Trains.com

Do accessories run better hot?

1266 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 346 posts
Do accessories run better hot?
Posted by Michael6268 on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 8:20 PM

Is it just me or do operating accessories with vibrating Motors seem to work better once they get hot, or at least warm? Seems to me that 14 volts is never enough to get them going at first. Seems like after 5 minutes or so they start working nicely. My only thought is the heat has something to do with it. I'm referring to accessories such as rotary beacons, radar antenna, and windmill that use the vibrating motor.

  • Member since
    March 2013
  • 563 posts
Posted by BigAl 956 on Thursday, September 8, 2016 11:26 AM

Never made this observation. Here are my thoughts,

Heat is not really a bi-product of the classic Lionel vibrotor. I have noticed that the fingered washer in the vibroter will wear down or dry out over time and what you are experiencing may simply be a symptom of an old washer.

Washers are very inexpensive so if you have an old one try replacing it and see if that makes a difference.

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 346 posts
Posted by Michael6268 on Thursday, September 8, 2016 2:19 PM

I know on both the rotary aircraft beacons i have the coil gets hot.  Maybe the coils are bad??

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 211 posts
Posted by JTrains on Friday, September 9, 2016 7:58 AM

Michael6268

Is it just me or do operating accessories with vibrating Motors seem to work better once they get hot, or at least warm? Seems to me that 14 volts is never enough to get them going at first.

About the only thing I have with a Vibrotor-type mechanism is a 140 banjo signal and, while it doesn't seem to need to get warm temperature-wise it does work better after getting warmed up (i.e., operated) and run a bit.

IT consultant by day, 3rd generation Lionel guy (raising a 3YO 4th generation Lionel Lil' Man) by night in the suburbs of the greatest city in the world - Chicago. Home of the ever-changing Illinois Concretus Ry.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month