Problems with HO tyco trains

[Anonymous]

I have 3 HO scale tyco trains, they all "squeak" and move slowly then will take off and run fine for a few feet the slow down and start squeaking again. They also dont seem to have enough power to pull all there cars. I used a little 3 and 1 oil thinking they may need lubed (there about thirty years old) and it didnt seem to help. When I first start them they do it alot. I have mixed track pieces silver and gold in color and Im not sure of the wire guage from transformer.
Also, does it hurt to run the two engines on the same track (sort of a helper engine)? I have a figure 8 layout with the over/under bridge and my train stuggles up the grades even without any cars with it.
any suggestions?

[csxt30]

Hi Racer! You may just have dirty track & dirty wheels, especially if they have sat a while. Hope you stay with the O-gauge & maybe see you at a train show nearby in the future. I'm just North of you about 50 miles. Hope that cleaning helps. Thanks, John

[choochin3]

Hello RacerX,
The squeaking noise that you are hearing is a dry armature bearing.
The best way to get oil on them is to remove the motor by using two small screwdrivers
and gently prying the motor mount away from the body shell.
Once removed,find the one gear made out of metal. (the armature gear)
It's the smallest one.
Using a toothpick,apply one drop of oil to the inside of that gear at the armature shaft.
Turn the motor over,you should see the silver end of the armature shaft,apply one drop
of oil there too.
That's all there is to it,just reassemble (careful of the wires) and test it.
As for the figure 8 track plan,I would eliminate the overpass grade.
Those Tyco engines don't really pull too much even when they are running good.
Hope this helps.
Carl T.

[philo426]

You may want to up-grade your track.Atlas makes fine nickle-silver track that does not tarnish easily.Also look into buying a couple of Athern engines as they are inexpensive and have fly-wheels which will allow them to glide over bad spots on the track.

[Anonymous]

Thanx for all the info! Ill try the oil, I never new how they came apart until tonight when my santa fe derailed and went crashing to the ground into pieces! UGH! But I was able to snap it back together and it still worked, thank god! I cant believe I put the track that close to the edge! Oh well, live and learn.
As for the other problems, my track is VERY dirty, I run my finger on it and had black stripes, I used the eraser trick but would it hurt to use some contact cleaner on a rag?
John, Im in your neck of the woods quite often, my other hobby is motocross and theres a couple of tracks in your area. Thanks for all the tips!

[Dr. John]

The gold colored track is brass and is very prone to oxidation and dirt. The silver colored track is nickle-silver plated and is easier to clean, less prone to oxidation. I recommend that you get rid of all of the brass track and replace with nickle silver. Atlas track is your best bet, although Bachman also makes some good track with plastic roadbed.

Contact cleaner can also help your track. Just be sure to wipe off any residue. Be sure to clean the wheels of your engines too. HO engines are relatively light and need good, clean contact between pick-up wheels and track.

[FJ and G]

i used to run a Tyco CB&Q geep and train set back around 1970 that came with a figure 8 trestle set. Still have it and it runs good, even w/the brass track it came with.

I have to smile when I read all the articles in Model Railroader and other "scale" magazines that begin by way of an introduction. They usually go something like this.

"I got interested in trains back in 1950 when my dad bought me a Lionel (or AF) set. Then in 1960, I discovered scale trains ... blah blah blah"