Re-powering a Bowser Trolley

[cruikshank]

 a Friend purchased several Bowser Trolleys.  They appear to be New Old Stock. They look great, but they run like crap.  They have an old style vertical AC motor and a gear that looks like someone cut it in shop class.  Even with a Clean and Lube they run jerky and even smoke.  I find it hard to believe Bowser intended them to run this way.  Has anyone else experienced this, and have you been successful in re-powering them, or getting them to run smoother.  Thanks Much,  Dave

[ADCX Rob]

 Are you sure they are AC?  Bowser has used an open frame permanent magnet(non can motor) DC motor for a long time, with a rectifier screwed to the floor of the frame.  They almost look like universal(AC) motors because of their open construction & exposed, serviceable brushes.

The Bowser trolleys take a long time to break in and require really good lubrication while doing so.  They eventually smooth out.  The one I run at Christmas will run at a snail's pace for hours at a time.

Rob

[Taranwanderer]

Dave, I forgot to mention that they are actually DC...there's a little rectifier glued to the top of the frame. Who knew? Rob, the problem that I'm having with this trolley is that the armature was pitted/rusted, and when I took it apart to get it out so I could clean it, the stationary field magnets decided to come out and go EVERYWHERE. So I'm able to get it back together, but I don't think I have the magnets in the stationary field right. If anyone has had one of these motors apart and has successfully put it back together, I'd love to hear some suggestions. Thanks!

[cruikshank]

I want to publicly apologize to Bowser for not approaching them first about the trolley issue I posted last week, and saying they ran like crap. Having been in business myself for 15 years I should have given him the respect of talking to him first. I was just very frustrated with the operation of these. They look wonderful and very authentic, but the ones we have are not reliable enough to use on our display layout. We may have purchased some really old stock. Either way, Lee English from Bowser contacted me via email and asked if we could work it out. I really appreciated that, and hopefully we will get this worked out. I will certainly fill you all in on the progress. Thanks, Dave. NSHR

[Boise Nampa & Owyhee]

Rob.......

 

Yes the original Bowser motors were cantankerous but the were seldom adjusted correctly.  By the time the motor was taken apart to assemble it onto the frame, the armature shaft alignment was lost.

Here is the secret to good running old DC Bowser motors. 

Once assembled into the frame, leave the wheels, gears and brush assembly out.  Then tighten the two 2-56 screws that hold the whole thing together while turning the armature.  It won't just spin and fly around as the magnet is working on it all the time. But...  turn it so it ramps up on a magnet pull and then let go of it.  It should be so free that it springs back by itself.  Try this in four to six locations through a full turn of the armature.  If free all the way around, clean the wheels and reassemble.

Last trick........  hard wire the pick up on the dummy truck rather than loosely binding is on the bolster screw.  It is not positive enough as it came from the factory.

I have made these run well for many years.

see ya

Bobb

[ADCX Rob]

Mine run so well, I have had to replace the brushes after many, many hours of operation.

[Boise Nampa & Owyhee]

Rob.......

 

That's good to hear.......  I've been running Bowser stuff since the 60's.  In that time I've fallen into most every trap. 

 

see ya

Bob