ATSE 631 Diesel Problem Queston

[Dominion Atlantic Railway]

 I have an ATSE diesel number 631 from a 1969 train set.When it is out on the track it lights and hums,but does not move,even after giving it a push.If left on for a bit ,smoke will start to come from the top of the motor.

 Any ides on what the trouble is with this engine not running. 

[Dominion Atlantic Railway]

 Bit of a hurry when I typed the above.The locomotive is a Lionel ATSF 631,that I received for Christmas back in 1967.I also have another Lionel loco ,of the same vintage ,that does the same thing.

 

 Would be nice to get these two old locos rolling again.

[lionelsoni]

My Greenberg price guide doesn't seem to have a postwar 631.  But it does list a 39567 ATSF "631" "nonpowered" Diesel. from 2013, not 1967 or 1969.

[Dominion Atlantic Railway]

Sorry, my mistake ,the number is a bit faded.It is 634,not 631.

[KRM]

My first guess would be dry gear grease but I don't know how long it has been since they were last run. So if it has been a long time take them apart and give them a good cleaning and lub.

[Dominion Atlantic Railway]

 Greased and oiled what I could see, with the loco shell off.Do not know much about Lionel locos.Mostly have Marx locos.The Marx engines seem to me quite simply to work on , when I compare them to Lionel ones.

[KRM]

The area that would be a problem is under the motor where the pinion gear and truck gear meet. I had to look the 634 up and now I am not sure if that is it, They seem to be an open bottom unit where there would be no grease pack.

have you pulled out the brushes and cleand there?

 

 

[rtraincollector]

Question to you. Have you tried moving that lever on top of the Engine. Your E-Unit even thou it's a two position may be stuck and not really in forward or reverse. If you have a outside area you can use, You might try getting some CRC ( HD sells it as well as Lowes) and take cover off of the engine and spray the E-unit. Do not try running for a while let it dry or you may be having flames coming out from under it. Depending on the lube/oil used in them they can get gummed up also. 

[Dominion Atlantic Railway]

 KRM seems I cleaned the brushes at sometime in the past on one of my attempts to get this loco to run.Will give it another try when I get a chance.

 

 rtraincollector the lever on the e unit moves freely.Have not tried doing what you suggested.What is CRC?

 

 I live in Nova Scotia,Canada .Not sure what stores would carry what you speak of.

 

  Thank you both for your replies would like to give both suggestons a try.  

[ADCX Rob]

A common mistake in disassembling and reassembling these motors for brush service is forgetting to make sure the terminal lug off to the side, cinched under the brushplate screw, is insulated from ground with a clear or opaque shouldered plastic washer. 

It's just screwed down there for convenience and as strain releif for the field wire, not for any electrical connection to the motor chassis.

The diesel will do exactly as you describe when you forget this washer. To test, just remove the terminal lug and wrap it in electrical tape, & track test it.

[Dominion Atlantic Railway]

 Thanks for that ADCX.Will check that out first chance I get.The loco however, was not running even before I did any thing to it.The light would come on,it would hum a bit and in short order smoke would start to omit from the top of the motor.At that point I would shut it down.Thats when I started to try to find out the problem.Have tried at different times to find the problem,but so far no luck.