Hi all,
My train club recently asked me to build a locomotive for them, to run back and forth on a mining line above the club's O/On30 layout. The donor is one of the HO scale Bachmann Christmas Trolleys (http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/images/HO_Scale/61040.jpg).
I've done the construction, wiring and testing of the model. While testing it, I was able to run it back and forth on my test track, however there were a few times that it seemed reluctant to start. Now, it's at the point where it will only go if the motor shaft is spun by hand. I.e. it can run, but it needs help starting.
Natually, I don't want to give it to the club in such a condition. As such, can someone please advise how to resolve this fault and get the model running properly?
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
One possibility would be to clean the commutator with contact cleaner - if this is an open frame motor. I use a pipe cleaner bent in half and dipped in contact cleaner. Hold it against the commutator while you turn it by hand. This has worked for me when it's been awhile since I ran the motor.
Good luck
Paul
It's a tiny can motor. Should I take it apart?
Unless you are good with small motors, I would not open it up.
I tried many years ago with a Sagami can motor. Really tough to get back together.
I will assume DC powered. Check the wheels, pickups.
Do a continuity check with your ohm meter.
I believe the bumper on each end is a switch.
I have yet to ever have to clean a motor commutator.
I believe this is the diagram for the trolley.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/61040.pdf
I believe yours is modeled after the Brill trolley.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I tried taking the drive truck apart, and have made a few interesting discoveries:
- When not connected mechanically, the motor will run perfectly fine.
- When one side of the truck is off, the gears and motor will turn without any issue.
- With the truck assembled with all but the cover plate which holds the wheels in place, it will run without any issues.
- When fully assembled (including cover plate), it will run perfectly fine the first time you apply power to the motor. Turn it off and on again, and it won't move in either direction.
I have tried cleaning off all the old grease from the gears, etc. to no avail.
Some other club members are a bit more skilled with mechanical issues than I am. I may take it down there next Saturday and ask someone to take a look at it.
Thank-you to all who gave their advice. I've done a bit more poking around with the model, and it seems that I've found the cause of the issue. I found that the issue only seemed to occur when the cover plate was put across the bottom of the truck. Turns out that two of the pickup wires were slight twisted, and were interfering with the wheels when the cover was on. Once I bent them back into shape, the motor bogey ran smoothly. I then put it back together and put the shell on the locomotive.
Here it is on my home layout. The track wasn't powered on, I was just testing the coupler height. Turns out that putting the coupler box on top of the lowered sections at the end of the floor puts it at the correct height.
Sounds like the drivetrain resistance is more than the motor can self start. You might try running the engine on blocks for a couple hours in each direction and see if that helps limber up the gearing so she will self start. If the drive is pretty tight to turn by hand, you might need to do some rework of the drive system to lessen the friction. If you cannot put a larger motor, then reducing friction and resistance in the drive train is your only answer. Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome