That loco smell

[trainfreek92]

Hey guys.My old Ho locos give off sort of a burning smell when run.Up intel about a year and a half ago they were sitting in storage for about 10 years (if not more) They have not run since October for with me but they always make the smell. This happen to any one else?? Tim

[dgwinup]

Tim,

If the locos have been in storage for that long a time, they have probably collected some dust mixed in with lubricant. Put heat to oily dust and you'll get a smell.

Try taking them apart, cleaning the gear towers and motor, reassemble and relube sparingly and test them again. My guess is that will stop the smell.

Another smell-producer is a motor with bad brushes that are also covered with dust and lube oil. Make a special effort when you have everything disassembled to clean inside the motor housing.

Hope this solves the problem.

Darrell, smokin', and quiet...for now

[dgwinup]

Tim,

If the locos have been in storage for that long a time, they have probably collected some dust mixed in with lubricant. Put heat to oily dust and you'll get a smell.

Try taking them apart, cleaning the gear towers and motor, reassemble and relube sparingly and test them again. My guess is that will stop the smell.

Another smell-producer is a motor with bad brushes that are also covered with dust and lube oil. Make a special effort when you have everything disassembled to clean inside the motor housing.

Hope this solves the problem.

Darrell, smokin', and quiet...for now

[devils]

like Darrell says, sounds like dust and sometimes poor oils leave a hard black residue after a few years that might need cleaning off.
Use a glass fibre pencil to clean any contacts as it polishes rather than scoring the surface like grit paper does. Get rid of any old grease while they are apart and put in a little new stuff, just make sure its plastic friendly. Grease sold for RC cars is usually safe and easy to find at model stores.

[BRAKIE]

Another thing that will cause a locomotive to smell is its running hot from the lack of lubricant.I agree with what the others say..Clean and lube.

[CSXFan]

I had a (very) old tyco locomotive that had been in storage for about 12 years and produced a smell like that. After running it for a while I noticed the shell was melting! The plastic truck detail actually melted off the side of the truck! My point is if something smells like its burning, it probably is. Don't run the loco for very long if it feels hot and you can smell smoke.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Take the loco apart and clean it thourouly. All gears, all eletrical contact surfaces including the commutator and brushes. It sounds like you have one of 2 problems. 1: Dust has mixed with oil, therefore contaminating it. Keep running it like this and it'll get a hard crust built up which will eventually cause pitting and scoring on the commutator, requiring a replacement motor.
2: You have a lack of lubricant and the motor is running hot or overheating. If this keeps up, the wiring on the motors armature will burn out, if the brushes don't burn away first.
This will probably result in having to replace the motor.

This type of thing happens to locos sometimes. Ask me how I know.

[trainfreek92]

I will check them out. I dont plan to run them to much any way. I just wanted to no why my engines make that smell. They are not the best runners any way so.. Im not to concerend i try to fix it lol. Thanxs for the replies Tim

[Anonymous]

No-one has suggested you check what is happening electrically... If you can check what current they are drawing.... at least pop the body off and run them slowly agains a clear white background (a sheet of paper) and watch that they are not smoking.

If you use a fibreglass brush - or any other abrasive - make absolutely sure you don't get any glass/grit/dirt into what you are cleaning or you will set up problems for the future. One way to do this is to clean from below...DON'T get bits in your eyes! You can also work as close as possible to the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner BUT make certain that bits of the loco don't get sucked up! (Now how would I know that?)

When I read the thread title I thought "Oh no! they've only just got sound...now they want smells as well"!

[bogp40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dgwinup

Tim,

If the locos have been in storage for that long a time, they have probably collected some dust mixed in with lubricant. Put heat to oily dust and you'll get a smell.

Try taking them apart, cleaning the gear towers and motor, reassemble and relube sparingly and test them again. My guess is that will stop the smell.

Another smell-producer is a motor with bad brushes that are also covered with dust and lube oil. Make a special effort when you have everything disassembled to clean inside the motor housing.

Hope this solves the problem.

Darrell, smokin', and quiet...for now

Some good advice from Darrel and others. If you're not familiar with any motor dissasembly, brush removal etc., then take note as you disassemble and remove parts. You could cause more damage to an otherwise good running motor by tweeking a brush spring or even reversing/ switching an already worn in part. Whenever you touch the brushes you should clean the commutator. Running the motor slowly and using an eraser, for partially grooved/ scored ones some very fine 400-600 grit wet-or-dry held against will clean it up. A new breakin period is needed to reseat the brushes in most cases. If arcing continues the brushes/ springs will need replacement.
Bob K.

[Budliner]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Robert Knapp

QUOTE: Originally posted by dgwinup

Tim,

If the locos have been in storage for that long a time, they have probably collected some dust mixed in with lubricant. Put heat to oily dust and you'll get a smell.

Try taking them apart, cleaning the gear towers and motor, reassemble and relube sparingly and test them again. My guess is that will stop the smell.

Another smell-producer is a motor with bad brushes that are also covered with dust and lube oil. Make a special effort when you have everything disassembled to clean inside the motor housing.

Hope this solves the problem.

Darrell, smokin', and quiet...for now

Some good advice from Darrel and others. If you're not familiar with any motor dissasembly, brush removal etc., then take note as you disassemble and remove parts. You could cause more damage to an otherwise good running motor by tweeking a brush spring or even reversing/ switching an already worn in part. Whenever you touch the brushes you should clean the commutator. Running the motor slowly and using an eraser, for partially grooved/ scored ones some very fine 400-600 grit wet-or-dry held against will clean it up. A new breakin period is needed to reseat the brushes in most cases. If arcing continues the brushes/ springs will need replacement.
Bob K.

sounds like these guy's just might have this stuff down to a science
but let me warn you, I opened a rivrossi 2-8-8-2 motor and 2000 ball bearings fell out and rolled under the house( china)

have fun