Maintaining your Live Steam locomotive is imperative to keeping your working model running efficiently. Always adhere to the instructions provided with your Live Steam set and follow our basic ‘do’s and don’ts’ and maintenance tips. The images below will also help you to maintain your locomotive properly.
Removing the Body
Wait until the locomotive is cool before handling.
Remove oil filler screw. Undo the two screws (indicated by green dots on this diagram) located underneath and at the front of the locomotive. Holding the locomotive body and chassis in opposite hands, carefully and slowly slide the body forward and vertically upwards while firmly holding the chassis still.
Lubricating the moving parts
Additional lubrication to the axle bearings, using light machine oil, may be required. Using a fine piece of wire (a bent paperclip is good for this) carefully apply a few drops of the oil on the points indicated by Dia. B. Do not over oil as this may impair the running of the locomotive, especially if oil comes into contact with the main drive wheels which may cause excessive wheel spin.
Removing any excess oil
Excessive oil can build up around the moving parts of the chassis including the wheel rims and friction tyres (Dia. C). This build up can be removed with a lint free cloth or cotton bud and a suitable degreasing agent such as Methylated Spirit. Care must be taken not to snag any of the various components on the chassis or leave any threads from the cleaning material that may become entwined on the locomotive's moving parts.
Oil Filler Seal
After refilling the locomotive with oil, ensure the oil filler seal between the filler screw and chassis is replaced. If this seal is not present, it could mean that steam escapes through the steam chest, rather than the chimney.
Water Filler Seal
If, when removing the water filler cap from the tender, the seal does not stay on the screw cap, a small pair of tweezers can be used to 'rescue' the seal. When replacing the water filler cap, ensure it is screwed down firmly and the seal is in place, but do not over tighten or cross screw threads as this could damage the seal and/or filler cap.
Tightening Con-rods
You should regularly check the con-rods and coupling rods of the locomotive, especially after running in reverse. To do this, use the special socket head driver provided with the locomotive to tighten the con-rods and coupling rods (Dia. D). Do not over tighten as this could cause damage to the locomotive.