2332 GG-1 Motor problem?

[kpolak]

Well...It goes forward....

I have a new to me 2332 GG-1.  The motor will only go in one direction.  It looks like the e-unit drum and fingers were replaced.  The E-unit cycles, drum turns, and fingers seem to be clean and tight.

According to the Greenburgh repair book, it looks like it's wired correctly.  Contact roller to one side of e-unit, ground wire to oppposite side, and center and bottom fingers wired to opposite brush terminals.

Voltage to each brush terminal seem to be similar weather running forward or in the next (opposite) direction.  One brush is worn down quite a bit...swapping brushes between sides does not change anything.  It still only runs in one (the same) direction.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,

Kurt

[lionelsoni]

Are you saying that every other time you apply voltage to the track, the locomotive runs, but always in the same direction?  Or is it every fourth time?

[kpolak]

Every fourth time.  I get a buzz in the reverse direction, and power to both  brushes, but no movement.

The e-unit cycles thru 4-quarters.  I get neutral (0-voltage at the brushes) in the correct places, every other turn.

Kurt

[lionelsoni]

That sounds like a mechanical problem, if the motor buzzes but doesn't turn.  I would look at the gear train, particularly the idler gears and the motor's thrust bearings.

[Anonymous]

Kurt,

        When you take the retaining ring off of the armature shaft, be very careful.  The bearing balls in these motors are small and easily lost.  I'd remave the motor from the truck and rotate the armature by hand to check for binding.  Also, push and pull an the worm on the end of the shaft to check for exccessive slack.  BTW, there should be about 9-12 balls in each bearing.  Put in as many that will fit comfortably.  Replacements are available if you need more, or if you are like me and keep dropping them.  They are very easy to drop and lose.

[Anonymous]

Kurt,

        You've got mail.

[sir james I]

Kurt, I know you like having a project but,,,,Why didn't you just wait for the new Classics, W.Bs. preorder price was great,,,,,,,,,Jim

[kpolak]

  Also, push and pull an the worm on the end of the shaft to check for exccessive slack.  BTW, there should be about 9-12 balls in each bearing.  Put in as many that will fit comfortably. 

Well that explains another part of it...I had 11 bearings total...12 will fit in the top.  I'll need to order some more.

Also, I removed the motor from the motor truck, and ran it by grounding the motor base to the track, but it still only ran in one direction.  Looking into the housing I get a sparking from one of the brushes, at the commutator, as it is running.  The one connected to the coil.

The coil wire is connected to one of the brush terminals instead of the ground terminal in the center.  I connected it to the center (ground) terminal and it wouldn't run in either direction.

Jim:  Thanks for the mail.

Sir James:    Where's your sense of adventure????  Besides, you know how I am with a good deal...bargain.  A good deal wouldn't need any work.

Kurt

[kpolak]

OK, I think I figured this one out...

I hotwired the motor, and it works in both directions.

I tore apart the e-unit, and my best guess is that the origional wire from the bottom of the e-unit to the brush was shorting to the metal cover on the e-unit, and grounding out, and not allowing the motor to turn in one direction.

Thanks for the help Bob, and Jim! 

Kurt