I appreciate your response and recommendations. You're probably right about those motor tabs- I took one look at my diesel motor and promptly sent it to Robert Barth. He did a fine job and I just knew I would have botched it .
NYCentralFan Thanks for the insight. I also found out, from Marx guru, Robert Grossman, that the spring tension on the motor brushes makes a BIG difference. I'd be greatly interested in the name of the Teflon spray that you get from Lowe's. Thanks, Mario.
Thanks for the insight.
I also found out, from Marx guru, Robert Grossman, that the spring tension on the motor brushes makes a BIG difference.
I'd be greatly interested in the name of the Teflon spray that you get from Lowe's.
Thanks,
Mario.
The liquid spray is an aerosol called Dupont Teflon Multi-Use Spray ( Dry Wax Lubricant). I would suggest replacing the carbon brushes as well inasmuch if there is too much wear ..the spring tension can also be lost. You might want to check how "ground down" they are.I had a motor that had this problem.When I put in new brushes, it worked fine.P.S Let the lubricant dry overnight..per the instructions. Hope it works our for you..it's a great (classic) engine.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
My two cents worth as far as experience with my own as well as other Marx motor units is they can run hot which I have found is directly proportional to rolling resistance, which creates electrical resistance, which is exasperated by a lack of air flow in the shell. I use electronic spray cleaner from Radio Shack to clean the motor armature, the brass housings for the brushes, etc. After this I have found that there is a teflon spray I purchased at Lowes that once applied needs to dry but then seems to have less viscosity than any light oil. It is amazing when using the cleaner ( the non lubricated version) just how much dissolved black gunk rolls off. The oil used in the past seems to collect dirt, dust, etc that forms a " jelly like shell" around everything that rotates. The 333 I have routinely pulls 15 six inch cars lacking any bearings without effort except for start up wheel slips. My daughter supplied me with these amazing little rubber bands ( small diameter) used for horse grooming that I apply as traction tires, they have a very thin profile..Having been in the hobby for decades, from O to HO, to N, to G to Standard Gauge, these Marx engines have been bulletproof, simple to service, and will take anything you throw at them. The downside is that the diesel motors ( some) are nearly impossible to dismantle as they used twisted tabs to hold the halves of the motor housing together that secures the e unit..which I know would be a nightmare to reassemble ( or so I think)
baberuth73 My 333 arrived yesterday, 12-08-10. I can't believe it arrived that quickly as I won the bid on 12-05-10. It was shipped from Painesville, Ohio and it is in the condition the seller described. Chuck from Ohio is now on my favorite sellers list. My wife asked me to put it back in the box so she can wrap it as a Christmas gift, so it will be a while before I can take it apart and clean the brushes and armature and grease 'er up.
My 333 arrived yesterday, 12-08-10. I can't believe it arrived that quickly as I won the bid on 12-05-10. It was shipped from Painesville, Ohio and it is in the condition the seller described. Chuck from Ohio is now on my favorite sellers list. My wife asked me to put it back in the box so she can wrap it as a Christmas gift, so it will be a while before I can take it apart and clean the brushes and armature and grease 'er up.
[quote user="baberuth73"]
My 333 is now fair game to prepare for operation. If any of you have worked on one of these I would appreciate it if you would relate any problems you may have had with disassembly/reassembly.
yeah, me too. mine came with a Lionel tender. I picked up an Allstate tender cheap in the meantime. The diecast tender doesn;t seem to get too pricey, just had other things on the wish list ahead of it.
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
The 1953-vintage 333 also came with a Santa Fe tender, if it was with the Santa Fe work trainset. I have my father's, with the plastic Santa Fe tender. It still has the metal frame and 4-wheel trucks, but was not die cast like the engine.
Now, since I'm not called SantaFeFan, but CentralFan, I was able to get a really nice un-restored NYC die cast tender on ebay for about 10 bucks.
BUt, back to the drawing board, again, since my local Lionel service dealer wouldn't put Lionel tender trucks on it, I had to get a NYC Lionel tender so I can pull my passenger fleet. I was able to get a NYC Flyer 4-4-2 and tender for about 35 bucks, also on eBay, with Railsounds and crewtalk!
It looks great, and the long tender really fits the 333. I think that Marx based their a NYC pacific, in the 3330-series, but didn't have enough room for the "0" on the front number board.
I do have a question for you guys...It seems that my 333 likes to run hot, and I mean HOT! It ran so hot on Monday, that it melted the solder that holds the copper wire from the winding on the stator and soldered to the stator frame. Luckily, I had some higher-temp Pb-free solder and was able to touch it up, but should it run this hot?
Thanks, Mario...
Thank goodness the tender was included with mine. I hate to see a steamer and its' tender split up for seperate sale.
LL675 the 333 had a die cast NYC tender. I paid $76 for my 333 a couple years ago.
the 333 had a die cast NYC tender. I paid $76 for my 333 a couple years ago.
Well, there's another item I'm putting on my list for Santa.
baberuth73 Congratulations! Back in 2008 333's were routinely selling for $125.00 and up...way up. I recall one in mint (or so it appeared) condition that got a bid of $450.00 with an hour or so left in the bidding process.
Congratulations! Back in 2008 333's were routinely selling for $125.00 and up...way up. I recall one in mint (or so it appeared) condition that got a bid of $450.00 with an hour or so left in the bidding process.
WOW! I guess timing is everything huh? Now I just have to figure what tender went with this.
any smoke fluid will work, just stick to a few drops.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Ok Marx Guys, here's one for you. I have a Wells Fargo set and I am looking for smoke fluid. I'm guessing my smoke fluid used for my American Flyer isn't any good for this. Yes or no? If not, where can I get some?
Thanks!
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
The 333 is a great puller and is one of my favorite engines.
I stand with you. I just received my Marx 333. I held out for the later smoker version. It also has a kind of canopy over the cab windows. I won the bid at around $76. I'm stoked!
In early 2008 someone had a post on this forum concerning the Marx 333. I commented that I had been trying for some time to win a bid for one on ebay but had been unsuccessful because I refused to bid more than $75.00 for one in operator grade. One of you guys responded that he doubted if I would ever win one due to the prices these things were bringing at that time. Well, almost two years have passed and I finally prevailed at a price of $76.01. Unlike me, it is a non-smoker but it appears to have no missing parts and should only need a good cleaning and lube. Maybe good things really do come to those who wait.
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