dennyblockJust finished prewar 252 basket case" /> four new wheels, idler gears, brush plate, an axle, and all trim. Tested it on the track this morning [see photo fun] and it dosen't run as fast as I expected. After ten minutes running it felt cool and didn't make much noise so I think its OK. Just wondering if prewar is slower than the postwar I'm used to?
I'm resurrecting this thread after three years. I found it after searching everywhere to discover why my own rebuilt (by me) 252 was running in such a slow and jerky way.
The problem was exactly as the original poster describes -- the bronze spring strips that carry the rollers were bent and weakened (and replacing them would be major surgery), keeping the rollers from making firm contact. Instead of a wad of tissue paper, I stuffed a tiny piece of adhesive foam weatherstripping under each of the spring strips, and my 252 now flies!
Thanks to everyone who posted on this thread three years ago for finally leading me to the answer. Now my father's 252 will be able to haul its three passenger cars around the Christmas tree just as fast as it did in 1928!
dennyblock wrote:I FOUND IT the roller plate [leaf spring] is weak and not holding both rollers firmly on the center rail. Put a little ball of tissue paper under it and she ran at warp speed! Time for another call to George Tebolt Trains Don't tell the wife about the credit card bill Thanks for all the help guys
I knew it all along
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
I'm glad you got it going--without having to get a new transformer!
Bob Nelson
It could just be tight from the rebuild. Keep it well lubed and I'll bet as it breaks in, the speed will increase.
Jim
You got me thinking, so I just ran some of my prewar cab-type engines at 18 volts. All but one went off the track due to speed; however one is slower so there probably is some variability that leaves me thinking yours is OK, especially given your description above. Since its not sparking, stalling, or getting hot I think that the armature winding and solder points are OK. The wheels seem to be set correctly, so the last thing I would suggest that has resulted in increased speed is the commutator surface. I use a pen eraser to bring it to a shine. I also know some who use a very very fine grit sandpaper (#600) to bring the surface back. Any oil on this will ruin it, so make sure its clean and shiny. I assume that when you replaced the brush assembly that included putting new brushes in. If not, make sure they are flat and clean. Just a small amount of film or crud on the commutator face can take away some speed. Otherwise, I think its just decided to slow down a bit from its younger days and enjoy its new days at your home!
Oh, man if anything prewar runs faster than postwar. Meaning they aren't very good slow runners. And Bob, with all due respect I have a couple of prewar locos and 25 volts would send them into the stratosphere.
I would double check your motor and strip down and clean again. Can't be right.
Mike S.
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