metal as well.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[DonR]

Are you certain that the wheel flanges are
not rubbing on the car body? I had a car with
that problem. Made quite a racket.

Don

 

[Lemonhawk]

Might try a lead pencil to lub things instead of so much oil!

 

[Jscullans]

Might try a lead pencil to lub things instead of so much oil!

that's actually a great idea. graphite is known to be a really good dry lubricant. out of curiosity is that an ho scale or o scale locomotive?

 

[railandsail]

...and it likely is a metal to metal fit for electrical pickup. so graphite might be the better solution