help with my 397 coal unloader

[cwburfle]

Taranwanderer

Yeah, you might have a piece of Lionel coal jammed in the gearing somewhere.  That stuff gets everywhere.  Sometimes, it even goes in the coal car.

That is one possible source.
I also had a 397 where the long shaft was frozen in the bearing blocks. I ended up replacing the shaft and blocks on that one.
It is also possible to put the cams that shake the tray in backwards.
If they are backwards, the whole mechanism will jam.

[Taranwanderer]

Yeah, you might have a piece of Lionel coal jammed in the gearing somewhere.  That stuff gets everywhere.  Sometimes, it even goes in the coal car.

[cwburfle]

I have seen these pieces freeze up.
Your problem may not be electrical.
Try spinning the armature with your finger.
If it is difficult to turn, or doesn't want to turn at all, you have a mechanical problem.

 

[lionelsoni]

Here is the manual for it:  http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=297

In this case it doesn't much matter; but U is not the common terminal on the 1033 transformer.

[northernpike]

The wiring on the unloader is the way it was when I got it.  It appears to be the factory wiring, perfect solder joints, etc.

The loader is in front of me, blue generator on left side.  The left terminal on the bottom has a red wire going to the topmost brush.  The brush on the bottom is wired to the coil on the motor. 

The c or a would go to the terminal with the red wire, right?  the u would go to the post with no wire, or ground, right?

thanks again for the help.  These loaders are new to me, tough without a manual or wiring diagram.

If this does not work, could it be something with the motor?  Coil wiring is not broken anywhere, solder joints are perfect, brushes have could tension on commutator, etc. 

Tom

[lionelsoni]

Did you wire it as I suggested?  It certainly won't run with the voltage applied just to the armature.

[northernpike]

Thanks for quick response, lionelsoni.  I cant figure this out.  The thing worked a couple of years ago, tried it the other day and nothing.  tried different outputs.  Nothing.  What else might I be overlooking?

Thanks again

[lionelsoni]

You need to wire the field winding in series with the armature (brushes).

By the way, the common terminal for the 1033 (and other single-control Lionel transformers) is either A or B (depending on how much voltage you need).  The variable output is U.  (C is the fixed accessory voltage).  This is different from the way they set up the multiple-control transformers.

[northernpike]

Loader does not work.  Commutator dirty, cleaned it and rebrushed it with new brushes.  Cleaned gearbox of old grease.  Solder joints good, wires good.  Hooked up to 1033 to test.  Nothing.  Touched hot (a) post and common (u) to brushplate.  Motor tried to work, locked rotor.  Gears do not spin for shaft and belt.  What am I doing wrong?  Please help.  Thanks Tom