Hello Denny!
I'm thinking that the problem is electrical in nature. Sounds like you did everything right as far as new wheels, pickups, brushes, & a new brushplate. Usually when parts such as the ones you have replaced will make an engine run 100% better nine out of ten times. My suggestion would be to try another engine that you know will not slow down with the Transformer you used to run the 1668E with & see what will happen. If the second engine slows down. then, it could be your Transformer. Conversly, if you happen to have another Transformer you know to be dependable, then try it with your 1668E & if your 1668E runs much better with no problem at all then you will know that the problem exists with the First Transformer you used with the 1668E. I know that this sounds tedious. however, I know no other way to find out what the problem is here. Once you find out what it is then it will be much easier to solve. Let us know what happens. Take Care.
Another thought occured to me. Since you installed new drive wheels. Be sure that they are true & are not rubbing against the sideframes as that will cause friction & slow down your engine also. If they are not gauged properly, then this could cause problems slowing down the 1668E. Take Care.
Hello Denny,
The Brushplate cannot be adjusted on a 1668E. The article you read was about the set screw that Lionel uses on some Diesels & motorized units with a Pullmore Motor. Anyway, The problem you have here is very puzzling to say the least. The only other problem I can think of is that one of the Windings on the Armature or Field may have been overheated from a Very long operating session or from pulling a very heavy train at one point in its life. Now, if this is the case; you will have to have said armature or field re-wound. I know of a couple of sources that can help you out. Dr.Tinker's Toy Train Parts & a website known as The "Motor Doctor" whose phone# is 1-513-288-3563. Dr.Tinker's phone# is: 1-781-862-5798. Both of them work on motors & Dr.Tinker can have your Motor re-wound if need be. Call both of them & describe what happens & get opinions from both as to what you should do next. Under normal circumstances your 1668E should be running like a Top after all the work you did with it. Before you do anything though. Check the wiring & solder joints in the 1668E just to make sure they are fine. Another thing to do would be to run the Motor without the Cab on it for an extended time to see what happens. If it runs fine. then, that means a wire is being pinched in between the motor & casting. Check this out first before you do anything else. Take Care & let us know what happens....Keith
It sounds like your 1668E was run very hard by a previous owner if it had grooves in the original drive wheels. Also sounds like it was used to pull a very heavy train causing the wheels to spin resulting in Grooves & probably overheating the windings on the motor as well. It looks as if a re-wind job for the motor is needed indeed. Take Care.
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