00 gauge Lima model trains loco service guide updated for 2015

First released in March 2015 over on Mike's Movies here is one of the big performers!
In this video we revisit my original video and guide for servicing Lima locos. • Lima Loco Service Guide
Lima service guide:
1drv.ms/b/s!Ap...
No subscription required just download the file.
My good friend and fellow train driver/ model railway enthusiast Bob brought his rather poorly Lima class 52 Western diesel loco to show me.
You get to meet both of us as we try his Western out and decide that it needs a full one off special Lima service.
Then, we go to my workshop to strip the loco right down, clean, enhance and lubricate every moving part as per my guide.
Follow each of the steps with us.
Then we try the loco out again and see how it now runs.
Many thanks to Bob for all his help today, it was a long process to film and produce everything so we really hope it will help others.
Love your Lima :)
Class 73 special www.youtube.co.... #modelrailways #modelrailroad #modeltrains

[@ArcadiaJunctionHobbies]

The old Lima pancake motor is one of the most reliable and easily repaired model train power units ever. This is why there are still so many old Lima trains out there and running. Was never given the credit it deserved back in the day. But now it has become kind of legendary and for good reason. Also Mazok Rot and Zinc Pest will never be a problem for Lima locos.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi, I so agree with you, planning a Lima fest soon

[@marcelodt]

Today I finally had time to pay attention to my Lima Class 37. Luckily I found your video and went through the entire procedure. Previously, the model needed more than 8v to move. After the service, it now takes 5v to start the movement. I'll install a DCC decoder to see how it goes.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Excellent result well done, very glad I could help 👍

[@Mike-kc8rl]

I have by chance discovered your channel and this takes me back ! I had western renown, western gladiator , and the western enterprise lima set new standards back then , and clearing some stuff the other day I found my old lima 09. loved this service video takes me right back .

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Welcome aboard! Hope you feel able to subscribe and spread the word lol. Ah yes I still have my Lima 09, I'll soon be moving the video here but have a look at kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGSwk4Cwna2JiLs

[@mannbrand]

Excellent work, it is best to keep the original engine! I have several brand locomotives and I do the same cleaning process, the difference is that I lubricate them with liquid wax, the gears do not get wet and they do not get dirty, after all this the result is optimal, greetings from Argentina.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi, many thanks indeed. Very nice to hear from Argentina

[@mannbrand]

@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited thank You! This was where Lima had the gratest commercial distribution...

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

@@mannbrand oh really that's interesting. Do you have videos of your models on your channel

[@mannbrand]

@@ModelRailwaysUnlimitedNot yet, but in a short time i will, i am reforming my layout...

[@paulgiddy5631]

Awesome simple explanation. New to the hobby and helped me a ton and a half. Thanks.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Very welcome

[@sim00ps]

Excellent video. Will give it a go once I’ve got the correct supplies 👍

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Great to hear, good luck

[@vladpowert]

I’m going to repair a Lima Alco of 1978 with the same mechanism. Thank you for this video.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Glad it helped

[@letzterinstanz]

Very, very good video, Mike. That takes me back 30 years ! The principles still apply and you have illustrated step by step 'how to do it'. Marvellous.............Reinhard

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Thanks Reinhard, so glad you like it. This then is my only secret as to why my Lima stuff runs so well and smooth :) a one off strip down followed by occasional re-lube and brush check

[@neilreddaway1005]

@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited Hi Mike, great video. I am very new to all this, and not technically minded. Is there any chance of offering a LIMA maint service for willing customers ? All the best Neil

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

@@neilreddaway1005 Hi Neil, I have been known to look at the odd one or two but as I work full time, I get very little free time

[@neilreddaway1005]

@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited Hi Mike, I would really appreciate you taking a look at a couple of Lima 55’s that I have recently bought please, happy to pay cash, or a charity donation of your choice. What do you think ? After a magical service from you, I could then keep em running with my own limited handling experience. Regards Neil

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

@@neilreddaway1005 Hi Neil, I guess I could, but can't say exactly when just now, work is mad and free time non existent. Where abouts are you? I am in West Sussex

[@anthonylichfield7002]

Hello Mike as I have some old lima model's I think this is one of the best videos I have seen on the subject keep up the great work all the best anthony

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Many thanks Anthony, really kind of you to say

[@melchestermodelrailway]

Thanks for a really useful video Mike. I've been using this method to restore some of my old Lima 33's and 47's and convert them to DCC. The brushes and pick up plates had worn right down though, fortunately it's fairly easy to get new ones.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi Chris, very many thanks, glad it helped. Kind regards Mike

[@johnedwards4274]

Very informative and I will get an ultrasonic bath next time in the U.K. I have a massive collection of Lima Time to get servicing

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Best of luck! I have kind of swapped out IPA for a lot of contact surface cleaning but it's still good for general work.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Mike , Great job on the Video. I typically have stayed away from Ringfield motor Loco's ( Except for Fleischmann ) . Recently I came across a very good deal online for a couple of Used Lima's .. i could not resist the temptation, so I purchased them . This is when your video came in handy. I reviewed your video first, and then i decided to do my Full on Service of the loco ... I must say that it runs really well now , infact , I do like the ringfields on these Lima's in comparison to the older Hornby's and Bachmann's .. I found they lack precision to enable smooth operation . I also use the same lubricants from woodland scenics as well . I have use the Gear oil for the gears and the medium oil for the motor bearings . I also use Conducta Lube , which is a different product but works very well for the brearing between the brushes .. as Conducta lube is conductive and as a result does not foul up your commutator if it happens to make its way to it . Again , thank you for a great , detailed video on how to service these Lima ringfield motors. I have sub'd to your channel . Check out my channel when you get a chance (Anthony's Hobby Corner) ... Regards, - Anthony . -

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Thanks very much Anthony, so glad to help

[@TheAntisocialTrain]

Believe it or not - Ive only just hd to service my 31 - runs quietly now compared to before. Thanks for the guide!

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi Rory, that is great news

[@PhilPage227]

Excellent video Mike, I may try stripping my Lima Deltic.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Yes go for it, if you need help come back here

[@PhilPage227]

@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited Thanks. I have had the body off and oiled it but at 40 years old may need a bit more. It does run very well.

[@T.W.I.T.]

Thank you very much mate.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Most welcome 🤗

[@wc7604]

That's good camerawork.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Thank you kindly

[@NorbertRoll]

Very interesting and informative.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Thanks Norbert, bit of effort pays off :)

[@otiv-6599]

Thankyou for sharing

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Glad it helped

[@vikingsmb]

glass fibre pens are brilliant to clean lima wheels, I use them on my fleet

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi, glass fibre pens have a place in modelling but I could not recommend them for general wheel cleaning, there will be a lot of fragments blowing about which could not only embed in your skin but also get drawn into the mechanisms, a cleaner like IPA or even the normal Peco red brush is best for this application. Thanks for your thoughts all the same

[@SammyBFilms]

Love the camera style light in the background!! :-) Where did you get it??

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi Sammy, you mean the green screen? well all from Amazon lol stands and bar to suspend the screen from and a soft box light on the ground pointing up at it

[@SammyBFilms]

@@ModelRailwaysUnlimited No, the spot light in the corner to the left. 0:02 :-)

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

@@SammyBFilms OH that lol, Got it from The Range, it's a table lamp :)

[@liamkelly8358]

Hello, are the service sheets that you refer to in the video available? I dropped my lima class 37 and one of the wires has fallen off the bogie without the motor and I can't figure out were it reattached. Thanks

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Show me a picture of it, message me via our Facebook group

[@liamkelly8358]

I've figured out where the wire goes now. I shall solder it (once I figure out how to solder!) Back together. Can I ask you where the traction tyres go ? My old ones also fell out

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

@@liamkelly8358 Peter's Spares, well done

[@Lee-wb5og]

Hi nice video. I guess it wouldn't be 'too difficult' to swap the un powered boogie for a powered boogie? Also what radius turns are you using? Thanks

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi Lee, I think it's been done by some but I never found the need. Mine are 2nd radius I think but Lima will go around the tightest curves.

[@Lee-wb5og]

I see. I have brought 3rd's for the set I'm building for my Son, maybe I should have got 2nds and made it smaller! Never mind. Ta

[@grahamknight8994]

@@Lee-wb5og Check out Budget Model Railways if your looking to see what loco's cope with tight radius curves. As with Mike they found Lima loco's particularly good on tight curves especially the Bo-Bo's, small prairie 45xx (also Hornby 25's, 29',35's, and Hornby Railroad ex Lima) My old Hornby 31 & 37 shared the same bogie with flangeless dummy centre wheel, this copes with tight curves and my father also removed the centre wheel from the trailing bogie when we used the Tri-ang Universal, Series 3 and Super 4 track.

[@charlie1872]

I have the 0-6-0 Pannier, it had been in a box from a number of years. Gave it some oil and cleaned it up and it ran. There might be a weight missing., can you provide the service sheet? Thanks

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Many thanks Charlie, I am afraid i don'tr have any service sheets

[@kellypaws]

Rudimentary beasts. But they can run incredibly well when fettled. And unlike modern motors 100% serviceable.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

100% agree

[@SEJohnson95]

Hi Mike, great video, thank you. Had one of my Lima diesels apart for a service as per your video and I'm struggling to get it to pick up power from the track. Connecting to power across the motor works fine, and equally from the wire to the unpowered bogey but not the rear bogey itself. The electrical pickup in the rear bogey looks fine and putting power directly to that makes it run on the bench, as does attaching the crocodile clips to both the rear and front bogeys. Not too sure why it won't pick up from the track though, any thoughts? Cheers.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hi Simon, that is most odd, So to confirm, power from the track is getting to the motor bogie but not the trailer? Did you remove the clip from the trailing bogie at all?

[@SEJohnson95]

Hi Mike I’m not getting any power from the track to the motor bogey at all - connecting it up on the bench, I can get power from the wheels to the motor, so I suspect the axle pickups are fine on the motor bogey. I did undo the clip connecting the motor to the unpowered bogey when I took everything apart. Putting power to the rear bogey and the motor, it will run. I just can’t seem to get anything to be powered from the track, which is very strange

[@DMZforeverOG]

It's because you've got the isolating wheels on incorrectly. The wheels have a tiny piece of plastic attached to the axel...make sure they are all on the same side but also the opposite side to the isolated wheels on the power bogie 👍

[@lloydpenfold486]

Yes I wondered if one of the bogies was put back the wrong way round - I had to check very carefully whan I did my 'Western' as oer the video.

[@runeljungstrommer331]

Very smart, thx!

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

You're welcome!

[@popeyebob9007]

I currently own 2 Lima models and both are a pain in the neck. I have removed both motors and thoroughly cleaned them and now neither work. In fact both are totally dead. Despite my best efforts both motors have failed. and the models packed away. I am now considering the Ringfield motor upgrade for both. I have not seen anywhere a tutorial on the wiring and various components. One aspect I have found is that one has a spring on the post on the non powered bogie and the other does not. Another aspect is why is there a difference to the Hornby and Lima motors. One type has a clip for the gears and the other does not. Both my motors do not have this clip. Trying to get these motors to run is in deed the most frustrating aspect. Any chance a few more in depth tutorials can be made.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Did you download the associated document with this video? Might help. The motors are simplicity itself.

[@popeyebob9007]

Yes I have and followed each step exactly but no luck. It has me stumped. It almost got to the point of tossing the lot into the bin. The motors are indeed simple and the one I am working on at the moment was running but after cleaning is now dead with no power at all.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

@@popeyebob9007 hmm interesting, can you send me some close up photos of the mechanism and connections. If you look up Model Railways Unlimited on Facebook you should be able to post them or pm me

[@popeyebob9007]

Will do.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

.

[@LukeAlfordUKsteam]

Thanks I have a lot of limas and none of them work.

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Did it work?

[@LukeAlfordUKsteam]

Im ordering the required things then i can get to work