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 Posted - March 17 2012 : 01:17:58 AM
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Does anyone know if there are books, videos, ect on how to work on HO engines?
Yardmaster 54
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Posted - March 17 2012 : 01:50:45 AM
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You need to be specific... there have been 100's of them made.
And, to get to the point, the older the locomotive was built i.e. pre-1990's, some instructions are harder to obtain.
However, if you are wanting basic instructions, then what you need to give is descriptions of your locomotive(s)... TYCO-Broadway Limited...plastic-brass... there are people on this forum who do, or may have had experience in each or individually.
Eventually, you will also be able to post pictures if you are able to take of your locomotive(s), and publish them. Visual identifications can be attained and more forum members can give input.
Questions will get answered.
John
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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Posted - March 17 2012 : 10:25:01 AM
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There are some really good youtube videos on Tyco repair by a member of this forum. Also there are a lot of posts to read here my members on Tyco repairs.
Good luck.
Alco Fan
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Posted - March 17 2012 : 10:31:34 AM
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Unfortunately, Yardmaster, there are so many different makes, models, and types out there, there is no comprehensive book that would or could dcover them all. Specific people have done videos for Tyco and others, but there is no real compendium of concentrated book knowledge on working on HO engines other than generic advice. Usually all makes had specific issues that need to be addressed to make them work properly ( Tyco and their PT motor, for example ). All open-armature engines need cleaning and lubing, all sealed can motors there's nothing to do. AHM plastic enclosed motors have tension springs which reduce power, so there's some work that can be done to lighten the tension to get more power out of them. THings like that are specific to each make and model of engine, so it's hard to find any reference manual that would cover them all. All you can really do is ask for advice on a particular engine/motor for anyone with experience on them.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - March 17 2012 : 11:35:16 AM
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One thing I have found helpful is to patiently research particular model (you are considering working on) online, and take the time to go thru however many pages of referenced sites there are, then copy and paste the info you do find onto a blank document and save as the title of that info. Similarly, the MR forum has small advice items found thru their search engine on the forums main page, which can also be copied and retained ir reference.
Jeff Wilson's book on diesel maintenance is a good one and there is another by someone else on steam locos.
I (siouxlake) previously posted the specific sites I got FREE PDF copies of these in an earlier post 2months ago- check my old postings for that info.
Darth Santa Fe is a noted poster on the MR forums regarding his work on various specific types of engines, as to repowering, etc. He also shows up on YouTube as well. In fact, that is another place to look for info.
Hope this helps,
Ron (Siouxlake)
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Posted - March 18 2012 : 12:14:03 AM
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The best basic site to start with would be hoseeker.net. There you will find, indexed by manufacturer, exploded diagrams for most all HO engines offered in the hobby.
You'll need to know who made your engine and which model it is - which is sadly not at all always readily obvious to new hobbyists - but it's a start. If you need help with identification, take a picture and post it here.
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Posted - March 18 2012 : 12:44:23 AM
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quote:The best basic site to start with would be hoseeker.net. There you will find, indexed by manufacturer, exploded diagrams for most all HO engines offered in the hobby.
You'll need to know who made your engine and which model it is - which is sadly not at all always readily obvious to new hobbyists - but it's a start. If you need help with identification, take a picture and post it here.
Originally posted by spiderj76Â -Â March 18 2012Â :Â 12:14:03 AM
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Thanks for the help
Yardmaster 54
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Posted - March 18 2012 : 12:45:18 AM
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quote:One thing I have found helpful is to patiently research particular model (you are considering working on) online, and take the time to go thru however many pages of referenced sites there are, then copy and paste the info you do find onto a blank document and save as the title of that info. Similarly, the MR forum has small advice items found thru their search engine on the forums main page, which can also be copied and retained ir reference.
Jeff Wilson's book on diesel maintenance is a good one and there is another by someone else on steam locos.
I (siouxlake) previously posted the specific sites I got FREE PDF copies of these in an earlier post 2months ago- check my old postings for that info.
Darth Santa Fe is a noted poster on the MR forums regarding his work on various specific types of engines, as to repowering, etc. He also shows up on YouTube as well. In fact, that is another place to look for info.
Hope this helps,
Ron (Siouxlake)
Originally posted by siouxlake - March 17 2012 : 11:35:16 AM
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Thanks for your help
Yardmaster 54
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Posted - March 18 2012 : 01:07:24 AM
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i'm sure any of us can help you out on here, i've been given some great info on old tyco/mantuas. We talk about every type of train... literally 
I buy, repair, and collect
http://scvr.weebly.com/
http://seyboldlocomotiveworks.weebly.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeputation?feature=watch
Hyde.
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Posted - March 21 2012 : 12:41:58 AM
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If it's an athearn diesel, let me know. I have worked on just about every single athearn diesel loco.
If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right.
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Posted - March 25 2012 : 02:11:55 AM
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quote:If it's an athearn diesel, let me know. I have worked on just about every single athearn diesel loco.
Originally posted by raysouthernpac - March 21 2012 : 12:41:58 AM
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I have Athearn,Bachmann,Tyco AHM, and Life- Like. Trying to find general knowledge on how to clean and oil . Just preventive maintenance. You would think someone would have made some sort of manual or something like that.
Thanks,
Yardmaster54
Yardmaster 54
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Posted - March 25 2012 : 09:47:27 AM
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quote: Trying to find general knowledge on how to clean and oil . Just preventive maintenance. You would think someone would have made some sort of manual or something like that.
Thanks,
Yardmaster54
Originally posted by yardmaster54Â -Â March 25 2012Â :Â 02:11:55 AM
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Ok, as an example, Tyco DID have instructions on lubrication, but they are just so basic and unhelpful, this in a FACTORY service manual, that it's almost useless. Doesn't have pictures showing where to lube, etc. And we all know the dangers of oiling the PT motor on the wrong side. Here's a JPG pic of Page 9 of the factory service manual, see if you learn anything from it. this is actually for the older MU-2 motors, not the later PT motor -
I have more pages scanned, and most are like this, generic and basically unhelpful on specifics. Those must come from experience, sadly. Remember, Tyco and others put out manuals when they were NEW, so how can you anticipate long-term problems with the motors? You can't. You'd think they'd update the manual (occasionally ), but I can tell you from experience, manuals are considered "overhead" in Manufacturing, unless there's a good reason, they won't update it much. At my own company, I pretty much did updating myself when I started there 4 years ago, so much of the legacy manuals were wildly out of date , new versions of product had been developed and still showing old drawings of now-obsolete circuit boards which we didn't sell anymore. Same with trains, I'm sure, any useful updates might have been sent as an addendum, but rarely added to the main manual itself. Anyway, I can send anyone the PDF or JPG forms of these manual pages if anyone wants them, I think I have scanned all the pertinent ones now.
Jerry in Virginia, USA
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - March 25 2012 : 10:13:58 AM
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I have this book and it is very informative...
Mike
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Posted - March 25 2012 : 11:10:42 AM
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Mike,
I've never seen that book before. Can you tell us a little about it?
How many pages?
HO scale or others included?
specific makes, Mantua, AHM, etc or mostly generic?
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
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Posted - March 25 2012 : 1:06:07 PM
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--- From Kalmbach website ---
Maintaining and Repairing Your Scale Model Trains
Jim Volhard
With step-by-step instructions, photos, and illustrations, this book covers the basic techniques needed to maintain and repair DC-powered model locomotives, rolling stock, and layouts.
Perfect-bound softcover • 80 pages • 150 black & white photos • 30 illustrations • 8 1/4 × 10 3/4
Price: $17.95
Product Number: 12210
ISBN: 9780890243244
-------
Edit - went to Amazon website here : http://www.amazon.com/Maintaining-Repairing-Scale-Trains-Railroader/dp/0890243247
You can actually view some of the pages in the book, and it's 12.00 instead of 18. Worth a look at the index of articles inside the book. published in 1999.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
Edited by - AMC_Gremlin_GT on March 25 2012 1:10:48 PM
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Posted - March 25 2012 : 3:23:46 PM
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And for those that have S gauge American Flyer:
Mike
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Posted - April 12 2012 : 12:37:00 PM
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quote:I have this book and it is very informative...
Mike
Originally posted by Mike - March 25 2012 : 10:13:58 AM
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I ordered the mag and got it about 2 days ago. Its great!! Thanks Mike for the info. I'm working on a locomotive right now.
Yardmaster 54
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