I lubricate the armature bearings with a mix of technical petroleum jelly grease and sewing machine oil, it makes everything smoother and quieter. I lubricate the gears with the aforementioned grease. I've never filed the gears. I've got five Lima locomotives, two of them dating back to 1980, which I played with intensively, after servicing I've not had any more coffee grinder effects. The Lima pancake motor is a tough and reliable unit, I wouldn't change it for a CD motor.

I had a noisy Lima motor. I eventually discovered it was the Magnet. It had a very small amount of play, causing it to vibrate as the polarity rotated. I temporarily shimmed it with a piece of paper. Cured the noise👍

I spent a pleasant few hours tonight getting a Hornby Dublo 3-rail 2-6-4T serviced (probably for the first time in its 70yr existence !). The magnet was well and truly dead, it wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding. I don’t have a remag n’étirer (though I’m in the process of trying to build one). The Dublo magnet is 14mm x 9mm x 9mm. I couldn’t find a neodymium magnet that size for a reasonable price so I bought some 7mm x 7mm cubes and put those in. It works a treat, just like new. Excellent slow speed running, plenty of torque and quite a turn of speed ! I’m well pleased. It’s all your fault Bill of course. Thanks. Rob

I kinda like the grinding noises. Almost mimics the sound of a diesel from the mid 20th century

You're very patient and thorough. But, as you note, there's a limit to what can be achieved with these. And most of us don't have spare armatures around to swap in. I have a couple of these, and I haven't really been able to do anything to stop them sounding grindy. They also tend to draw quite a lot of power, compared to newer models. And I have had similar experiences with small Lima steam locos also. The old Lima models can be picked up quite cheaply, but there is a reason for that - they were quite cheap when originally sold, and though they can be kept running, I've never been able to really make them anything like smooth and quiet.

Well done for dealing with this, Budget Vintage Models need love too 😄 A couple years ago, I bought a GWR Lima Prairie & 94xx pannier Tank Spares/repairs, of similar Vintage to this 08, and they are Consistently Excellent runners after a bit of a tickle - Xcellent Value @ £13 for the pair inc postage. Changing that armature made all the difference - Gr8 tips as always - thanks for sharing 👍🏻✨

What a sweet loco. Nice job.

I had a Lima loco that made that horrible sound a while ago. I gave up on it and put a CD motor into it. Great job identifying the issue and fixing it. 👍

Never realised Lima beat Hornby to outside frames on the 08.

I've just overhauled one of these. Heck of a job sorting the con-rods so they ran smoothly. I fitted a CD motor and converted it to DCC and the crawl is amazing. Oh, sorry to be a pedant but they're actually class 09 😅

Was really considering getting one of these Lima 08's for the longest time, but the chunky rods and lack of detailing compared to the models of today just ended up putting me off of them, so I ended up getting a Bachmann one. It's interesting getting to see one of these in such in depth though, and you really got it to run as sweet as a kitten, though a CD motor conversion probably would improve the running and noise even further. Another nicely done repair Bill, looking forward to seeing more updates on the layout and what model will be on the workbench next!

So many trains running Bill, I didn’t know which one to look at 😁👍

You said you wanted to run longer trains, that 7 coach rake is very impressive. Good repair too!

Another good repair good to see some trains on the tracks

this video is really amazing! well done 👏

Another Great video Bill. The detail might not be the best but it certainly looks like an 08. Myself I am not particularly fussed when it comes to detail. Good job I'm not as one of my favourites is the Jouef Class 40.

Hello Bill. Sorry I missed you at the show at Dewar's Hall Ice Rink in Perth there. Thank you for posting this and how coincidental is this...heh! I bought an identical type LIMA 08 in LMS Livery Black(maybe you saw it?) and it has much of the same things going on for an older loco as the one you have there. It's in a nice condition for its age and has all its connecting tension hooks too! The connecting rods are a bit bent like that one you had there and have, over time, worn the faces of the holding nuts down. I haven't opened it yet because I've been playing with other things I got on Saturday/Sunday there. I did oil it and it runs but sometimes it's like it's charging a capacitor now and again before moving, so needs a service. I must get the wee nut socket you have there but I have tools that will be as gentle with the old things drive train. If it's in the LMS Black, does that make it the elusive 09 shunter? I have a few Gronks now! Thanks again and all the best, sir. Cheers!

hah, just about to get one of these working over the weekend so perfect timing

I have a couple of these and both make the grinding noise. They also make an intermittent 'thumping' noise in one direction. That'll be my job tomorrow to try swapping the armatures out - i'll check the cranks too. I've sort of grown used to their noise and they run pretty well, but you've given me a push to see if I can make them a wee bit better

Great job Bill

Somewhere in my project box I have one of these, acquired as a non-runner. I found that the 'clip' end of the motor mount was damaged so it wouldn't stay in place and the gears meshed. Short of scrapping another model to provide a spare part, I haven't yet worked out a way to fix it. (But inspired by Bill's creativity with brass strip, I'm sure I can find a way.)

hi Bil, had a couple of these in the 80s from new, they were not that quiet then, but good for that time period

Nice locomotive 🤩👍

Great job

Lima locomotives were always noisy things 😅

Before DCC sound there was lima

The noise seemed amplified when the body went back on. Could some insulation material be glued into the empty front end to blot it up? Only guessing mind you. You certainly got it running smoother, Bill , so perhaps it's as good as it gets.

Bill, have you considered fitting a CDU to your point wiring loom. You would only need one and they aren't expensive. It would certainly stop the buzzing on your point motors

Could you put some sound deadening in the body? Its acting as a "speaker" cabinet at the moment. I'm sure the open windows don't help.

You could have just turned the wheel-set over...😂😂

I am going through all your videos at some speed - compulsive viewing; really enjoying them. On the Lima Class 08 shunter, it looks as if I would have a good chance of converting one to DCC by installing a chip amoung those wires to the motor. Would you agree? I hope you can find time to give me your opinion. Thanks.

Here's a thought. Have a 08 on your shuttle with a consist of wagons along with your DMU?

You're a bad influence, Bill. When you tested it I thought "It's a noisy wee bugger" which may be correct but not a form of words that should be used by a Yorkshireman!

Lima “pancake” motors are always fairly noisy