I’m restoring this old loco from my childhood. Was rarely used b/c it rarely worked see link below
Anyway, took it all apart, cleaned armature, fixed wiring oiled and lubed. Re-assembled and got it working or so it seemed. The motor seems to spin the wheels well when i apply power to the wheels directly from my power pack.
However when I place it on the track it seems like the wheels mostly spin and the train doesnt move much, like the train can’t get traction. The one side of wheels has the rubber bands on them. I even put another set on the other side. Still happens.
I’m a complete newbie here so any help is appreciated!
This is beginning to sound like a split gear problem. Life-Like has center-ring when it comes to split axle gears but Bachmann runs a close second.
With the engine in your hand can you place your thumb on the wheel tread and rotate the wheel? This would indicate that the gear/axle is split allowing the axle to spin in the gear.
Thanks. So I tried to do what you said and I was unable to turn the wheels by hand. Also FWIW when I repaired this I had it completely disassembled down to the commutator and all of the little plastic gears. I dont have an specs so I figured it out by myself. Took me some time but I think I got all of the gears back in. There’s one big black plastic gear driven by the armitature shaft. that one drives three small white gears (which drive two of the 3 wheel axles) and another large black gear (which drives the 3rd wheel axle). Not sure if that even makes sense. And when I hold the engine upside down I can see all of the gears turning (except the 3rd axle mentioned, doesnt seem to catch). But its all spinning quite fast. I’ll try to take a video.
Right now it sounds like yours is the older model that drives the wheels on one end only. If it is, check the other truck for free wheeling. If both ends are driven, something is dragging. I have never seen one up close. Is it the type of motor in the diagram?
I just looked at the Bachmann site and the present model drives three wheels on each end.
Ok so looks like I defintiely dont have the one in that diagram. Mine must be older - think I received it as a gift in the late 80s maybe.
There is defintiely only one set of wheels that is driven by the motor. the other set is pure dummy and for electrical pickup.
I’m wondering if I applied too much Labelle’s lubrication oil to the motor and shaft and it dripped onto gears making them slip? I did lubricate the gears with Labelle’s grease.
I took some closeups of the gears:
The red arrow is pointing to the larger black gear, hard to see, that’s powered directly by the motor. This gear turns the others…
i like that idea. How do I go about finding ones that would work with my shell? are locos typically sold with measurements? If not what do I ask? Would gladly shell out some good money for a solid engine that i could pop this shell over.
Looks like it’s assembled correctly. Are the wheel in the other truck spinning freely? Is most of the weight closer to the drive truck?
@Darth - sorry must’ve posted at the same time. So yes definitely end orhers wheels are spinning freely I’ll have to look at the weight I think it’s spread pretty evenly across the middle will check.
Sometimes these can be found at train shows or older well-stocked hobby shops.
Sometimes, too, a place like Trainworld will have a closeout sale and you can save some money that way.
Just be sure it is the more recent six-axle drive model as there are still a bunch of the same kind of pancake motor ones out there, too. Go to the Bachmann site and get the stock numbers for the more recent (DCC Ready) releases.
This is NOT the kind of motor you want. (They can run OK after some fussing, but when there are better drives available, why bother?)
Yea sorry. The wheels on the powered truck are defintiely spinning. And the train does move. But it seems like its skidding and has no traction. I’ll take a video of it later.
Thanks for the link I’ll check it out.
PS - you’re in Berwyn? I’m over in Phoenixville
[quote user=“gmpullman”]
I’m sure any of the older E60CP shells will fit on to the newer chassis.
There are still brand new Bachmann E60s available:
Sometimes these can be found at train shows or older well-stocked hobby shops.
Sometimes, too, a place like Trainworld will have a closeout sale and you can save some money that way.
Just be sure it is the more recent six-axle drive model as there are still a bunch of the same kind of pancake motor ones out there, too. Go to the Bachmann site and get the stock numbers for the more recent (DCC Ready) releases.
This is NOT the kind of motor you want. (They can run OK after some fussing
I figured the loco was a little old but not that old.
I got a Bachmann 0-6-0 with a motor like this running ok and had to add weight but eventually gave it away. It even ran on a DZ125 decoder. Pickups were the issue.
Totally off topic - you live in Phoenixville? I grew up there (and live in Morgantown, a half hour away). Have you checked out the Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club?
see link below
