Wiring question on a Lionel 153 Engine

[Fred Bear]

I bought a 153 out of an antique store complete with all cars, however the wiring was shot, completely cracked apart. I rewired it, it runs like a dream but the roller sparks a constant blue arc, and needless to say gets REAL hot! The other roller does not seem to work at all. When I cleaned the armature, the commutator didn't seem to have very deep grooves, not much left at all really, could that be my problem? Reversing unit is hand operated, which still works fine actually. Thanks for any help, Jake

[J. Daddy]

sounds like the roller that is sparking is shorting out and the roller that is "not working" Actually is.

I would switch the polarity of the roller that is sparking and see if that solves the probem. I do not have a wire schematic, but it sounds like you have the wiring 90% correct. 

[Fred Bear]

If I retract the sparking roller, I get nothing. If I unhook the sparking roller and leave the other intact, I get nothing. I just wonder how much the worn armature could be affecting this mess? Thanks for the reply, Jake

[kpolak]

Check to see that the roller(s) arms are isolated from the frame.  That may be your short.  I'm not sure about the pre-war but the post war has plastic isolation gaskets, between the frame and the roller frame.  The screw from the roller frame to the frame should have a fiber gasket to isolate it as well.  Just a hunch. 

Kurt

[Fred Bear]

I'm running this engine with the frame off, just the wheels and the motor. Does this help describe the problem? Jake

[J. Daddy]

I agree, sounds like the roller is shorting out the the other has the wrong polarity, can you attach alligator clips to the motor directly and determine the correct polarity for the non working roller, then for the other roller ground the frame with alligator clips and attach the (hot) other alligator clip to the roller and rotate to find the short....

[Fred Bear]

Both rollers are hooked to the same wire. Does that make sense? Jake

[stubbsO]

I had the same type of problem with my Dad's #156 that he got new, ok, Im dating myself. Any way, I sent the motor to Motor Doc cause the commutator was toast even though it would run with the hot pickups. This was with new rollers on it too. After repair I still had the hot pick ups and I called him about it, he told me to replace the pickup unit. Even though I had a new one I was really recluntatant to change it, decided to replace it with a old one that came off of a parts unit and problem was solved. Decided to replace the rollers on it just to maskes sure all was good. No more hot wheels. I say replace the roller unit. Good Luck

[Fred Bear]

That could be, but I'd like to know why it's getting hot, what is causing the blue arc? Has to be going to short ground somehow I'd think, Jake

[stubbsO]

That could be, but I'd like to know why it's getting hot, what is causing the blue arc? Has to be going to short ground somehow I'd think, Jake

Who knows, these things are 80+ years old, anything can happen. The main reason things like that get hot is because of resistance in the system. Something may look ok but is fubared somewhere.

[dennyblock]

I had the same problem with a 252 I got last winter,ran OK but one roller sparks and hot, nothing from the other roller. Turned out to be the plate that holds the rollers had gotten weak and didn't hold them firmly on the track. Replace the plate and no more problem. You can test this by wading a ball of tissue and wegding it under the plate at each roller and see how she runs,thats how I found it. Good luck