I have a Tenshodo 0-6-0. The motor just vibrates…does not run when power is applied. Where can I get help?
Can you turn the worm gear by pushing it with your finger. Sounds like something is binding in the wheels or rods on the wheels. This inturn would cause the motor to just hum.
Or it could be a weak brush on the motor. I would consider the help of NWSL and do a remotor for it. It would run smoother and better.
Pull the gear box out and see if the chassis rolls freely. If not something is bound up in the mechanism. There are a hand full of possibilities that could cause a bind, so report back and we can go from there.
It rolls freely.I took it apart.
Do you have it hooked up to AC or DC?
Remove the motor and apply some power to it. Drag a finger on the worm gear and see if it stalls easy. If it does stall easy with a lite touch, it could be a brush thats bad, or a broken brush spring.
Try to spinn the motor with your fingers also, does it seem like it is tight or rough?
Just a couple of questions. Does the motor connect to a gearbox, or is it a direct gear from the motor shaft to the gear on the driver? Some Tenshodo models geared directly from the motor shaft to the drivers, and sometimes the motor can be screwed so tightly to the frame that there is no ‘play’ between the worm and driver gears. I had this problem with a Tenshodo 4-6-0 that I bought second-hand. A little VERY careful shimming between the motor and the frame cured it and runs like a little jewel, now.
Also, if it’s the original Tenshodo open-frame motor, it might need some cleaning of the contacts. This can usually be done by using a toothbrush soaked in alcohol with the motor removed and running. I’ve extended the life of some of my older brass open-frame motors very successfully.
If neither of these solutions work, and the motor is connected to a gearbox over the driver gear, I would suggest replacing the old open-frame motor with a newer can motor. NWSL makes a large selection of these motors that will fit almost any locomotive and give you exellent slow-speed control.
Just my thoughts.
Tom [:)]
I agree with Tom on the can motor. I don’t even bother with the old open frame motors and open gear boxes on my brass. They all get either NWSL or Cannon motors and a NWSL gear box. Replacing just the motor should make it a nice runner, but depending on the gear box, it may still make some noise. Replacing a gear box takes a few special tools and a little patience, but will make an excelent, quiet runner.
John.
You have the answer!! I used the small “testing” transformer a year or so ago to test some accessories I want to sell. Never change it back to DC. Now all I have to do is to put it back together. Thank you for your help!!!