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 Posted - August 19 2008 : 7:25:14 PM
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Hey Guys:
If you want to improve your Athearns running, have a look here;
http://hackitup.railfan.net/athearn.html
Also ask Ray for a link to his 2Guyz Athearn tuning pages....
-Gareth
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 Posted - August 20 2008 : 01:39:13 AM
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Cool resource, Gareth. I might as well take this opportunity to post another good Athearn link:
http://www.mcor-nmra.org/Publications/Articles/Athearn_TuneUp.html
P.S. Ray's link: http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Content/pid=24.html
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on September 25 2008 4:59:55 PM
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Posted - August 20 2008 : 07:38:04 AM
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Hey "NP":
I've seen this too.
This comment in particular caught my eye:
quote:| The commutator on the Athearn motor is often manufactured with burrs on it. This causes the motor brushes to hop and spark as the motor rotates. |
I understood that sparking was a normal characteristic of Athearns. Nice to know it can be dealt with. Alway bugged me all that arcinng!
-Gareth
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Posted - August 20 2008 : 3:48:05 PM
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| Yep. Polishing the commutator to a mirror finish is a great way to improve the motor performance. And it is a trick that can be used on all the standard Athearn motors used in the gear drive blue-box locos.
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Posted - August 22 2008 : 5:02:05 PM
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Agreed, and it's also good advice for any motor with commutator issues, especially older ones that have become worn or pitted. I just rehabbed a few old Rivarossi motors by spinning the armature in a drill (again, only remove them if they are can motors), and sanding out the pits with about 320 grit, then polishing them up with 400, then 600. They run much smoother now.
Gareth, interesting note about the burrs. I haven't noticed that myself, but it would certainly increase brush wear as well. I'll have to look at some with my loupe.
The Tyco Depot
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