Postwar Whistle Tender Sparking

[EIS2]

Why do the rollers on whistle tenders spark so much?  Every one of my postwall whistle tenders spark like gang-busters when I activate the whistles.  I clean the rollers with contact cleaner and the track is clean.  The engines don't spark excessively, so why do the tenders spark so much when the whistle is activated?

Earl

[8ntruck]

The whistle relay is operated by a DC signal 'overlaid' on the normal AC current that runs the train.  If I remember correctly, DC current sparks more than AC current? 

Please remember that these are the thoughts of a mechanical engineer who knows enough about electricity to be dangerous.  I'm sure one of the electrical experts will chime in with a proper answer.

[richhotrain]

EIS2

Why do the rollers on whistle tenders spark so much?  Every one of my postwall whistle tenders spark like gang-busters when I activate the whistles.  I clean the rollers with contact cleaner and the track is clean.  The engines don't spark excessively, so why do the tenders spark so much when the whistle is activated?

Earl

On my American Flyer steam engine tender, I get a lot of sparks from the wheels and it is not a whistle tender.   I can remember as a kid turning off the lights to watch the fireworks show as the engine ran around the tracks.  Is this a fire hazard in any way?

Rich

[phillyreading]

Earl,

Have you cleaned the brushes and armature on the postwar tender that has a whistle? Another thing to do is to take the wheels out and clean and lube the axles of the tender. If not that can cause a little bit of an extra load and cause some additional sparking.

As for sparking with the American Flyer just be sure to keep flammable stuff(mainly liquids) away from the track! Not that much I know of to keep down sparking with AF. Clean the track and contact shoes on the AF and that should help a little.

Lee F.

[EIS2]

Lee, Thank you for your reply.   Yes I have cleaned the brushes, brush holders, commutator face and lubed the shafts of all my postwar tender whistle motors.  I have not cleaned the wheels and axles.

Am I the only one who experiences heavy sparking when the postwar whistle is activated?  I have a lot of postwar whistle tenders and they all spark excessively.

Earl

[8ntruck]

I've worked on a couple of Marx 666 locomotives.  These both threw a lot of sparks from the wheels until I gave them and the track a good cleaning. 

[wyomingscout]

EIS2

Am I the only one who experiences heavy sparking when the postwar whistle is activated?  I have a lot of postwar whistle tenders and they all spark excessively.

Earl

 

Earl, my whistle tender doesn't but I've got a 205 diesel that does all the time.  I wonder, might the collector assembly springs be weak, causing the collector to 'bounce'?

Charlie