Chip,
The 302 that I am dealing with has brush tubes, and these use a shouldered brush and coil spring. Gilbert used this arrangement starting in 1948. The slotted brushes I removed were designed for the earlier "tubeless" brush holder that Gilbert used until the end of 1947. The slotted brushes use a flat spring, which is very similar to what Lionel used. The most abrasive thing that I ever used to clean a commutator was an ink eraser. Now, I use a combination of CRC QD Contact Clean and Never Dull on commutators. It cleans and polishes the copper to a mirror like finish, and easily removes stubborn carbon deposits.
Good Evening
I made it to the mall, Not much else today.
Waiting for Brutus and the thingy, Banilla ready.
S.J.
"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
Jim,
It's obvious that the previous "repair" method was simply turning the brushes over with the slot turned downward towards the commutator plates of the motor coils. The slot in the brush was designed to hold the tension spring in place - at the other end. I'm concerned now that your brushes will gradually take the shape of the commutator plates (in obverse) and become even more inefficient.
Sparks are NOT typical.
I suggest you disassemble the motor again, burnish the brush ends (top and bottom), and thoroughly clean and burnish the commutator plates. USE VERY, VERY LIGHT ABRASIVES for both brushes and commutator. Actually, toothpaste is not a bad choice! Just be sure to clean up the parts well with some rubbing alcohol.
Meanwhile, shop your local swap meets for parts and pieces. You may find a few brushes or two...
Jim and Lee,
Thanks for the info.
Brutus,
How do you like FEAR? It has made me jump multiple times. Don't be eating or drinking when you go down the ladder...
Hey Lee - I think we hit the mid 50's here today in St. Louis! But, never fear, we are due for our first snow storm tomorrow already
Fighting with the kids to get their science projects done. I think this was described as being akin to "herding cats" by some politico - fits this situation On the bright side, we have like 1000 pounds of M&Ms left over from my daughter's experiment.
Tardis is ready and I see some beacons are lighting up - won't be long now
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
Happy December first all, It is 6:00PM here now and I almost missed another whole day on the forum. It has been a lazy day but my son and I mangaged to get up some Christmas lights on the house today and will do some finishing touches tomorrow. Had to get them up in self defense as my neighbors had theirs up while I was gone on Thanksgiving. On December 5th, it will be two years since my last emergency surgery for an intestinal problem. It is also two years since I quit smoking. Best thing I ever did but I sympathize with those still fighting it. It is a tough thing to kick. In my case it was made easier by waking up with an oxygen canula stuck in my nose. I only need oxygen at night now and do well in the daytime on my own. I have been enjoying my scale Golden Gate Depot Pullman cars that I bought at Cal Stewart. Ordered two more 12-1 Pullmans from Justrains. Another train meet coming up Sunday. TTOS Southwestern Division Christmas meet and is an open house. Got a card from another train show coming up this month at Ontario, California Convention Center. This is a meet for all gauges and open to the public for $8 admission. I think I'm spent out though on buying trains for a while. Yea right! we've heard that one before. Well I think I am unless I see something that really grabs me. Best wishes to all of you for the coming Christmas season and prayers for those still suffering in one way or another.
Ray
SPMan
Big day here in the Heartlands with a non stop day of get 'er done before it get's cold, I am tired. Got the bike back today after a major tune up AND an evaluation on what she's worth on a trade in on a Goldwing............. not quite sure how to approach the boss on this one but I do have a few idears. Also dropped off the ATV for a tune up as it's about time to push snow plus I dropped off the riding lawn mower for a tune so she's ready for spring. Fortunately, I did get a big work out in this AM before the drop offs took place.
Our Iowa November and Dec. 1 has just been wonderful weather wise, certainly superior to nort caroliner. Time to get the Christmas trains ready for the tree's, that's sure fun for me and the boss, it's always a party setting those items up.
Somebody with a BAD suthern drawl left a message on the machine ..............
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Afternoon all from Sunny Southern Ohio
Rich – Glad you have the cars. I have your car boxed up and ready to mail out Wednesday hopefully. I bet you will be glad to get your car back.
Jim – The sparking may settle out after the commutator face and the brushes mate to one another. I’ve set a loco in a stand before and let it run to mate the surfaces where I could keep an eye on things.
May God bless
Jim
green97probe Jim, Thanks for the heads up on the 761, but I'll have to pass right now. When I am ready to buy a semaphore, I think I'll hire Sam for the job. I've always liked the looks of those. I spent last night servicing the 4 piece 302 that I bought at the show. I installed new brushes and springs, because whoever was in there before stretched the coil springs to make slotted brushes work. The commutator has a very slight groove in it as a result of the stretched springs and incorrect brushes. I am going to leave the commutator as it is and see what happens. Are blue sparks between the brushes and commutator okay? I've never paid attention to that before. The commutator, as well as the brush tubes, is clean and shiny, and the brushes and springs are brand new.
Thanks for the heads up on the 761, but I'll have to pass right now. When I am ready to buy a semaphore, I think I'll hire Sam for the job. I've always liked the looks of those.
I spent last night servicing the 4 piece 302 that I bought at the show. I installed new brushes and springs, because whoever was in there before stretched the coil springs to make slotted brushes work. The commutator has a very slight groove in it as a result of the stretched springs and incorrect brushes. I am going to leave the commutator as it is and see what happens. Are blue sparks between the brushes and commutator okay? I've never paid attention to that before. The commutator, as well as the brush tubes, is clean and shiny, and the brushes and springs are brand new.
Jim, if it don't spark too much with the AF # 302 and it don't get really hot, warm OK, I wouldn't worry about it as the old AF's spark a lot at the brushes.
Been working on my trains a bit, got my Williams F-7 AA units to pull my Atlas Amtrac 21 inch passenger cars, at first the single A unit did fine until I got half way into a curve then a derailment. I added a second A unit and it worked great the second time, the trick was to put the front end coupler by the Atlas passenger cars for a longer swivel point.
Still have not been able to use the uncoupler feature on my PS-1 MTH steam loco. Maybe I will take it apart and see if it works by jumping it out with a small test transformer and some wires to it.
Anjdevil, I have heard that the Reading Railroad owned 51% of the stock of CNJ during the 1960's. Maybe that is why the CNJ & Reading were friendly towards each other and allowed freight traffic from other to move easily thru.
Still a bit hot down here in south Florida for early December, 83 for a high today, overnight about 67.
Lee F.
Hey Y'all.
Came on late last nite and got with two "pots" and didn't know which to use so just went to bed.
Fife, Some of us old geezers are a tad slow, sometimes even a 2nd cup isn't enuff.
Stayed up way to late last nite, at least for me, working on the cars for the Christmas Train. The eyes are definitely a bit irritated and fuzzy this morning.
No museum this weekend for me, with the "Christmas on the Prado" festivities all the museums are free and open til 9PM. Generally we will see 5K +/- a day for the event.
Time for another cup.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
pssst - Fife - I caught the humor....
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
fifedog SORRY. Just tryin' to be cute, and must have caught a few of you before your 2nd cup. It's all good.
SORRY. Just tryin' to be cute, and must have caught a few of you before your 2nd cup. It's all good.
Fife,
I sat through an economics class (1.5 hours ) this morning, so it went right over me.
Ole Timer - It's a small layout on the hillside, and IMHO, not worth the hassle you have to go thru to get into Harper's Ferry.
Good Morning,
Just returned from the Dr. Had an echo and was given my H1N1. This old fart is no longer expendable. Created an excuse to go to my local train store. So Daisy and I are GONE!
HI GYZ,
WOW lots o stuff I missed out on. Glad all had a nice Thanksgiving. Well Buck Season started yesterday, rainy and mild. sat out in rain till 10 am then started raining real hard, came in ate lunch then went back out only saw 2 deer. Not much shooting. Oh well got til Dec12. Maybe get lucky?
PAT glad to see your family and you take that walk. Get rid of those calories.
DENNIS glad to see turkey broiler worked well. Oilless?
BUCKEYE, belated TGIF, get the ROCK and RYE out for that cold.
Stay frosty,
laz57
dbaker48
You stay
Morning. Busy day. School Board swearing in at 3 PM, reception and their Board meeting with new majority at 5. Should be interesting.
Had first freeze of the fall [got to 32 degrees]. Crazy weather. Raining last night and had to run A/C on truck going to IL's. Stopped raining and got windy by the time we left. This AM, looked like snohio it was so white. Temps already back up to 50's. Suppose to be cool tomorrow and as new front with big rains comes through, temps sore to summer levels. Even calling for T'boomers. Rule is, T'boomers and in 10 days, snohio.
Later.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
fifedog ...guess it don't take much for some folk Mornin' boys. A crisp 34 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. I've got court this morning.
...guess it don't take much for some folk
Mornin' boys. A crisp 34 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. I've got court this morning.
Fifedog ... I was cruising by Harpers Ferry the other day and crossed over to the Maryland side and there was a huge sign about a train museum there ... have you been or do you know anything about it ? One I've never seen ???
I must have missed something ... sounds like I'm glad I did .... someone must have gotten testy about something ... huh ?
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good Morning
30/40 for today, some sun right now.
I got page one because I was in the neighborhood at the time, so just jumped in. No biggie.
I have plans for the day but I am not so sure right now if a body function will allow me to go out. Unusual for me but whacha goin do. I smell bacon so off I go.
Happy December 1st and Merry Christmas.....S.J.
Happy Tuesday!
60 now, cloudy and very gray, up to a blistering 66, then rain and violent weather on the way or so says the weather gurus....
Finished off the last of the Thanksgiving Turkey. Took Princess to dance class, discussed the PHL move with a friend that lives in DE and he has the required PA inspection license. Got some insight and some ideas from him. I have to wait until the “new” manager shows up (a week from yesterday). If it were just me, I’d be gone, just so many itmes and loose ends to tie up before I jump.
Decisions, decisions.....
Started looking at the track plan for the tree, a double track main and a Fastrack trolley. Hope to start work on it tomorrow, after I get the rest of the ornaments on the tree and vacuum the needles up.
Thursday looks like outside lights will get done, sans the roof lights, that’ll wait until Saturday, after the HOG meeting.
Jim Phish – got the package, looks good, will open it later in the day. Nice pictures of my car on the SPF!!!
The last 2 cars will be on the Christmas layout, pictures in the next week or so then on to Nawth Caroliner.
Good morning all,
IIABSDISEI with temps near 50 today. I, as well as the rest of us, enjoy being on the first page of a new 'pot. We hauled stuff outside last night and most of it was picked up first thing this morning. What is left we can put in a trash can for next week. May do some more work tonight. Wife suggested I use some old suitcases to store some train items. Not a bad idea for reducing amount of space items take up. Got me thinking about some other ideas as well. I watched a tape of the last F-1 race of the season last night. No YMCA. Too tired. I had a little extra on the dining car for breakfast before sending it on to "Points East". TBIL and I can drive. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Good Morning all,
Just a quick check in before going to work. Starting to get my voice back.
Jim T - There is a guy on the bay with the 7 61 semaphore 2 for $59 buy it now. He had two listings and I bought one of them. The one that is left looks nice.
Buckeye - Hope you are feeling better.
Got to go
What the hay. Might as well join the others bragging about being on the first page.
I'm going to stay up a little longer though.
Checked the Lionel web site this weekend. Says that the Maiden Rescue is shipped. Maybe the one I pre-ordered ever so long ago will show up soon....
Don
Me too!
Tired - didn't sleep very well last night after being off for 4 days. A friend showed us a pic her son sent from Mosul - it's just desert as far as the eye can see.
Got my new Trains magazine to read and also still need to read CTT. Busy busy! Tardis is ready, so let's get the show on the road!
me too
Right behind you Rich!
WHOO HOOOO!!! I get in on the first page!!! YEA ME!!!!
OK, time for bed...all this excitement....
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