|
MikeK
Switcher
Status:
offline
| |
 Posted - December 15 2013 : 01:56:35 AM
|
Hi, I'm MikeK, retired, picking up trains again. Haven't had any since I was a kid. I like fixing things, so I bought a bunch of busted ones and some track. I got most of them running, just needed oil or a wire soldered.
I think the Lionel Pacific 4-6-4 has a weak motor. It doesn't get as hot as an N gauge loco I got, though. The N gauge is from Japan.
I saw where the magnets on the Lionel motor can be recharged, that looked interesting. If it's for real, I'll have to find that site. The charger wasn't too much.
There is only one hobby shop nearby, I'll go over there and look around, pick up some wheels and an oiler.
Just ordered some e-z track, the standard won't stay together on the table for testing. This way, I can put it away easily.
I'm looking forward to some quiet hobby work, maybe go to train swaps if I can find them. That way I can unload any stuff I don't really need, like N gauge or odd stuff I get in parts lots.l
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 50 ~
Member Since: December 15 2013 ~
Last Visit: August 27 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 15 2013 : 04:55:37 AM
|
Hi MikeK,
Welcome aboard!
Mytyco
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 790 ~
Member Since: April 30 2006 ~
Last Visit: July 21 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
 Posted - December 15 2013 : 11:11:18 AM
|
Welcome aboard
You can sell stuffs here too 
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14999 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: February 25 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 15 2013 : 12:25:20 PM
|
Hi, Mike, welcome to the Tyco Forum, where all gauges and makes are welcomed. Seems like you are interested in multiple scales, from O gauge to N. I also have a wide taste in trains, I have an outdoor G circle, hope to expand it in 2014, plus my major HO interest, and I also have some 0-27, S, N (fair amount), even a Marklin Z gauge train and small modular loop. I also have an interest in TT gauge, from the 50's.  Hope to hear more from you, and see you post some pictures of your new acquisitions. I work at a Train shop in Virginia as a side job, going in today AAMOF, doing repairs. See ya 'round the Forum!
Jerry Casper
" 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 15 2013 : 12:26:05 PM
|
| welcome mikek,great site,ask all post what you got,ken
|
Country:  United Kingdom ~
Posts: 8294 ~
Member Since: September 28 2006 ~
Last Visit: October 20 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
MikeK
Switcher
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - December 15 2013 : 2:39:46 PM
|
This is the Lionel loco I have, with what I think is a weak motor. I checked everything I could, lined up the worm gear, shimmed out any play. The motor shaft has a little play. Runs freely, but won't handle much load. Doesn't get too hot. One brush slightly damaged, haven't cleaned commutator grooves yet. Are replacement motors available?k
Mine has 0635 on the loco.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 50 ~
Member Since: December 15 2013 ~
Last Visit: August 27 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 15 2013 : 9:12:43 PM
|
Welcome aboard.
Usually a weak magnet will make for a motor that runs hot. Along with cleaning the commutator grooves, try cleaning the whole electrical path. I had a motor running kind of wimpy in an IHC mogul one time and it was that the pickup wipers on the backs of the wheels were all dirty.
It may be a weak magnet but you haven't yet worked the motor hard enough for it to overheat. Try touching a screwdriver or something steel to it and see how hard it attracts. If it seems weak, you may want to replace the magnet with rare earth magnets.
Hopefully, others on the forum will weigh in with ideas (hint, hint).
Carpe Manana!
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2416 ~
Member Since: September 17 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 09 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
MikeK
Switcher
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - December 15 2013 : 10:16:43 PM
|
Thanks, SCSSHAGGY, for the advice. I'm going to explore the loco more, now that I have picked up a lot of good info from this site.
To my recollection, the magnet was fairly strong, but I definitely over oiled the loco. Spraying the whole underside with my favorite spray, Triflon, seems like a bad thing to do. The N gauge didn't like it all that much, either. I'll clean that one, too, then oil it sparingly.
I have a nice electronic spray that doesn't attack plastics. I have carb spray, and brake spray, too. Are either bad for locos or plastic? I can read the label, just to check.
While checking the motor, I'll give the commutor a look, see if it is dirty.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 50 ~
Member Since: December 15 2013 ~
Last Visit: August 27 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 15 2013 : 11:06:18 PM
|
Don't use carburetor cleaner or brake spray... they are solvents and will dissolve the shell, or any other styrene parts. Use only your plastic safe contact cleaner or 90% alcohol to bathe the motor and frame. (Contact cleaner has the edge when it comes to degreasing.) Be careful with alcohol around paint and lettering. Glass cleaner does a good job of stripping oil from the shell, but test it on the lettering first.
As you said, hosing the loco down with spray lube is a bad idea, and you probably need to remove the motor and blast it out with your contact cleaner and re-oil just the bearings very sparingly. Couldn't hurt to remove the brushes and soak them separately, and clean out those commutator gaps. If the magnet is weak, remagnetizing isn't easy, but new rare earth magnets will make the motor perform better than new.
Good luck & welcome to the forum, Mike.
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on December 15 2013 11:07:30 PM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 15 2013 : 11:20:51 PM
|
| Welcome, Mike !! :)
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 6279 ~
Member Since: February 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: March 04 2022
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
MikeK
Switcher
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - December 16 2013 : 01:04:10 AM
|
Thanks, all for the nice welcome.
My wife and I go to a lot of flea markets, antique shops, occasionally see RR lanterns. Quite expensive. If anyone wants me to scout for them, tell me so I'll know what to look for, and what prices are acceptable.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 50 ~
Member Since: December 15 2013 ~
Last Visit: August 27 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 16 2013 : 09:29:13 AM
|
quote:Thanks, all for the nice welcome.
My wife and I go to a lot of flea markets, antique shops, occasionally see RR lanterns. Quite expensive. If anyone wants me to scout for them, tell me so I'll know what to look for, and what prices are acceptable.
Originally posted by MikeKÂ -Â December 16 2013Â :Â 01:04:10 AM
|
Welcome, Mike!
There was a dissertation on here a while back about using rare earth magnets to replace the original magnets on DC motors. I haven't tried it, yet, but I'm about ready to get my feet wet. I have an old Mantua motor to practice on.
I actually model in S scale, but developed an affinity for HO, Mantua/Tyco in particular, this past summer when I bought a Bachmann 4-4-0 on Ebay, followed by several Tyco products. The S scale Yahoo group has devolved into pros and cons of DCC and looking down noses at hose who refuse to conform. This group is lively and has a far better time with their trains. You'll like it here! Jump in and show us what you have, and see if anyone in Atlanta is willing to produce an S scale model of those 4-4-0's in the Rotunda!
String Bob
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 85 ~
Member Since: December 13 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 27 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - December 16 2013 : 12:40:28 PM
|
Wellcome Mike ! I hope you like the tyco forum.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
Edited by - toptrain on December 16 2013 12:40:55 PM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 7538 ~
Member Since: August 07 2008 ~
Last Visit: December 06 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 05 2014 : 6:41:20 PM
|
quote:Hi, I'm MikeK, retired, picking up trains again. Haven't had any since I was a kid. I like fixing things, so I bought a bunch of busted ones and some track. I got most of them running, just needed oil or a wire soldered.
I think the Lionel Pacific 4-6-4 has a weak motor. It doesn't get as hot as an N gauge loco I got, though. The N gauge is from Japan.
I saw where the magnets on the Lionel motor can be recharged, that looked interesting. If it's for real, I'll have to find that site. The charger wasn't too much.
There is only one hobby shop nearby, I'll go over there and look around, pick up some wheels and an oiler.
Just ordered some e-z track, the standard won't stay together on the table for testing. This way, I can put it away easily.
I'm looking forward to some quiet hobby work, maybe go to train swaps if I can find them. That way I can unload any stuff I don't really need, like N gauge or odd stuff I get in parts lots.l
Originally posted by MikeKÂ -Â December 15 2013Â :Â 01:56:35 AM
|
MikeK
According to the list, I recieved a PM from you today, but I can't read it because it won't show up in my mail box. My lack of computer knowledge making itself manifest, again I guess
String Bob
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 85 ~
Member Since: December 13 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 27 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - January 05 2014 : 7:21:26 PM
|
quote:
There was a dissertation on here a while back about using rare earth magnets to replace the original magnets on DC motors. I haven't tried it, yet,
Originally posted by String boBÂ -Â December 16 2013Â :Â 09:29:13 AM
|
I tried it on a small hustler type engine, and the rare earth magnets did a GREAT job of making up for the old weak magnet. It runs stronger than it did before. I bought them at a Servistar Hardware store, I think there were 5 button rare earth magnets for $7. They fit nicely between the metal plates that housed the original fake magnet. I think I did have to use a metal shim to make up some space, but it wasn't hard to do. Definitely a way to re-invigorate an old tired motor.
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 - January 06 2014 : 3:33:29 PM
|
quote:Hi, Mike, welcome to the Tyco Forum, where all gauges and makes are welcomed. Seems like you are interested in multiple scales, from O gauge to N. I also have a wide taste in trains, I have an outdoor G circle, hope to expand it in 2014, plus my major HO interest, and I also have some 0-27, S, N (fair amount), even a Marklin Z gauge train and small modular loop. I also have an interest in TT gauge, from the 50's. Hope to hear more from you, and see you post some pictures of your new acquisitions. I work at a Train shop in Virginia as a side job, going in today AAMOF, doing repairs. See ya 'round the Forum!
Jerry Casper
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â December 15 2013Â :Â 12:25:20 PM
|
AMC, are you interested in a G scale Bachmann 4-6-0 that came into my possession as the result of an Ebay "misfire (not reading the description carefully enough)" PM me if so. I have learned the procedure for that in the last day or so
String Bob
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 85 ~
Member Since: December 13 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 27 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
