I operate in the dirt, as my yard and ballast are all Decomposed Granite (DG) that goes from almost clay like fines to small gravel of about 1/4+ inch diameter. It all seems to work fine as live ballast, through the seasons of heat, cold, rain and snow. However, when the wind blows a fine dust can fly onto the exposed gears and other parts, and obviously sticks to the oils or grease that is on those exposed parts. I am trying powdered Graphite on the driveline and wheel bevel gears as they seem the most exposed and susceptible of all, and having a dry lube helps minimize the problem of fine dust sticking to "wet" lubes and thus causing excessive wear!

Do any of you have experience with using Graphite in this manner? I wonder if it might even be a superior way to lubricate the cranks and valve gears, or even siderods and crossheads on conventional locos?

What got me started down this "train" of thought was walking up to the side of my Shay to turn on the R/C one day and scuffing my foot in such a way as to shower the side of the engine with the DG such that some of the wheel gears were nearly packed with everything from dust to fine gravel. An obvious problem that would have been very destructive had I not noticed what I did, and gone ahead and run the engine anyway. Actually, the size of some of the "rocks" that stuck in the gear teeth would have jammed something fierce no doubt, but also cause damage no doubt.

I now have perhaps a dozen hours run time on the engine using Graphite for the bevel gears, and all seems fine so far. But if anyone knows of any down side to this technique, or has greater experience using it ... I'm all ears!!!

Hello Greg

Thank you for your reasoned and well thought out reply. I do understand economics to the extent that the price point for the $5.50 Top Cover that I need may well need to be $15.50 or even $20.50, which still beats the heck out of the $176.50 for the entire Motor Block and Truck assembly if that is not actually needed. Other parts should also be priced at a point that allows the company to make a small profit on each sale, such that the $1.10 Cab Steps may well need to sell for $10 or so, but I suspect that sales would still be made, as these are wonderfully detailed scale models that most owners will want to keep looking and working correctly ... or so I think!

Again I ask ... What about the supposed Lifetime Warranty on defective parts, of which this certainly qualifies?

As for this being just a "niche" hobby, well certainly, but in truth all hobbies can be similarly so describe as just a niche.

Hi Bill ... Thank you very much for the reply!

Yes, I'm aware that whole trucks may still be purchased, but I don't seem to be needing to replace the whole $176.50 truck just because a screw ear is broken on a $5.50 top cover as seen here:

http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_69_629&products_id=7225

I note that there are many other parts still offered, and have availed myself of some of them, like the delicate Hose Hanger set, and a couple of spare Headlights, but also note that the Cab Steps are listed as "Sold Out", and they are a delicate and easily damaged detail part that should continue to sell well ... or so I think! It appears that they are the same for both the 36/38 ton and 55 ton Shays as many parts are interchangeable.

http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_69_143&products_id=4768

Well, it is what it is, and I'll figure some kind of a work around for the parts most critically required!!!

Certainly that is a bit discouraging as I'm needing some parts for the 36/38 ton two truck Shays. I have just converted one to R/C & Battery power, but noted a broken screw ear on one of truck covers (motor blocks) and also broke a set of cab steps in the process. I have a dozen various Bachmann large scale engines that I have been saving until an outdoor layout could be built, which I am now finally getting around to actualizing. Sad to think my purchases over the years in anticipation of this, have been a mistake.

So what about the lifetime warranty anyway? Do they have parts that they are saving to deal with those issues? I am given to understand that the early Shay motor blocks are defective due to bad plastic which is certainly the cause of the screw ear on my cover crumbling. Seems with manufacturing problems such as this cropping up, a robust after sales market for parts could be somewhat profitable, and would certainly be morally correct under the circumstances!!!