So I recently purchased a new (cheap) N Scale Bachman F unit engine for my layout, it had sat for a while (as in years) new in its package. First thing I did was give it a good lubrication treatement. It seems to be running great however it sure is loud. It has a loud sound coming from it that just mainly sounds like the plastic gears meshing together, but I didn’t think it should be that loud. All of my other engines are quiet, and they’re Atlas and Bachman. Any suggestions on anything I can try? Or is it just the way its made? Thanks!
More than likely sitting for a long time dried the Motor bearings/bushings on the Motor armature shaft. You must remove the shell and apply a couple of drops of Labelle #102 or #107 oil on the front and back of the Motor shaft. Turn the Motor by hand if you can while your doing it. Some are hard to get at, but can be done. Should solve your problem and run a lot easier.
If not, we’ll just get a bigger whammer and try again. [:D]
When you get it lubed, run the loco on a loop of track in forward direction at slow speed for about 15 minutes, then increase speed to half for 15 minutes, then full speed for 15 minutes. After this do the same with loco running in reverse. This should help quiet it down. Joe
Well guys bad news, I found out why it was running loud, the motor is arcing power in it somewhere. I had the thing sitting on the rails last night and before I even got a chance to lube it up I tried to move it… Only to have it sit and smoke. So that’s bad. I’m a little bummed about that.
A basic question. What color are the gears? White or black? White would mean an older engine, with a chance of the gears having cracked. B-mann F’s should not be that hard to take appart if you have a good clean workspace and the proper little screw drivers. Then you can see if the motor sparks when it is running by itself. There are ways to fix that depending on the cause.
Thanks for the reply! Actually its red gears I believe, but I will double check for you. I did pull it mostly apart, it sparks at the motor but the motor won’t turn.
Disconnect the drive line and see if the motor will run. And how old is that engine and where was it stored, to arc at the brushes. Without seeing it…it’s pretty hard to give someone advice, as to a fix or cure. If it does run without driveline connected, feel how hot it gets and does it still arc from the brushes. either the armature or the brushes are trashed. Does it squeal? (dried motor shaft bearings) Could even be a jammed drive line. With the drive line disconnected from the motor, you should be able to rotate the driveline with your fingers.
Thanks! The driveline is fine, rotates normally, arcs from just in front of the brushes. It’s old probably going on 10 years, bought it used, it was in the orignal packaging. It acts like the magnetism is off, some times it doesn’t spark but the motor won’t turn. There also seems to be some sort of power bleed where it creates a small feedback through the common rail wiring on the layout. I’ll have trains parked on off blocks and they’ll start moving when this engine is sitting on the tracks with power running through it, plus the accessory lights dim. I wonder if there’s more going on here than what I realize…
Thanks for everyone’s continued help! I hope I can fix this but we shall see.
Sounds to me like the armature end shaft bearings/bushings are egg shaped and possibly brushes are worn. What’s happening is the magnet’s are pulling the motor in different directions, because of the bearings, creating what you are describing. I would just try to find a replacement motor and be done with it. There are replacements available, that are even better than original. NWSL (Northwest Short Line) is a start.
Btw: Then you have to decide…is it really worth the time and money to fix it? Or would it be cheaper in the long run, to get a better one that you don’t have to fix. [:D]
Whatever is going on with the engine should not affect trains in unpowered blocks. I believe you said your track is “wired” for DCC. What did you mean by that? I would suspect that the track is one big block, with some small areas that can be cut from the power with a mechanical switch. What kind of power source do you use? I do hope you are not mixing DC with DCC.
You bring up a very interesting point…somehow, I overlooked that. What is he powering those engines with? A DCC system with non-decoder DC engines? That would account for the noise and arcing.
Sorry guys shouldve been more ckear on that. What i mean is im using common rail wiring with blocks connected to switches for teo cabs. The engine is DC and im only runmimg DC power. Im not mixing DCC in at all, mainly because i dont have any DCC systems or locomotives.
The oblong shaft would explain a lot. Thank you guys! I will try to find a new motor, any ideas where to look at for one?
Frank thank you! I do have a wiring problem, the layout with track was given to me. There are supposed to be 4 blocks, I can only make 2 work. I actually had anoyher thread about that one haha. Thanks again for the help!
I forgot to add on that pic. above…you can click on it and it talks all about model motors and how to repair them and so on. Great link to keep for reference.
