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 Posted - August 04 2010 : 10:57:38 PM
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For those of you lucky enough to find trains at flea markets and yard sales, a quick and easy check is using a standard 9-volt battery to check the engine and make sure the motor works. It's enough power to make the wheels spin under no-load conditions if it's good. Might need the harness with it, for those Tyco and other engines with staggered contacts front and rear where it's not driven from each end with contacts on either side directly. I watched a vendor do it at the last train show I went to, and kicked myself for not thinking of that myself! How easy it would be to carry a battery and a 9-volt harness ( Radio shack sells them ) to do a quick power-check of any engine ( or search-light caboose). Just a Tip of the Week for ya.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 04 2010 : 11:24:34 PM
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| Yep, I've used this several times. It's also handy when cleaning wheels, especially on Athearns and others where the opposite wheels pick up the opposite polarity. Most of the trains I buy at flea markets and garage sales are cheap enough that I'll take a chance, but if you want to be sure this is definitely good advice.
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Posted - August 05 2010 : 01:38:45 AM
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true B77 I did get that NYC Hudson broken from a train show  I have a page in here of garage sale finds but 9-volt battery sounds like a good idea  A word of caution tho Don't carry the 9v in your pocket with metal keys Still idc if loco runs or not
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