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 Posted - September 27 2011 : 2:43:39 PM
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Hello, I share the same story as many here. I am almost 40 and dug my old tyco sante fe train set from the mid 70s out of storage. Much to my surprise it was mostly intact, surprising because I was only about 7 or 8 when I actually got the set. But I set up some ragged track and put the made in hong kong engine on the track and got nothing. This wasn't acceptable to me so I took the engine apart after testing the power supply, cleaned the brushes and sanded all the contacts back to a nice shine. I put some Vaseline on the gears for good measure. I put it on the track and wallah it was alive again. Sounds kind of ragged compared to new engines, but it works fine. WELL, this led to me setting up a 4x4 square table of plywood. Not big enough to do anything real exciting I know, but my space is very limited. I managed to get a loop with 3 turnouts, one being an inner loop with 2 accessory piggyback loaders in it, and then there is another spur that just ends in the middle with one more loader accessory and a re-railer track at the end to help with putting the cars on the tracks. After going through all of this I notice that TYCO is more of a toy/model than a true to scale model. But you know what, that is exactly why I like them so much! They aren't to real but they aren't all toyish either. I also have acquired the industrial building that lights up, and a 7up factory I have yet to build. I have 2 N-Scale Bachman sets on the way. I plan to make a more intricate setup with those since they take up less space. But my 4x4 table will always be Tyco. It's nice to see there is a place for nuts like us and I look forward to meeting you all...
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 3:22:30 PM
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Welcome Aboard! Hopefully We Have A Few More Seats on This Train!
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 3:56:46 PM
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quote:| I put some Vaseline on the gears for good measure. I put it on the track and wallah it was alive again. |
You want to avoid using Vaseline for your train's plastic gears. Vaseline is a petroleum product which will harm the gears if let there too long. They will soften the teeth, causing them to strip or become gummy. I would promptly wash this out using warm water and soap and a tooth brush and I would coat the gearing in a healthy dose of a plastic safe grease such as a Labelle No 102 gear oil or a gear grease. Any of these can be found on-line or at any hobby store.
Just a thought.
Greetings Chris! I just turned 41 myself.
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 4:08:35 PM
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I just realized Sean,
your later Stang must have been built when you were "en utero"
I just sent my old flying Jacket to my Oldest in Australia for her birthday. I got it when she was EU. 
Chris, welcome aboard. It can be an awflly amusing place! and helpful.
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 4:29:43 PM
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| Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the tip on the vaseline!!! I will be taking that off asap. I have plenty of plastic gear grease from my RC cars though so I will use that instead from now on.
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 4:43:16 PM
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Just trying to help Chris. I made that mistake once before on an AHM C-Liner when I was in my teens. Trashed the gears in that loco.
quote:I just realized Sean,
your later Stang must have been built when you were "en utero"
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Hey Gareth,
Not sure how far along I was when my 69 was born:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9977705@N05/sets/72157623100867466/
(There are some ~250 photos on this page. The photos on the bottom are the most recent.)
But I can tell you for sure, I was not even a w*t dream yet when my '67 first saw the light of day!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9977705@N05/sets/72157623101081406/
Since I just purchased that one in 2007, I still have a LOOOONG ways to go on it before it's done.
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 8:03:04 PM
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Glad to see another childhood set dusted off, powered up, and running again. Yay! Welcome aboard the Forum, hopefully you'll find lots to interest and amuse you.
Jerry, in Virginia
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 8:12:50 PM
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Welcome Chris -I am soon to be 40 in a few months myself - just a number. - Post pictures of your stuff - everyone loves seeing everyone's trains.
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 9:00:34 PM
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Welcome Chris!! From a Tyco nut that buys just about, Only Tyco!....
Walt
Luck, usually comes dressed in work clothes...
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 9:14:37 PM
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Walt;
Congrats! Admitting you're a Tycoholic is the first of the 12 Steps!!! 
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 10:15:39 PM
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Welcome Chris, it's great to have you aboard.
-Thomas
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Posted - September 27 2011 : 11:46:52 PM
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Well thank you, Gareth! I feel sooo much better after finally saying it!
Walt
Luck, usually comes dressed in work clothes...
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Posted - September 28 2011 : 02:37:25 AM
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| Vaseline already removed,yay. I am glad I learned that before I rebuilt all of my engines. I must admit I have amassed quite the collection in just the month I have been at this. All Tyco brown box stuff with a couple red box things that slipped in there. I have decided only to collect the cars that I really like, not go for every one they ever made. So far I have about 10 engines, all diesel and about 50 cars. I also have a log un-loader, the crane piggy back loader, grabber piggy back loader, and the forklift piggy back loader. I need a gear for the forklift one to work properly though. I decided to stay with the brass track. I like the looks of it better and mine sat out in storage for over 20 years and it just needed a light sanding to get it up to par, so I am not worried about corrosion. Besides brass corrosion is actually somewhat conductive anyways, unlike others that crust over. I think I am going to up the size of my layout to 4x6. The one now is just to small with no real options and limited room for animated accessories such as loaders. 4x6 I can get away with and have just the right amount of room. I am going to play with the N scale before I decide anything on that. I haven't ever had one that small so I am looking forward to it. I may post pictures when I get further along. As of now my setup looks like an industrial truck yard in the middle of death valley, lol...
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