Pre-Lubricating Wheels

Before we assemble the car, we will want to start the lubricating process on the wheels.

Tools and materials you'll need:

  • A piece of "piano wire" at least 6" long that is a loose fit into the axle bores of the wheels
  • A small paint brush (like you would use for painting small parts of a model car)
  • Your favorite graphite preparation
  • A Bic pen or other "stick" type pen with a slightly rounded end. (The end away from the writing point!)
  • A piece of newspaper to cover your work surface

Steps in the process:

  • Hold the piano wire in one hand and slip a wheel over the wire.
  • Scoop a small amount of graphite out of the container with the brush and place it into the "wire wheel" area on the wheel. Brush it into the axle hole evenly around the wire.
  • Now hold the wire in both hands and with light pressure, roll the wheel back and forth on the newspaper about six inches. This works the graphite into the surface of the plastic and starts the lubrication process.
  • Repeat the above steps three or four times.
  • Place a small amount of graphite on the newspaper and press the inside hub of the wheel into the pile of graphite. Rock it around and rotate it to burnish graphite into the surface of the hub which will touch the body as the car rolls down the track.
  • Again using the brush, carry a little graphite onto the area of the wheel near the axle hole where it will run against the nail head. Using the back end of the Bic pen, burnish this into the plastic and repeat the process two or three times.