engine sparking

[Anonymous]

Hi -
I have a 1656 with the bell-ringing tender. The E-unit and motor seem to work fine, but the locomotive sparks like mad where the drive wheels contact the track - invariably it gets about a foot or so before it shorts out completely and stops running. I can't see any flaws, pitting, or oxidation on the wheels themselves - they seem completely smooth and clean, and my other engines (a 2321 and a 2035) don't exhibit this problem so I don't think there's a problem with the track itself.

Has anyone got an idea what I should do next?

thanks!

[Anonymous]

Dirty track could be your problem. i use a 3M pad to clean the rail. Then vacuum any debris with a Shop Vac and then clean with Goo Off and wipe dry. Hopefully, this will help the sparking. Assuming that your rollers are as you say.

[Roger Bielen]

If it's an older engine with a lot of hours, or in storage a long time, could it be dirt in the motor or worn brushes?

[lionelsoni]

You say that it "shorts out completely and stops running." If it does become a short circuit at that point, there would be no voltage on the track, nothing else would run, and the transformer's circuit breaker would trip. Do all of those things actually happen? Or is it possible that it becomes instead an open circuit, so that it stops but other items powered by the transformer are not affected?

[Anonymous]

thanks for all the replies so far.

No - you're right it does not short-circuit the whole layout and the transformer doesn't go into it's circuit breaker mode. The engine is really old and I have no idea how many hours it has on it - it's actually in very good shape but I have not pulled the motor out of it to inspect it.

[lionelsoni]

If the sparking is "where the drive wheels contact the track" and the track is clean, the problem must be with the wheels. I have been fooled by wheels that look fine but actually have a nice uniform coat of whatever that dark-gray gunk that forms on toy-train wheels is. The only way to be sure that they are clean is to see whether you can carve the stuff off. I usually use an Exacto knife with a broken-off tip. Why not give that a try and see whether it helps.

[Anonymous]

thanks - I'll give that a shot.

[tmackinator]

I have this same engine and it is a pretty good runner. I found that a lot of mysterious problems can be solved by cleaning the commutator and replacing the motor brushes. Be sure to clean the brush holders as oily residue tends to build up there. Be sure the old wiring is up to par and make sure your contact rollers or slide shoes (sometimes pickups or motors were changed on the old trains) are in good condition. Do not get too carried away when oiling the motor as it always seems to end up on the commutator and brushes. Change the brushes even if they look good as they can become oil soaked and replacements are cheap. Hope this helps-TM