I started to have trouble with track power pickup in my old LGB 2045 Ge2/4. I'd tried cleaning the wheels and checked the brushes and skates but was still having problems. The wheel treads were a bit pitted presumably from arcing - this lok has seen quite a few hours operation. I tried using a PC board trace repair pen on the treads but that didn't help any either. I went so far as to order a new lead truck and replacement wheelset for the non-traction tire drive wheels. Unfortunately, the wheelset from Modell-land.de was quartered in the wrong direction as compared to my 2045 and I don't have a wheel puller so I can change it. (It's quartered wrong for my 24450 too. I should contact Modell-land .de about this. But, with the shipping cost involved it's not worth returning.) Out of frustration I opened up the bottom of the gearbox one more time. After spending a few minutes on hands and knees searching for carbon brushes and springs that had gone flying when I pulled the wheels, I realized the original brass brush housings were badly tarnished. Turned out this was the actual electrical conductivity problem all along. The first photo shows one original brush assembly and what I replaced it with. This is the currently used 16mm carbon brush unit. A Massoth no. 8313608 in this case. The second pic show the new brushes installed in the gear box. They are a direct replacement for the originals.
I could have a saved couple of bucks by cleaning up the brass brush housings. But, re-installing the wheels with the original loose spring and brush assemblies is a real PITA.
The Ge2/4 once again runs like the champ it was.
Next time I need to open up my old 2040 Krok and 2070D U-type steam lok I'll make sure to replace their original carbon brush assemblies too. By the way, I ended up using an ESU LokPilot XL decoder in my 2070D. I also did a little painting while I was at it. Nice to see it running outside. I'll have to add a few pics in the future.
Phil S.
I could have a saved couple of bucks by cleaning up the brass brush housings. But, re-installing the wheels with the original loose spring and brush assemblies is a real PITA.
The Ge2/4 once again runs like the champ it was.
Next time I need to open up my old 2040 Krok and 2070D U-type steam lok I'll make sure to replace their original carbon brush assemblies too. By the way, I ended up using an ESU LokPilot XL decoder in my 2070D. I also did a little painting while I was at it. Nice to see it running outside. I'll have to add a few pics in the future.
Phil S.
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