I just got this for my kids and am having some issues. I'm not sure how long it's been in the box but there are no directions and just a simple assembly produces nothing. The train does not seem to work at all and the transformer just pops the circuit breaker within a couple seconds. Is there anything special I need to do to check if the engine is in working condition? Does anyone have directions they could scan and e-mail me? I'm also not 100% sure on how to get the power from the transformer to the tracks. Anyone got pictures of their working setup.
Sorry, I'm just getting into this and have absolutely NO knowledge about these things......
Disconnect the transformer from the track. Try turning the control up. If the circuit breaker doesn't trip, the problem isn't there.
Connect the transformer to the lockon (the connector that goes on the track) with two wires. Try the transformer control again. If the breaker doesn't trip...
Connect the lockon to a piece of track, etc.
Add track section by section.
If you get all the track together without tripping the breaker, put the locomotive on the track by itself.
Let us know how far you get down this list before you have trouble.
Bob Nelson
Marx are nice old trains but as a newcomer a new train set would have been a better start.
Of course a lot more money is involved. Start by taking the two wires from the trans former turn the power on and touch one wire to the copper strip on the bottom of the engine and the other wire to one of the big wheels. The engine should run. That done one wire goes to the center rail and the other to either outside rail. If you still have a short: disconnect all the track,start with one piece connected to the transformer and add track until you find the short.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Thanks men. I have a friend whose Dad had about 300 train sets, mostly MARX but also a few Lionels. His Dad has passed on and he's trying to sell the whole lot but gave me this set since it looked to be the largest of them. Anyways, I did try plugging the transformer in without it connected to the track and it did not trip the breaker. I will try your suggestions on testing the track and engine and report back.
Dodge, what Bob and James are gettting at is to see if there is a short in any of the individual pieces of track. As you are doing what they advised, you can visually look at the track to see if there is any tinsel (especially if the trains were part of a Christmas layout) stuck on the track: if it hits the center and outside rails this can cause a short. Also look at the center rail: there is a black insulator wrapped around the bottom of the rail between the metal track tie and the rail. If this has moved (which can happen if track is repeatedly pulled apart and put together) or has worn thin, the current from the center rail will thus make contact with the current from the outer rails causing a short.
Since you are NEW to this, it sounds like a lot of work, which it can be. For some of us guys who have done this before, it's almost just second nature for us to figure out a set like what you have. There are undoubtedly some other things you'll need to do, like cleaning the track, lubricating and cleaning the locomotive motor and gears, etc. I guess when you do this enough, you just know what to do and so you can actually enjoy the process. For me, it's fun to take old trains and bring them back to life.
MARX Trains were simple and on the surface, might seem cheap when compared to Lionel stuff, yet the MARX Trains were well designed and are amazingly dependable when cared for.
Here's a link that I think will help you greatly. It's a site called thortrains.net. This will take you right to the setting up MARX page:
http://www.thortrains.net/marstart.html
And this page has lots of answers to your questions:
http://www.thortrains.net/manualx.htm
If you look on the bottom of these pages you will see a link that will take you to their home page, and there you will find links to a wide variety of info and photos that will help you along should you decide you want to do more with your trains, like set up a small layout with your kids - which would be a wonderful way to keep the memory of your friend's dad alive - and start some of your OWN memories.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Dodge, another good thing to keep in mind, Bob Grossman has a lot of information and deals in Marx parts for any needs you may have. He advertises in the back of Classic Toy Trains (owners of this site). I think he may have a web site too. He has sent me diagrams and instructions on some Marx equipment that I have. Really nice and good to deal with.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Thanks everyone. I ended up finding one piece of track that is shorted out. It actually looks newer than any of the other pieces. Anyways, it is working now and even the light works. There was smoke coming from the smokestack when I first got it going but it quit after a couple minutes. I'm not sure if it was good smoke or bad smoke. LOL
The train and tracks definitely need some maintenance. It squeals at all the turns and sparks are constantly shooting from wheels on the ground rail. There are also a couple of pieces where the train slows up when it hits them. I think it's just from sitting for so many years.
Can I get the train and track lube at the hobby store or will I need to order it online? I'm definitely gonna need some more track too. 4' long just isn't gonna cut it.....
Don't lubricate the track! Just clean the tops of the rails with a Scotch-brite pad. Anything more abrasive will remove the tin plating from the steel rails. Clean the wheels to remove any of a black waxy substance that may have accumulated. (I scrape it off with a knife.) Use grease for the gears and (just a little) light machine oil for the bearings. Others will tell you their favorite grease and oil brands; I am skeptical that anything special is needed.
Alright. It keeps running better all the time. I used a Scotchbrite pad and cleaned all the rails really well. I also did the drive wheels on the engine and they look like new. When I hook all the cars up it gets kind of slow so now I am pulling all the connecting pins out of the tracks and scuffing them all up too. Some were turning white. Maybe this will speed things up a bit. (Not that I want a race train or anything... ;))
How do I get to the bearings you are referring to?
I don't know specifically for your locomotive; but you can usually see the wheel bearings with the locomotive upside down. If you take the shell off, you should be able to see all the gears. Put grease on the gear teeth and a little oil on the shafts that they turn on. You can also oil the cars' wheels, just a drop at the center, and any non-driver wheels of the locomotive.
Alright. Thanks Bob and everyone else. I have a 1666 Locomotive BTW.
I've done everything you guys have suggested and the train is now working absolutely great EXCEPT it won't blow smoke. I don't know if I want to start taking it apart just for that. Any easy things I can do to try to make that work?
I appreciate all the help. My kids are out of town today and they are gonna be very surprised to see this thing working when they get home tomorrow....
Mike
Sounds like you need a bottle of toy train smoke fluid. Any good hobby shop should have it. There are different brands but all will make smoke.
Alright. I wondered how it made the smoke. I'll look for some of that fluid...
Thanks again everybody.
Some Marx 1666 locomotives did not have smoke units installed. I have 3 of them, and one of them does not have an installed smoke unit.
The 1666 is a great locomotive, and once you get her running good and keep her clean and properly lubricated, she will run well for many decades to come!
Have fun!
So many scales, so many trains, so little time.....
My 1666 does have the smoke unit while my 666 engine does not...
Thought a photo would be appropriate. One nice engine for the Marx lover. This is the 1666 which is the plastic version of the 666 which is diecast. Note the premium featured STEAM CHEST SMOKE.
Mike Spanier
PS This will tell you a bit more about the 666 and the 1666:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Marx-quot-Steamer-quot-Guide-2-4-2-Steamers-666-amp-1666_W0QQugidZ10000000001234906
PPS Always BUYING Super "O" Track
Thanks Mike. That is actually one of the first things I read when I brought this set home and did a Google search on MARX. Oh, and that train in your picture looks very familiar.......LOL
Hi lionelsuperotrack, can you tell me anything about the watertower behind the tender? I have one like that from when I was too young to remember. And the crossing shanty? Are they both Marx? I figure everything in the picture is; I know the 1095 Santa Fe is, I have an A/B engine/dummy and caboose set.
Both the water tower and the crossing shanty are both Marx.
I have 3 towers and one of the shanties.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month