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WILLIAMS BY WILLIAMS FM TRAINMASTER MOTOR QUESTION

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  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 116 posts
WILLIAMS BY WILLIAMS FM TRAINMASTER MOTOR QUESTION
Posted by POTRZBE on Sunday, April 23, 2023 11:36 AM

Due to a faulty gear, I replaced the geared truck and coupler with a WBB replacement part.  Since reassembly, there is no power to either motor than I can tell.  The lamps do not come on.  If I manually move each flywheel, the gears and engine move, just not in the same direction.  How can I tell where the problem lies?  I am not good at electrical stuff, so please write slowly.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,230 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, April 23, 2023 12:43 PM

Explain what your process was to change that truck out, step-by-step, and we can probably figure it out.

Rob

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 116 posts
Posted by POTRZBE on Sunday, April 23, 2023 1:08 PM

I got NOS geared truck and coupler from Bachmann.  There were 3 screws to undo the old geared truck assembly; pilot, pickup roller, and motor to the truck assembly.  I reversed the process.  I used the old pilot.  I had a devil of a time installing the motor to the asembly so after and hour of fiddling I used an ever so slightly longer screw to attach the motor to the frame and new truck.  I reinstalled the pick up roller.  I put it on the track, applied 14 volts from my PW ZW and popped the circuit breaker.  I figured there was a loose wire somewhere but there is not.  On my test track, I attached alligator cips to the rollers, one at a time, and got nothing, not even the light on my lockon.  I figured I might get by with one motor since I had done similar in past.  When I took the roller from the new assembly and put the engine on the test track, I got a light on the lock on but nothing else.  When I turn the flywheels by hand, the gears move so I figure everything is OK there.  What I thought was odd, but am not sure, is that moving the flywheels by hand causes the gears and wheels to move in opposite directions.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,230 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, April 23, 2023 1:29 PM

POTRZBE
...put it on the track, applied 14 volts from my PW ZW and popped the circuit breaker...



You left out the parts about transferring the pickup insulator from the old truck to the new truck, and about the wiring(crimp eye & insulator) that goes along with that roller collector.

Rob

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 116 posts
Posted by POTRZBE on Sunday, April 23, 2023 1:36 PM

On the Bachmann website, there is an insulator to go with a roller.  It appears I left it on the old truck!  Major oopsie!  I shall put it where it belongs and report back.

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 116 posts
Posted by POTRZBE on Sunday, April 23, 2023 1:49 PM

The insulator is correctly in place.  The wiring from the motor to the roller was always in place.  Now I don't even get the green light on my lock on.

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 116 posts
Posted by POTRZBE on Sunday, April 23, 2023 2:07 PM

Well who knew there is a top and bottom insulator to that roller assembly?  Fortunately it was with all the other tiny black parts that make up item #322 (geared truck with coupler).  My favored Lackawanna Trainmaster lives again!  Thank you so much, Rob.  I would never have spotted these tiny parts without your kind assist.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Hopewell, NY
  • 3,230 posts
Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, April 23, 2023 2:07 PM

The wire and connection to the roller must be completely insulated from the truck casting. This is the only electrical aspect of this 4 minute job.

Disconnect the eyelet & wirng from the new truck and let it hang loosely, not touching anything.

The Williams by Williams were all made with very brittle wiring, so there may be other issues caused by working on it.

No light at the lockon is a problem not involving the diesel. Try some different equipment on that track.

Rob

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