Purchased two identical ROCCO locos ffrom eBay and they both operate errattically.
Start/stop, need to push, etc. Wheels and track were cleaned. Other locos are fine.
Suggestions for a fix?
DMK
Check the pickup continuity from the wheels up to the motor. Pull the shell and inspect the motor and brushes. Clean, then where appropriate and as appropriate lubricate the motor and drive components.
There are other running issues caused by things like defective gears or misaligned retainers, and we have threads on them (search using the correct spelling 'ROCO'). Once you've checked the obvious, we can start looking for zebras...
How is the body removed? There are two screws going into the body.
Hi,
exact item number and picture of locomotive and packaging would be very helpful. Not very much of spare parts of older Roco locomotives are available, but to try to establish if and how much is available, you need item number (in case you need spare parts). Thru that you can download from Roco web site even explosion diagram of related locomotive, which can be helpful not just for spare parts ordering, but also how to dissasemble it.
Also, it is important to know that Roco has ceased to manufacture model trains in "N" scale but has bought Fleischmann brand, and beside Fleischmann N locomotives, also some of Roco N locomotives are now available under "Fleischmann" brand, although they could be slightly technically modified. So thru now "Fleischmann" locomotive you can access data for certain Roco N locomotive (not all, but some). For example, Roco OBB 1044 is now Fleischmann OBB 1044. Item list is here, use instructions here. At least use instructions can provide you some help.
Hrvoje
Spalato68 Hi, exact item number and picture of locomotive and packaging would be very helpful. Not very much of spare parts of older Roco locomotives are available, but to try to establish if and how much is available, you need item number (in case you need spare parts). Thru that you can download from Roco web site even explosion diagram of related locomotive, which can be helpful not just for spare parts ordering, but also how to dissasemble it. Also, it is important to know that Roco has ceased to manufacture model trains in "N" scale but has bought Fleischmann brand, and beside Fleischmann N locomotives, also some of Roco N locomotives are now available under "Fleischmann" brand, although they could be slightly technically modified. So thru now "Fleischmann" locomotive you can access data for certain Roco N locomotive (not all, but some). For example, Roco OBB 1044 is now Fleischmann OBB 1044. Item list is here, use instructions here. At least use instructions can provide you some help. Hrvoje
Drawing was a great help.
Dave K Made solder repair but have poor continuity from wheels to motor. Gave up on repair and will mek engines into dummies. DMK Spalato68 Hi, exact item number and picture of locomotive and packaging would be very helpful. Not very much of spare parts of older Roco locomotives are available, but to try to establish if and how much is available, you need item number (in case you need spare parts). Thru that you can download from Roco web site even explosion diagram of related locomotive, which can be helpful not just for spare parts ordering, but also how to dissasemble it. Also, it is important to know that Roco has ceased to manufacture model trains in "N" scale but has bought Fleischmann brand, and beside Fleischmann N locomotives, also some of Roco N locomotives are now available under "Fleischmann" brand, although they could be slightly technically modified. So thru now "Fleischmann" locomotive you can access data for certain Roco N locomotive (not all, but some). For example, Roco OBB 1044 is now Fleischmann OBB 1044. Item list is here, use instructions here. At least use instructions can provide you some help. Hrvoje Drawing was a great help. DMK
Made solder repair but have poor continuity from wheels to motor. Gave up on repair and will mek engines into dummies.
Dave K Gacve up on this repair as the power path from the wheels to the motor was poor. DMK Dave K Made solder repair but have poor continuity from wheels to motor. Gave up on repair and will mek engines into dummies. DMK Spalato68 Hi, exact item number and picture of locomotive and packaging would be very helpful. Not very much of spare parts of older Roco locomotives are available, but to try to establish if and how much is available, you need item number (in case you need spare parts). Thru that you can download from Roco web site even explosion diagram of related locomotive, which can be helpful not just for spare parts ordering, but also how to dissasemble it. Also, it is important to know that Roco has ceased to manufacture model trains in "N" scale but has bought Fleischmann brand, and beside Fleischmann N locomotives, also some of Roco N locomotives are now available under "Fleischmann" brand, although they could be slightly technically modified. So thru now "Fleischmann" locomotive you can access data for certain Roco N locomotive (not all, but some). For example, Roco OBB 1044 is now Fleischmann OBB 1044. Item list is here, use instructions here. At least use instructions can provide you some help. Hrvoje Drawing was a great help. DMK
Gacve up on this repair as the power path from the wheels to the motor was poor.
You give up too easy.
If this is DC locomotive, it is even easier to check where the problem is. Now when you have some documentation about this model, what you can do is to dissasemble it completely, you know design of it.
Check both trucks (when removed they must roll freely), if any wire is loose or almost loose, or if wheels do not touch leaf/spring contacts, or those are dirty. Secondly, remove the motor and connect it to DC source directly - it should rotate in both directions as you change polarity, and when voltage is changed, rotation speed should change too (without excessive sparking / smoke from commutator). If motor does not start to spin when voltage is applied but does start to spin when you push it with your finger, then either there is a problem with brushes/brush spring (remove all, clean, and put back - tricky but can be done - if brushes are old, you need new ones), or there is a problem with rotor winding. If rotor winding is a problem, well that is very difficult to repair (especially because it is 5 pole rotor). In that case you need new original motor, or alternatives, which are available.
Try first to dissasemble everything and check as described above - and do not hesitate, this is not a rocket science, regard this as learning opportunity