"Maintenance of Small LGB Locos."

[Graham@4]

Hello again
Could I please ask for advice regarding my small LGB Stainz & 2 LGB Otto locos.
I purchased these from e-bay, they were previously used and came without any maintenance instructions.
My question is in 3 parts:-
* What maintenance do my locos require after say, a 2 week/20hrs running period. Please note, I have no diagram to know where the actual parts are.
* If I put one or two of these locos "away for the winter" is there any 'extra' maintenance that I would need to do beforehand?
* One of my Otto locos makes more noise than the other, by means of a louder purring sound while running on the track, (not grinding or knocking) just an even purring, perhaps this is even normal. Or does it mean getting to the gearbox or whatever, to grease or oil, or would you advise just to leave it be?
My apols if my request for advice seems pretty basic, but I would like to do what is best for my locos, for them to run well and last as long as possible.
Thanks in anticipation for any help and advice that members might give, it would really be appreciated. I'm still a newbie!!
Best wishes
mailto:Graham@4 < Link To Graham@4

 

[korm kormsen]

My question is in 3 parts:-
* What maintenance do my locos require after say, a 2 week/20hrs running period. Please note, I have no diagram to know where the actual parts are.
* If I put one or two of these locos "away for the winter" is there any 'extra' maintenance that I would need to do beforehand?

my oldest stainz is over forty years old. i have dusted it, when it got too grey, i have dried it, after it ran in the rain - i have not done anything else.
although i have read from others, that they opened the gearbox/motorblock, wiped away the old grease and replaced it.

* One of my Otto locos makes more noise than the other, by means of a louder purring sound while running on the track, (not grinding or knocking) just an even purring, perhaps this is even normal. Or does it mean getting to the gearbox or whatever, to grease or oil, or would you advise just to leave it be?

if it is a lot louder, than the other, it might be a case for opening and regreasing.

anyhow, with LGB you bought som tough stuff.

about the LGB recommendations for maintenance: http://kormsen.info/lgb-manual.pdf look at chapter "staying on schedule"

about explosive drawings: http://lgb.vanelten.nl/Database/

 

[mike]

lgb if its not broken ..dont fix it...most problems happen after someones done maintansce to them.. badly

 

[themole]

As all the above have said, if it runs;- leave it alone. I have some LGB locos and rolling stock, over 40 years old, and they still work OK. Alyn

 

[hornbeam]

The Otto loco may just be louder when running because these tended to use cheaper motors mine is the same.

Si

 

[pugwash]

The only maintenance mine need are gluing back on the little bits that fall off - both Stainzes lost their smokebox door handles but I found them alongside the track. The horn from the track cleaning loco has gone forever inside the rainforest that my 'railway' runs through.

 

[funandtrains]

They only need a very little oil from time to time on the axels. The gearboxes only need greese after every few years.

Ottos are louder as the motor and axels fir directly in the chassis where as the stainz has a seperate motor block. The otto motor is also a cheaper design.

 

[Zerogee]

If it's just a steady purring noise from the Otto, it's probably just a slightly noisy geartrain and/or motor, as others have said. Any grinding/graunching noises, especially if accompanied by jerky movement of the loco, probably means it's slipped a tooth or two "out of quarter".
I concur with most of the other posters above - LGB locos are pretty much bulletproof and if they are not obviously broken, best left alone! Does your Stainz have a join line down the middle of the gearbox underneath (the old type "clamshell" gearbox) or is the bottom of the gearbox an all-in-one plate held on with screws (the more modern "sandwich" gearbox)?

Jon.