Hi! Just purchased a nice looking AF 751 Log Loader and I'm having an issue with the motor; it won't run! After hooking the accessory up in the traditional way a few times with no success, I connected leads directly to the motor leads and am only getting a very faint "hum", but no movement. The solenoid works perfectly but not the motor. Everything looks really clean and not abused, no electrical 'burn' smell either. These motors have no brushes, right? Any recommendations would be great! Thanks so much for your time!
Those motors are very reliable. I would check for some type of binding in the mechanism.
There are brushes in all motors used in trains and accessories. The only difference is the newer can motors are not repairable and need to be changed if they go bad. Take the brushplate off the motor to reach the brushes and springs. Clean them, and the copper commutator face of the armature with naptha (lighter fluid). If you can pull out the armature, or access the gears, lubricate them with light grease. Reassemble the motor, lightly oiling the armature bearings. As posted earlier, make sure the mechanism is clean, well lubricated and not binding. Try the motor again.
Larry
Hi! That's exactly what the problem was and not the motor! I opened the gearbox and did a major cleaning - the gear that's attached to the 'wheel' was totally frozen! Not anymore...it runs like new now! Thanks so much for your response! All the best, Rick :-)
Thanks so much for your response/advise, Larry! Turned out not to be the motor after all. All the best, Rick :-)
There are no brushes or commutator in the 751's motor. It is an induction motor, which is just a permanent magnet rotor within a stationary field coil. All that the motor needs is a drop of oil on each of the end bearings and fresh grease in the gearbox.
Gilbert used the same motor in the Talking Stations, and they are rock solid. I've never known one to fail, and the only possible failure I could even imagine would be an overheated field coil.
Jim
If the rotor has a permanent magnet, it's a synchronous motor, not an induction motor.
Bob Nelson
Rick,
Glad to hear that you got your Log Loader to work.
Jim,
Thanks for the info on the 'other' type of motor used.
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