Kato GP38-2

[Day One]

This was the first loco I ever purchased for N scale way back in about 1992. (with my first DCC install in about 1996 using a Digitrax decoder) It's been in storage for about 4 years and I've just recently pulled it out to address some issues with it. The loco has certainly seen better days. The steps and handrails are pretty broken up and missing in some spots so I've ordered a new frame for it. Now that I've got the frame put on I'm looking at the trucks.

It seems that I had been lubing the truck gears and flywheel/worms with kadee's "Grease-em" graphite. All the gears look to be in good shape but the elecrical pickup is somewhat spotty. Could this be due to the graphite? Would I be better served cleaning the graphite out and lubing the gears with oil? I've got some Labelle 107 on hand. Is that OK to use for the truck gears and worm/flywheel?

[Walkercolt]

Wash out the graphite with TV tuner cleaner then lube with Labelle 108, plastic compatible oil. While you're into the thing, put some 5 minute epoxy on the plastic tubes that connect the motor to the worm gear. You should be good to go for another 25 years then.
Walkercolt

[Day One]

I finished everything up last night.

I ended up using some rubbing alcohol to clean up the gears and then re-lubing everything with some Labelle 107. I used the 107 becuase that's what I had available.

After re-assembly I spent a bit of time tinkering to get the loco to run smoothly again and it does indeed run much smoother now. The electrical pickup is still not as great as newer loco's but it's not too bad. It just seems to be the design of this loco. It loses electrical continuity whenever the trucks bounce or rock too much. I've been thinking about this and I may try to add some kind of improved pickup in the future.

I've got to say, for a loco I've had for 15 yrs it looks pretty good. Nice details and a smooth runner!

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[tom mann]

I was in 6th grade when these came out, and I remember wanting one so bad.  Never got it. :-\

[Mark5]

I got one when it came out, made a GP40 out of it, and sold it about 8 years ago in the face of better models out there.