Large Scale Central

Cleaning out needle on gear oil?

I’ve got a bottle of Bachmann’s heavy gear oil, which has a needle-like applicator. Trouble is, I can never get the oil to go through the needle. It just oozes out around the base, and makes a mess. I’m assuming the needle is clogged, but so far I haven’t found anything small enough to stick in there to clean it out. Any suggestions?

Try soaking it in paint thinner or WD-40…if you have an air compressor, try blowing it out…

Dear Ray,

How small is the opening of the applicator? Would a straight pin for sewing (see SWMBO) poke through?

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

Ray Dunakin said:
I've got a bottle of Bachmann's heavy gear oil, which has a needle-like applicator. Trouble is, I can never get the oil to go through the needle. It just oozes out around the base, and makes a mess. I'm assuming the needle is clogged, but so far I haven't found anything small enough to stick in there to clean it out. Any suggestions?
Try giving it the heat treatment, hair dryer on high or a heat gun on low.

Soak it in WD-40.

-Brian

Ray:

There are lots of pinpoint oilers of many sizes out there, with and without the oil. You can find them at hobby shops, jeweler’s supply shops, hardware stores and on-line. Google “pinpoint oiler”.

Perhaps the easiest solution is to just get a new one and put the product in it.

BTW, Along with my oiler from Garrett Wade and a couple of smaller ones from a jeweler’s supply house, I often use some miniature plastic squeeze bottles from the craft shop. They came with molded closed nozzles that allowed cutting or drilling to create the desired size drop dispenser.

Happy RRing,

Jerry