HO Engine trouble shooting

[ezrunner]

I have searched and tried google but can't seem to find an answer.

Have an HO engine that get power but I have to nudge the motor to get it spinning. I cleaned the wheels to eliminate those.

Any ideas I am not overly familiar with HO and guidance is greatly appreciated

[tworail]

Sounds like the engine commutator (the bit that passes the electricity to the engine coil) is dirty. If the motor is of the open type, you may be able to clean it a bit with denatured alcohol and a toothbrush.

Can you post some pictures for us to see?

[ezrunner]

I will try to post some pics.

I will try cleaning to commutator

[ezrunner]

Have been working on cleaning commutator and it has helped

[ezrunner]

not the best but all i had was the camera on my blackberry

[B.C.RAIL]

Is anyone familiar with LIMA engines? I heard some call this type of motor the(pancake motor) I don't know why:rolleyes:

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll288/ColinREV/trains/100_0130.jpg
I Cleaned the wheels and it seems to run a bit better, I have no idea how long the engine has been siting for without power:confused: And I was told this model was built between the 70's and 80's being 30 to 40 yrs old:eek: that's older than me!!:laugh:

[shaygetz]

EZ, this might help you >>> http://members.aol.com/JFuhrtrain/tuneup.htm

If not an Athearn, your locs drive is very similar.

BC, that is a pancake motor. You can tell by its flat shape and that its shaft runs perpendicular to the rails. Can you believe that Bachmann would put those in their earlier Northerns, Class "J"s and Mountains---the same motor as their little Brill Trolley and Plymouth switcher?

It is also a spur gear drive which can be noisy. Life Like used them alot in the 70s and 80s as well.

[B.C.RAIL]

Ah, thanks for the link, I never had a Athearn, I have two Bachman and two Lima. When the engine gets speed it gets noisy..like a whining sound.:ohwell:

[shaygetz]

I have two Bachman and two Lima. When the engine gets speed it gets noisy..like a whining sound.:ohwell:

That would be the delightfully melodic sound of the spur gear drive, singing its way into mechanical Nirvana.:laugh:

[B.C.RAIL]

hahahahahah...funny:laugh::D:laugh: