Need help restoring HO scale train in storage

[DigitalGriffin]

I recently unpacked a box full of HO Scale trains from my childhood. One of my favorite was the "Golden Eagle" Diesel by Tyco.

Most of these trains have been in storage for 20+ years in an attic. As you can imagine, the engine no longer ran that well. It was very rough, uneven, and slow. I took apart the engine the best I could, and removed the gunk between the gears. I also put some machinist oil on the bearing/bushing of the drive motor axle. It still really isn't running that well.

Does anybody have any tips on getting this motor running again? Is it possible to get a replacement motor? The motor appears to have a 5 pole armature arranged in a 5 point star formation. These drive 3 sets of wheels on the front of the engine.

[cacole]

I have had no luck at all in getting any of these old Tyco locomotives to run very well. They didn't have good motors in them, and their wheels were brass, which corroded very quickly. You probably need to clean the wheels, both front and rear, since the rear wheels on on side of the engine pick up electrical power for the motor. Other than the oiling you have already accomplished, there's not much that can be done other than cleaning the wheels and track.

[Anonymous]

Most likely you will have to open up the motor itself, so you can clean the brushes and commutator(sp). Another thing is picking up some more engines on ebay and swapping that in. Anyway, thats what I ended up doing to mine in order to get them all running right again. However, most peeps will tell you not to waste your time/$$$$$ on TYCO. But thats what I had already collected, back when I was a teenager.....

Drop me an email, if you have any more questions about TYCO's stuff.

[pike-62]

You will need to clean the wheels as well as the track. The wheels are most likely brass and have tarnished. The same with the track.

Dan Pikulski
www.DansResinCasting.com

[simon1966]

I put some old loco's back into service a few months back and the oxidation and filth on the wheels was the major problem. Once these were cleaned, a lube job was all that was needed.

[Anonymous]

You may need to clean the commutator and motor brushes.
You will need to remove the plastic cover that holds the brushes and use a pencil eraser to clean the commutator. This can be done without removing the armature from the truck frame.
Clean the brushes by rubbing them on an eraser, Brite Boy track cleaner or a piece of wood.
To get the brushes back in you must remove the brass contacts on the plastic cover that cover the brush holes.
Put the cover in place and insert the brushes and the brush springs.
Check to see that the brush springs stick out about 1/16" from the cover.
Then install the brass contacts that cover the brush holes.
There is one version of this Tyco motor that uses a different type brush holder and is a bear to put back together. You can't install the brushes from the outside. You must insert the brush springs into the brush holes, balance the brushes on the brush springs and lower the rest of the motor assembly onto the cover without knocking the brushes off the springs. Good luck.