I recently acquired another mallet, and discovered that the front motor was taking 3 amps, which was overloading my transformer.
Checking the threads here, this is because the front motor is full of smoke oil, so I ordered a new motor, but I thought I would have a go at the old one in the meantime.
First I had the brake cleaner to it (note: wear glasses, I managed to get it to splash in my eye) made no difference.
So, with nothing to lose, I took it apart. Naturally, I photographed it afterwards, rather than during, so it is all nice and clean.
First there is a plastic collar that pulls off
Then the two brush holders will come out sideways if you use a screwdriver
The brush holders will clean up with the brake cleaner.
I used my fibreglass pencil to clean the end of the brushes.
The commutator will polish with a thin piece of flour grade glass paper wrapped around whilst twizzling the shaft. Then, most important, clean the gunge from between the segments using your scalpel blade.
Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly, as Haynes says. The black brush holder is on the side of the motor stamped buhler.
I reckon that the oil mixes with the carbon from the brushes, and forms a conductive paste between the segments.
Anyway, the motor spins with 0.1amp out of the truck, and when re-assembled, the bogie takes 0.2 amps.
The engine is zooming round on about 0.6amp with a couple of wagons, so I pronounce it a fix!
I wonder how long it will last??
Checking the threads here, this is because the front motor is full of smoke oil, so I ordered a new motor, but I thought I would have a go at the old one in the meantime.
First I had the brake cleaner to it (note: wear glasses, I managed to get it to splash in my eye) made no difference.
So, with nothing to lose, I took it apart. Naturally, I photographed it afterwards, rather than during, so it is all nice and clean.
First there is a plastic collar that pulls off
Then the two brush holders will come out sideways if you use a screwdriver
The brush holders will clean up with the brake cleaner.
I used my fibreglass pencil to clean the end of the brushes.
The commutator will polish with a thin piece of flour grade glass paper wrapped around whilst twizzling the shaft. Then, most important, clean the gunge from between the segments using your scalpel blade.
Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly, as Haynes says. The black brush holder is on the side of the motor stamped buhler.
I reckon that the oil mixes with the carbon from the brushes, and forms a conductive paste between the segments.
Anyway, the motor spins with 0.1amp out of the truck, and when re-assembled, the bogie takes 0.2 amps.
The engine is zooming round on about 0.6amp with a couple of wagons, so I pronounce it a fix!
I wonder how long it will last??
