Diesel Locomotives –tractions Gear-Lubrication

Most traction gears on diesel locomotives are lubricated with high viscosity, adhesive gear oils. Residuum  type products  with  viscosities    as  high  as 500 Furol  at  210 degree F    have  been  used, but  in most  cases  a viscosity  of  2000 SUS at 210 degree F is  satisfactory. About  fifteen  pounds is  required  for an  initial  fill  and  since there  is  some  leakage,  the  gear  case  should  be  checked and refilled at  least  every  month. U.S. specification MIL-L-13914 (ORD) provides for two  grades of such oil, one  with  a viscosity  of 170 to 240  Say bolt  Furol  at 210 degree F and  the other  with a similar  viscosity of  480 to 580. A lubricating  greases is  recommended for the  purpose by  Morway  and  Ball^38  in which  the  thickener  is a  complex  sodium  soap  and the fluid is a mixture of  14.93 parts of a  low  cold  test oil  having  a  viscosity of 55  SUS at  210 degree F  and 75 parts of a  resin  from a Pennsylvania  oil  having a  viscosity  of  14,000 SUS at  210 degree F. When  such a  lubricant was used  in a  locomotive  in  freight  service  it did  not  leak  from  the gear  case, and  after  one  year  of  service there  was  only  slight  wear  on the  pinion  and driving  gear  teeth.