please tell me where to find on line help on trouble shooting engines. Also a site to order replacement parts, namely motor brushes
You would probably get some answers if you stated what scale, which engine maker, and what sort of problems you are having. MR has had tune up articles in the past, maybe you can search their magazine index and find the issues and then try and find copies.
Bob Boudreau
Ho scale-Fleishman engines-I picked these up in a trade. I disassembled and cleaned everything, but still can’t get to run. Getting power.
Made in Europe and not often imported. Also they may not be compatible with American systems ala Marklin.
I can see why you’d want to sort these out, Fleischmann make some very nice equipment (speaking as the owner of 3 of their N-gauge German locos I’ve not found many better). If you go to their website at www.fleischmann.de (there’s an English-language version, just click on the UK flag) and look under spares they have exploded diagrams of many of their HO locos for free download, which should help with troubleshooting. Just type in the reference number on the loco box (or if the loco’s now out of production take a look on their product pages for a similar machine, often the parts are interchangable) The diagrams also have part numbers to identify anything you might need. I don’t know of Fleischmann parts suppliers in the USA, you might be best advised to email them and ask. I get parts from www.ontracks.co.uk but not sure how much use that is.
Most Fleischmann locos are built for standard 12V DC 2 rail running - they have offered locos set up for 3-rail AC a la Marklin, but it’s easy to check - just take a look underneath for the centre rail pickups, if there are none it’s standard 2 rail. Hope this helps!
heavydutytools,
I have a Fleischmann 0-4-0 that had been put up for years. Several months ago I got it out and tried to get it to run. Nothin’. I took it apart and the motor was full of oil. After cleaning this out, it ran, but I had to run it for quite a while to get it to run well. I don’t know if I put the oil in there when I got it or if it came from the factory like that. I can’t imagine putting that much oil on a motor.
You indicated that you are getting power. Does the motor run when out of the engine connected directly to the transformer? (Use small jumper wires with alligator clips to connect it up.) Get the motor cleaned up and running first, then check the mechanism of the engine to make sure it moves freely, then re-install the motor and try again. Break down you problem into manageable pieces and you will find the troublemaker. But first, make sure the motor works by itself.
Mark C.