need help to replace motor brushes
- Thread starter tomhoag
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That motor does not like it is that old, I have never had a model that consumed the brushes.
It appears that everything is pressed together.
Someone else probably has some experience with that design.
I no longer have my original Tyco Alco Century 430 Bicentennial Spirit of 76 Conventional Locomotive. But thanks to eBay I have restored more than a dozen of these Tyco locomotives. Don't ask me why, I have no reasonable answer. At considerable expense I might add. It was worth every penny each time I saw one of my projects running on the tracks.
Great is a relative term. Great for a disposable train set toy locomotive is not a high bar. But I love my Tyco locomotives!
I restored a half dozen or so Life-Like locomotives too. And too many Tyco, Life-Like and other 1970s brands of rolling stock. But that is for another thread. Some would say I wasted a lot of time and money, but I enjoyed it.
After my mistake I used CRC 2-26 Multi-Purpose Precision Lubricant. It is safe for modern plastics, but I used it very sparingly by dipping a tiny paint brush into a little bit I sprayed into a plastic bottle cap. The problem with most lubricants is they leave a residue that must be removed after cleaning.
Now I use WD-40's new (new to me anyway) Specialist Contact Cleaner, which is supposed to be even safer for plastics. It dries quickly and leaves no residue, as far as I can tell. I use it on Lionel's FasTracks, pickup rollers on Locomotives and other powered equipment, I use it on any electrical connection, so far, so good. It's great for cleaning cell phone USB connections and other electronic connections too.
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logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
Welcome!
That motor does not like it is that old, I have never had a model that consumed the brushes.
It appears that everything is pressed together.
Someone else probably has some experience with that design.
tomhoag
New Member
Yes, it is from the 1960s! The motor runs very rough. So it needs a good overhaul or replacement. No screws on the bottom....just rivets!~
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
What scale is that? Is the motor sideways?
Canalligator
Well-Known Member
Those brass bits on the right are the brushes. Removing the one shiny screw will release the circuit board and allow you to inspect and clean the brushes. I doubt you can find replacement parts.
tomhoag
New Member
It is HO. Not real sure how the motor is mounted...
tomhoag
New Member
OK, I will try it and see what happens. Thank you!
tomhoag
New Member
This is an old train I had as a child. Just trying to bring it back to life as it is real rough running and drawing a lot of current currently.
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
I was going to suggest finding Athearn blue box chasis for a similar locomotive.
tomhoag
New Member
It was drawing a lot of current and the motor was very unstable at all speeds. Turned out the brushes did not look so bad. But the commutator was very dirty.
Be careful cleaning the commutator. I used a solvent to clean one, and the brushes dissolved…
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Well done and welcome to the forums. Have you tested it yet?
Which increases the sentimental value. I Know how important these things can be. I've spent far too much time, effort, and money restoring Tyco's Alco Century 430 Bicentennial Spirit of 76 Conventional Locomotives. Which was my first train set.
I agree, but when we step in to the realm of sentimental value good sense often goes out the window.
I no longer have my original Tyco Alco Century 430 Bicentennial Spirit of 76 Conventional Locomotive. But thanks to eBay I have restored more than a dozen of these Tyco locomotives. Don't ask me why, I have no reasonable answer. At considerable expense I might add. It was worth every penny each time I saw one of my projects running on the tracks.
That they are, but that is okay too. Approximately one out of five will run quietly. I was lucky I restored three that not only look great they run great too! All the ones I have restored run good; some are quieter than others. Those are the ones I say run great.
Great is a relative term. Great for a disposable train set toy locomotive is not a high bar. But I love my Tyco locomotives!
I restored a half dozen or so Life-Like locomotives too. And too many Tyco, Life-Like and other 1970s brands of rolling stock. But that is for another thread. Some would say I wasted a lot of time and money, but I enjoyed it.
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Bruette
Well-Known Member
I made the same mistake. Trial and error is a good teacher.
After my mistake I used CRC 2-26 Multi-Purpose Precision Lubricant. It is safe for modern plastics, but I used it very sparingly by dipping a tiny paint brush into a little bit I sprayed into a plastic bottle cap. The problem with most lubricants is they leave a residue that must be removed after cleaning.
Now I use WD-40's new (new to me anyway) Specialist Contact Cleaner, which is supposed to be even safer for plastics. It dries quickly and leaves no residue, as far as I can tell. I use it on Lionel's FasTracks, pickup rollers on Locomotives and other powered equipment, I use it on any electrical connection, so far, so good. It's great for cleaning cell phone USB connections and other electronic connections too.
tomhoag
New Member
It is fun just trying to get these 60 year old engines to work again. I had this set running when I was about 10. Now, just getting back into the hobby. Perhaps restoring an old engine like this is not so productive, but it is fun and brings back good memories. That is all that matters to me. Eventually, I will convert it to DCC. Now it runs to a very low speed and is stable. I only wish I could access the worm drives to clean them up. I would have to remove some rivets however...
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
The whole beauty of this hobby is to be able to pick a certain facet of it and enjoy it. As much as i enjoy looking and admiring someone elses scenery, i my self just don't have the mojo, or energy to sit and make it...but when i see an old production steam locomotive which catches my eye and i know i can spend hours just screwing around with it, that's what keeps me in the hobby. I grew up in the old world, old steam locomotives, old trucks and old cities. I guess those impressions made a deep imprint in my memory. Taking shoes to a shoe repairman, visiting a watch makers shop, paying regular visits with a buddy from class to a man who was restoring an old Mercedes in his garage only to later ride in it as a Taxi cab and him telling my grandma that i "helped", all made me look at the world from different perspective. I'm not into this new throw away world which we live in, everything instant, and microwaveable. I preffer the old world, where men were taking their time to build, or repair what they needed. This hobby in a way is my window to that world. So i'm with you on that, not a waste of time at all, because there is a much deeper meaning to what we chose to spend our free time doing.
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