How do you get old stored engines to work?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I pulled some old HO engines out of the attic today, and after a wheel cleaning some of them worked fine. The problem is that after a few circuits they started to smell hot, so I immediately stopped. One is an Athern, and the other is a Spectrum.

Are they too old (they haven’t been run in about 5 years) or can I get them in shape with cleaning and lubrication?

2

Sounds like the old grease has gotten tacky and may be loading down the motors. Take them apart, clean all the old grease out of the moving parts with solvent such as GooGone or 91% rubbing alcohol, (don’t get solvent on the shell or it may ruin the paint), relube with proper locomotive grease such as Altlas or LaBelle.

3

make sure the LaBelle lube is plastic combatible – not all of them are.
Dave Nelson

4

I have a similar question but are you talking about the gears or near the motor?

thanks

DT

5

Both. Wherever you find grease.

6

Clean out the old grease in the gears and replace it with plastic-compatible grease (RC car grease is good for this). Also, put a drop of light oil on the motor bearings - this has cured uneven running in several of my locos!

7

It might also be a good idea to run the motors under no load for a few minutes to get rid of any oxidation on the commutators

neil