This topic is probably old as the hills (or me) but I can't find an applicable thread: My grandson was given some basic HO recently and the engine won't run (the engine lights up but the motor doesn't turn). Probably had not been run in several years. Is there a way to repair/do maintenance on the motor? The gears turn easily, so it must be the motor itself(??). Thanks for your help! mer
Do you know what brand locomotive? What model? Steam or diesel? Approx. age? Can motor, pancake motor? Details, details, details, please....
Pics even.... (If you do pictures, get ones of overall model, then insides, then motor specifically.)
Something more detail wise is needed for us to help you.
And, speaking of details, how do you know the gears turn easily? Can you push the model (via 0-5-0 hand method) and the wheels turn? If the wheels turn when you push the model, something is either missing, loose/disconnected, or broken, as the wheels should slide across the tracks when you push it, not turn (as the only thing that should turn them is the motor spinning the gears.).
Like I said, more details please....
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
A good bet is hardened grease in the works. If the locomotive has been stored for a few years, the grease hardens up like Crisco, and gets sticky enough to completely stop the motor. To fix, open the locomotive up, clean out all the old grease with a solvent (charcoal lighter fluid, paint thinner, or alcohol ), relubricate and reassemble. Don't use the more active solvents like lacquer thinner, MEK, or acetone because they so active as to dissolve plastic. The shell on diesels often comes off for just a little prying around the frame. Ocasionally you have to unscrew the couplers. Steam engine shells are usually held on with a screw down the stack, or a screw up from underneath the cylinders, and a screw up into the cab. There is a site, HOseeker.com that has a lot of instruction sheets, which often have exploded views. Relubricate with light oil (3in1 works for me) everything except the gears, which want a light grease. I use white lithium grease from the autoparts store. Vaseline will work too. Go easy on the lube, otherwise it gets flung off moving parts and makes a mess.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Thanks for the response. Sorry I didn't start with more detail. It is a Bachman diesel, single drive motor (style is an F-7?). I removed the shell, separated the motor assembly from the frame, removed the one-piece cover from the wheels, exposing the drive gears. The gears all move easily(slightly) until they reach the restriction of the immovable motor. I don't see any way to further break down the motor assembly or access what is actually stuck How would I oil or clean the motor at that point?
I have American Flyer, so am used to being able to disassemble down to the smallest part. I am new to HO. mer
Using Dave's link I found this... http://hoseeker.com/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmannemdf9pg2.jpg
If so check the motor can rotate and a small amount of oil in the end bearings... Does it hum when you turn on the power? If not, the brushes may be spent!
Good luck
Regards from Australia
Trevor
If, indeed, this motor, the "pancake" style, it might not be repairable. I had a older Bachmann unit (circa Late 1980's to very early 1990's ) that was given to me with this same motor. After a while the brushes cracked, it started with just arcing, but it finally totally burnt itself out.
Check the lube, as mentioned, and a thorough cleaning (By thorough cleaning, removing all old lube, and relube, and then clean wheels) to start. Also, make sure wires are tight. To my best knowledge, these style motors do not have much in the way of available maintainance that can be done easily, but this can be.
For the grease inside the truck on the gears, Just pop off the truck's bottom plate (carefully. Do not break it! Do not ask how I know it can be broken either...) and check the lube. (If it's of a few years without being used, the lube indeed could be hard as rock. Clean out all of this as best as you can.) As was mentioned, lightly lube, gears light grease, motor bearing light oil. (And by light lube, both viscosity and amount. And very lightly lube it, most manufacturers put in WAY more than needed. Just a toothpick drop for the bearings, and just a very thin, light coating for the gears. For oil, 3-in-1 oil or Labell oil [I use Label light oil] is recommended. Must be plastic compatable. Grease, I use Labell light grease, but others use a light weight automotive grease.)
If, after this, it will still not move, best removing motor and making a "dummy" unit. (Allows you to keep it in active roster, just must always be coupled with another unit. Great way to start with MUing.) Repowering is optional. (Lots of work, so unless it's really got sentimental value, cost to repower will be more than retail value of working unit of same make and approx. year.)
And yes, this would be F series, but actually marketed as a F9. (That is assuming, that the one in the link is in appearance what you have.)
EDIT: And, be very careful of getting any chemical style cleaners in that rear truck. The motor will be damaged beyond repair if it gets the cleaners inside of it, and it is (usually) not detachable on this style drivetrain.
Our club has frequently been given old models like this that were included in cheap Christmas train sets. Most are not salvageable, especially ones with the motor mounted directly to one truck (pancake motor) and electrical pickup only from the other truck. Chances are the truck with the motor has plastic wheels whose traction tires rotted off years ago.
Go to a local hobby shop and purchase a new, better model locomotive such as an Athearn Ready-to-Roll, if you really want to keep a child interested in model railroading. These old Bachmann, Tyco, and LifeLike locomotives didn't run well even when brand new.
Most wind up in the trash can after salvaging the weights to use in rolling stock.
smkid51,
If you cant get it to go at all, and feel like spending the funds, you could always send it back to bachmann and they can fix it and if they cant they will replace it with a new unit. Its i think 25 bucks now, but i would not always count on a great engine from what some have said. Atherns are pretty good. I have two units from them and overall have been happy with them.
Sean
Sean, the unknown train travler,
traintravler smkid51, If you cant get it to go at all, and feel like spending the funds, you could always send it back to bachmann and they can fix it and if they cant they will replace it with a new unit. Sean
If you cant get it to go at all, and feel like spending the funds, you could always send it back to bachmann and they can fix it and if they cant they will replace it with a new unit.
Have an idea for the engine so it does.not go to waste l, but it depends on if it will work within t aspect of your layout. It is do a are k scene (like the engine going over a cliff crashed and burned).
If the motor's dead, it's easy enough to remove the gears and make a dummy unit out of it. I can think of a few ways to get it going, but it would end up costing as much or more than a working unit...
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