Servicing MPC Integral Motor Trucks

[Anonymous]

What periodic maintenance can be performed on the integral motor truck as found on the MPC GP-20s for the 80’s? I’ve looked at mine and see no easy way to remove the motor from the truck to lube the worm gear. The only gears I can see to lube are on the side of the truck itself. The engine still runs strong and I’d like to keep it so.

[eZAK]

George,
If it is the one I'm thinking of , You can pull up the brush plate then pull out the armature.
Now you grease the worm gear and reinstall.

I'll check Lionel's web for a diagram.

[eZAK]

George,
Here is the exploded view http://www.lionel.com/Supplements/Supplement1to9/18030-100Complete.pdf

[Anonymous]

Thanks eZAK

[Anonymous]

All,
The brushplate comes off with a little effort after removing the brushplate screws. The armature easley pulls out. The 20+ year old grease was a dried out gooey mess. I used Break Free gun oil ,wooden toothpicks, and cotton swabs to remove the old grease from the worm gear on the armature and teeth of the worm wheel on the drive shaft. I then put a drop of oil in the small reservoir that the bottom of the armature rests in the truck frame and on the worm wheel, then put everything back together. While everything was apart, I cleaned the brushes too. Once the brushplate was back on, with the brushes in place, I removed the thrust bearing screw and added a SMALL drop of oil there too, replaced the thrust bearing screw and tightened it slowly until the armature backlash was zero and the wheels/armature still moved freely. Once back on the track the engine ran much smoother.

[daan]

@Altera6, oil will eventually get swung away from the worm because the worm rotates at higher speeds. I normally use a grease used in model rc sport in transmissions or the lubricant used for Festo air operated pistons. (Last one because at work we have plenty of it). These greases are less fluid then oil and will stick to the transmission better. The only thing they are not designed for is in the small bearings from the motor and the shafts. I use teflon-oil for that.