Growling Probelm

[Fred Bear]

OK, am I wearing you guys/gals out on here yet? I have yet another problem. A pre war Lionel whistle tender was locked up, wouldn't spin. So I took it apart, brushes galded to the face. Cleaned it all and cleaned the brushed, didn't have new ones. Now when I put the juice to it, it sorta "growls". If I pu***he contacts close, it will whistle OK, but not when used through the whistle control on the ZW. Any ideas on this one? I have a 1666 that does the same thing, sorta growls, and slows down when it growls. Thanks again to all that respond, Jake

[3railguy]

Do the contacts close when you activate the whistle button? Are the whistle turbine blades spinning when it "growls"? (check this with the tender shell removed) Also it is common for the air whistle motors to make some raspy noise when they whistle.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Jake! Sounds like you need new brushes for your 1666 & whistle tender. Jeff Kane at the Train Tender has them in stock. This should resolve this problem for you. & Be sure to clean the commutator of the armatures in both the tender & 1666 & to Grease & Oil all moving parts.Hope this helps. Take Care.

[Fred Bear]

I figured it might be brushes, even thogh they look OK, are they sometimes cooked or just plain bad? Thanks, Jake