Model Railroad Hobbyist | January 2017| #83 MRH Q-A-T column compiled by Joe Brugger Questions and Answers Proto 2000 clean-up Q. I am aware of the split gear issues with the older blue box P2K locomotives, but I have several that have been stored for many years and plan to use them on the layout that is in the design phase. What can one do to clean the motor when the lubrication turns to “peanut butter,” with- out replacing the motor? —Jason Greene A. Dried-up grease and split axle gears are well-known problems with early runs of Life-Like Proto 2000 engines, particularly the four-axle GP units. If you hear thumping while the engine runs, there is at least one split axle gear. Even if the unit is locked up solid, the problem is usually not the electric motor. The good news is that the issue can be almost always be cor- rected by cleaning the drive train and replacing drive axles with XX MRH QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND TIPS • INDEX SUBSCRIBE (free) • TABLE OF CONTENTS