I got this Athearn at a flea market yesterday and it run but it randomly stops even when it’s on full power and the motor overheats and it feels stiff

[TroyGlazaTheTrainFan]

 

[Smudge617]

You will probably need to give it a full service, check the drivetrain, clean out any old grease in the gear towers add new lubricant to gears and wheel bearings, clean all the wheels check the wiring and pickups too.

 

[bnsf971]

Since it's probably at least 40 years old, you'll need to take it apart, and clean and lube it before trying to use it.

 

[TroyGlazaTheTrainFan]

Since it's probably at least 40 years old, you'll need to take it apart, and clean and lube it before trying to use it.

I think it was made in the early 90s or mid 90s but I’m not too sure I wish they put a copyright date on the boxes

 

[bnsf971]

I think it was made in the early 90s or mid 90s but I’m not too sure I wish they put a copyright date on the boxes

Whether it's 35 years old or 40 years old, it still needs to be taken apart, cleaned and lubed.

 

[Bruette]

Whether it's 35 years old or 40 years old, it still needs to be taken apart, cleaned and lubed.

Even a few years or far less can be more than enough to require maintenance. Depending on the environment it was run in.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

The hot motor is caused by the excessive load being put on it by the drive train.
As noted above, something is binding in the drive train.

 

[Iron Horseman]

The hot motor is caused by the excessive load being put on it by the drive train.
As noted above, something is binding in the drive train.

Does it have flywheels on the motor? How easy is it to spin them by hand, or it isn't and that what you mean when you say "feels stiff"? That will indicate the degree of the problem due to drive train. It should be easy to turn.

If it is easy to turn, then what does the motor look like? It is one of the ones that has open sides, or is it enclosed in a rectangular can? The open frame ones could get a coil wire short circuited or burnt through such that the electricity isn't traveling through the whole thing. Heat and loss of power in that case.

 

[TRAINNUT]

I usually take the locomotive apart all the way and soak all the oily or greasey parts in mineral spirits.

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