Bear with me, there is Jaguar content here.
I have recently resumed slot car racing after a 50 year hiatus. The Viper Pit slot car track in Thomasville, GA, hosts races for “flexi” slot cars every Monday night at 7:00. I had to buy a car (about $100, I’ll eventually be buying at least two more) and a controller ($200 for the cheapest acceptable one available, but it’s worth it, this controller is light-years ahead of the Cox junk I used back then).
After each race, I come home and put the stuff away for the week. Sunday night break it back out and prep it for another Monday night race, lubing the bearings, cleaning the tires, etc.
What lube to use? There are two bushings in the rear axle and two in the motor, plus there are the gears themselves. Pretty much everyone is using something light. I pondered my options briefly and decided to go with 5W-20 full synthetic motor oil. I have some on hand because that’s what’s used in my 2004 Honda Civic LX Coupe. It’s as runny as water, should be perfect.
Two weeks in a row now, I have picked up my slot car on Sunday to find it totally seized up. The rear axle won’t turn at all, and I try hard enough I worry I’m gonna break something. After applying some fresh oil, letting it work in, and gradually turning the axle back and forth a little, eventually I manage to get it freed up and spinning like it should.
For years I’ve been advising Jaguar owners (I told you there’d be Jaguar content!) to lube important stuff like the Lucas centrifugal advance mechanism with synthetic motor oil so that hopefully it won’t seize up like the original grease did. If synthetic motor oil seizes a centrifugal advance mechanism in one week like it does my slot car, that would be very bad advice indeed! I should be apologizing profusely!
I’m opening this up for discussion. First off, have any of you experienced similar problems with synthetic motor oil? Has anyone come up with something they feel is better for lubing the Lucas centrifugal advance mechanism? And, while we’re at it, anybody have any better ideas what lube I should be using on my slot car?