|
|
 Posted - December 17 2012 : 8:27:37 PM
|
|
I was going through my collection today and tidying up when I came across my Tyco Transformers engine (the little switcher engine). It hasn't been run for a while so I thought I'd give it a quick whirl. It would barely move at first. Then it sent a plume of smoke out of the cab window. Now it seems to be running fine. Without pulling it apart, any ideas what could have caused this?
|
Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 3445 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: February 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
 Posted - December 17 2012 : 8:44:31 PM
|
Hmm, the only thing I can think of is that there was oil on the commutator and brushes and it burned off.
Thomas
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 1087 ~
Member Since: July 07 2011 ~
Last Visit: February 27 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 17 2012 : 9:43:24 PM
|
That's what I was thinking too. I couldn't tell if the smell was burning plastic, or oil 
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 3445 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: February 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 17 2012 : 10:52:37 PM
|
Maybe you toasted a dust bunny...but burnt dust has a peculiar smell you can't miss. Kinda like hair. UGH. Anyway, maybe some oil had leaked on the brushes from the bearing after sitting so long. At least it's running again. I modified my Transformers engine to have a small book reading light on it.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 12:47:14 AM
|
Jerry...Why?
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1674 ~
Member Since: December 13 2008 ~
Last Visit: February 27 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 02:21:41 AM
|
The dust bunny is also a possibility  As I said, it had been sitting for a while, so it wouldn't surprise me. That light on your engine looks pretty badass. I can't tell if it's a spotlight or some sort of laser 
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 3445 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: February 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 07:11:42 AM
|
* Thats the rocket pack for the transformer inside. So when he turns back to a robot again he can fly.
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 7538 ~
Member Since: August 07 2008 ~
Last Visit: December 06 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 08:34:53 AM
|
"high speed rail"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 182 ~
Member Since: April 30 2011 ~
Last Visit: March 04 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 2:29:41 PM
|
| After doing a few laps this morning the engine slowed down, smoked some more, and then died completely. I guess it's time for a tear down
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 3445 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: February 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 7:26:00 PM
|
quote:After doing a few laps this morning the engine slowed down, smoked some more, and then died completely. I guess it's time for a tear down
Originally posted by DaCheez - December 18 2012 : 2:29:41 PM
|
It's time for a marshmallow roast.
Add chocolate, graham cracker... it's them tiny critters in the cab smokin' it up... shhh, they're up to somethin'...
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?
Edited by - zebrails on December 19 2012 03:34:14 AM
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 1124 ~
Member Since: December 15 2006 ~
Last Visit: January 30 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 7:31:27 PM
|
| ouch & I do hate that burning motor smell bleck
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14999 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: February 27 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 9:36:59 PM
|
Hey, people pay extra for locomotives with real smoke.
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 825 ~
Member Since: December 22 2008 ~
Last Visit: March 16 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 18 2012 : 11:52:19 PM
|
quote:After doing a few laps this morning the engine slowed down, smoked some more, and then died completely. I guess it's time for a tear down
Originally posted by DaCheez - December 18 2012 : 2:29:41 PM
|
Why are you buying it cigarettes to begin with?
It's no doubt brush dust mixed with oil packed into the commutator gaps. I just went through that with an old Bachmann 2-8-0, and after a cleaning and polishing the motor runs smooth. I used to think a smoking motor was likely the windings shorting, but it's actually pretty rare. It's Occam's Razor: the simplest possibility is probably the right one.
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on December 18 2012 11:53:06 PM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
