Question About Bench Checking a Lionel 2343 Horizontal Motor?

[MickeyDemian]

Hello All:

  i picked up a 2343 motor at a local meet and wanted to know how to bench test  it  for running ability?   I noted  upon examining it that the copper field coil wire that comes off of the  top is connected to the left brush connection point ( point of reference is the brush plate near me sitting on the bench, and the gear end away from me) instead of the middle connection point on the brush plate.  The third connection point for the wiring harness is of course the right brush point. I noticed this when I compared the wiring harness connection points  to the present motors on my functioning 2343.  I am a newbie on venturing into repairs , but I suspect this would make a difference, right?  If  i re-solder this wire to the proper position, where would I contact  my leads from my transformer onto this free standing motor to check its running ability?  I see where the 3 wire harness connects to the motor-do I touch 2 of these points?  I ask so that I don't damage the motor.  Thank you for your time and expertise.  Yes, I also will clean out all the old dry hard grease and relube the armature.

                                    Thank You,  Mickey Demian

 

 

[lionelsoni]

Where the wire is soldered is in fact incorrect for operation with an e-unit; but it's fine for just testing the motor.  Apply voltage between the motor frame and the other brush (the one without the field wire).  You want to connect the armature in series with the field for test running; and someone has already done that.

However, if you want to run it in the other direction, you'll have to disconnect the field wire and reconnect it to the other brush, that is, swap the roles of the two brushes.

[MickeyDemian]

Thank you very much Robert for the clear explanation of the wiring.  I did not want to burn anything up by hooking it up improperly  and end up with a smoking hulk.  You have answered other questions of mine in a fashion that made it easy to understand and I appreciate that.

                                                               Thanks,  Michael

[lionelsoni]

You're welcome, Michael.

As for the smoking hulk, my advice is to test as briefly as possible unless it is obvious that the motor is running.  I don't know how many times I have seen other forum members post to the effect that, "I connected the motor to the transformer, and it just sat there smoking."  If it doesn't run immediately, something is wrong, so there's no point in watching an immobile motor until the smoke comes out.

[MickeyDemian]

Robert:

  So if I reconnect the field wire to the proper middle contact point, would I still bench test the unit by  applying power to the motor frame and one brush contact point or does the process change?

                             Thanks:  Michael

[lionelsoni]

If you reconnect the field to the center terminal, where it should have been, then for testing you will have to connect the center terminal to one of the brush terminals and apply voltage between the other brush and the frame.  So as it is now (mis)wired, you can run it in one direction just by applying voltage between the other brush and the frame if you wish.

[MickeyDemian]

Thanks Again Bob.
                                         Michael