Can someone show me a diagram or explain how I can bench test a ALCO 218 motor truck out of the frame and without the three position E-Unit??
Tks.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
I'm probably wrong but just two wires from the transformer as your 210 texas special engines have no eunit or anything correct?
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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Well, two wires from the transformer, yes...
Just use this diagram - disregard the bulb wire:
Rob
A side question: does anyone make a "treadmill" that allows you to run an engine in place on a workbench? Something with rollers in place of the outside rails. I saw someone at a train show once with such a contraption but it looked like it had been hand-built. Absent a product, has anyone built something like this themselves?
I just suspend the engine from its ends using blocks of wood and then aligator clip the power in as appropriate - but at times it would be nice to be able to impart some resistance to the driving wheels instead of letting them run free.
IT consultant by day, 3rd generation Lionel guy (raising a 3YO 4th generation Lionel Lil' Man) by night in the suburbs of the greatest city in the world - Chicago. Home of the ever-changing Illinois Concretus Ry.
Check out JAK roller bases HERE.
ADCX Rob Well, two wires from the transformer, yes... Just use this diagram - disregard the bulb wire:
It is 218 motor truck out of the frame and without the three position E-Unit??
I placed one jumper on the ground and the other on the lower brush like shown and nothing happens????? It also has a wire coming out of the field to a center tab. What would go there??
To test a 218 motor you will need the two wires from the transformer and a jumper wire. Put the jumper between one of the brush holders and the tab at the end of the brushplate. Put one lead from the transformer on the other brush holder. Put the second lead on the ground terminal. (Touching any metal part of the field or truck in general should make it go). The motor should run. Want to check the other direction? ... exchange the wires on the brush holders.
Note: the tab on the brushplate should have a field wire attached to it.
I beleive the 210 Texas Special has a 3 position e-unit. Same goes for the 218 Santa Fe that the original Poster was inquiring about. That written, it is common to find these engines with mixed up parts.So the engine could have a 2 position e-unit, or no e-unit at all.
Testing would be slightly different for a motor from a 2-position e-unit chassis, or a no-eunit chassis
cwburfle To test a 218 motor you will need the two wires from the transformer and a jumper wire. Put the jumper between one of the brush holders and the tab at the end of the brushplate. Put one lead from the transformer on the other brush holder. Put the second lead on the ground terminal. (Touching any metal part of the field or truck in general should make it go). The motor should run. Want to check the other direction? ... exchange the wires on the brush holders. Note: the tab on the brushplate should have a field wire attached to it.
Thanks that works fine that way.
Thanks again,
Kev.
oops 1055
No problem RT I scan to sometimes before I reply and then say oops.
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