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Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49312		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  SantaFe158 [ Tue Aug 11, 2026 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
We're on the hunt for, preferably, a Nathan LB2 steam air pump lubricator and/or a useable Detroit single feed hydrostatic lubricator (size-0).

If you have anything collecting dust on a shelf (even a good, useable body), I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks!
Author:  SMS9 [ Thu Oct 15, 2026 7:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
Best of luck. I searched for a couple years and gave up. Those who have them will not let them go. We ended up buying a lubricator from china. Not great but works most of the time.
Author:  Wowak [ Fri Oct 16, 2026 8:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
Our last remaining LB2s are becoming maintenance problems at Steamtown, I imagine we're eventually going to have to change to a different lubrication strategy.
Author:  SantaFe158 [ Fri Oct 16, 2026 9:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
Wowak wrote:
Our last remaining LB2s are becoming maintenance problems at Steamtown, I imagine we're eventually going to have to change to a different lubrication strategy.


That's interesting to know. Any specific trouble spot with it? We liked the idea of the theoretically simple machining work to maintain or build one in-house based on the drawings we located, but I'm curious about the drawbacks.

We built up a home-brew pneumatic-mechanical lubricator using an existing single feed mechanical lubricator and a small air piston actuated by the up-stroke of the air pump, but it needed some further refinement to work properly and we haven't had the time to get back to work on it. In the meantime, we did locate a good single feed Detroit hydrostatic to get us back in action, but are still on the hunt for a spare or two to have on the shelf in case.
Author:  SantaFe158 [ Fri Oct 16, 2026 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
SMS9 wrote:
Best of luck. I searched for a couple years and gave up. Those who have them will not let them go. We ended up buying a lubricator from china. Not great but works most of the time.


Those were on our radar as well but the bulky size compared to our fairly small 19th century locomotives was going to be problematic in terms of getting one mounted somewhere. Our experience with locating anything has been much the same, although a couple of good leads on hydrostatics have arisen.
Author:  Bobk [ Sun Oct 18, 2026 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
have you checked around park engines? That could be a source.
Author:  Wowak [ Thu Oct 22, 2026 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wanted: Nathan LB2 Lubricator and/or Detroit Hydrostatic
SantaFe158 wrote:

That's interesting to know. Any specific trouble spot with it?


I don't work on the mechanical side of it so I only know what I'm told, but my impression is that we've been on a carousel of different oils because they keep either gumming up or getting carboned up. We have to remind our volunteer firemen to keep an eye on it in case it stops cranking (but if it's going to misbehave it's usually on the first service day of the weekend in the morning.) I know I've heard ruminations about going to a hydrostatic in the future.
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