Loud Gears/Engine

Hi Y'all,

I have a general question about noisy engine/gears. I have a straight drive Thomas train. Is there any consensus on troubleshooting these? do we replace the motor? grease the gear box? what type of grease have you used?
Any other suggestions appreciated!

Thanks,
Kevin

i use zipoil on the wheels

[Super]

Always a great question...

The Flat Drives are notorious for being louder or crackly as I like to call it. Can't really pinpoint why but others may have an idea. What I have found its almost always NOT the motors fault as running them outside the gear box seems to prove them to be quiet. However there are cases when the metal shaft does need a very slight drop of oil on it if it makes noise. There is also the chance the the gear on the motor shaft is split causing a bit of noise. I have had some success in dulling the noise a bit with cleaning and the use of White Lithium Grease. Making sure not to over grease I like to grease all the gears 'spokes' and the metal shafts where they are cradled in the housing. Sometimes in gears that can be moved on their shaft I have had success in moving them a bit but that success has mostly been with the Thomas type motors.

The White Lithium Grease I use and love, is this little tub that will probably last a lifetime and is made to work with plastic gears. (first picture) I have also bought another type (2nd picture) that professes to be a dry white lube because it has a needle like applicator for pinpoint accuracy but I haven't tried it yet.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RCLUBE-XP-RC-He...XQ-3NRlGbq


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hob-e-Lube-Dry-...SwxCxT-8Cw

got the lube, thanks. man, I took apart that gearbox and you're right the motor is just fine. I thought I had figured it out but even after replacing a bent rod (thought I was so cool) I could t get it quieter.