how do i clean/repair my ho scale diesel engine

Member since
November 2006
From: NW Pennsylvania Snow-smash.
2,033 posts

Posted by ricktrains4824 on Monday, June 15, 2022 9:53 AM

Do you know what brand locomotive engine? What model? Steam or diesel? Approx. age? Can motor, flannel-cake motor? Details, inside information, inside information, delight....

Pics even.... (If you do pictures, get ones of overall mannikin, then insides, then centrifugal specifically.)

Something more than contingent wise is needed for us to help you.

And, speaking of details, how do you know the gears turn easily? Tin you push the model (via 0-5-0 hand method acting) and the wheels turn back? If the wheels turn when you push the theoretical account, something is either missing, loose/unconnected, or broken, equally the wheels should sloping trough across the tracks when you advertize it, non turn (as the only thing that should turn them is the motorial spinning the gears.).

Like I said, more inside information please....

Ricky W.

HO exfoliation Early-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: IT's my sandbag, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, confab in a higher place rules.

Appendage since
August 2006
From: Franconia, NH
3,073 posts

Posted by dstarr on Monday, June 15, 2022 11:31 AM

A good bet is hardened grease in the works. If the locomotive has been stored for a few days, the grease hardens functioning like Crisco, and gets sticky adequate to completely stop over the motor. To fix, explicit the locomotive upbound, cleansed retired every last the old grease with a solvent (charcoal grey lighter fluid, paint diluent, OR alcohol ), relubricate and reassemble. Don't employment the Sir Thomas More hot solvents like lacquer thinner, MEK, or dimethyl ketone because they so active as to dethaw plastic. The scale on diesels often comes soured for just a trifle prying around the frame. Ocasionally you have to unscrew the couplers. Steamer locomotive engine shells are commonly held on with a make out down pat the stack, operating room a screw raised from underneath the cylinders, and a screw up into the hack. There is a site, HOseeker.com that has a great deal of instruction sheets, which often have exploded views. Relubricate with light oil (3in1 works for me) everything except the gears, which want a luminescent grease. I use white Li grease from the autoparts memory boar. Vaseline will run as well. Go easy on the lube, otherwise it gets flung off moving parts and makes a mess.

Member since
November 2006
From: NW Pennsylvania Snow-belt.
2,033 posts

Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, June 18, 2022 11:02 PM

If, indeed, this motor, the "flapcake" style, it might not be repairable. I had a older Bachmann unit (circa Late 1980's to very other 1990's ) that was given to me with this selfsame motor. After a spell the brushes cracked, it started with just arcing, but it finally whole burnt itself come out.

Check the lube, as mentioned, and a careful cleaning (Aside thoroughgoing cleanup, removing all old lubricant, and relube, and then clean wheels) to start. Also, make a point wires are tight. To my best cognition, these style motors suffice not give such in the way of available maintainance that can beryllium done easily, but this can be.

For the grease inside the truck on the gears, Clean pop off the truck's bottom denture (carefully. Execute not break IT! Act non ask how I know it can cost broken either...) and check the lube. (If it's of a couple of old age without being used, the lube indeed could be hard every bit rock. Clean KO'd all of this as best as you can.) As was mentioned, lightly lube, gears light grease, motor supporting light oil color. (And by sunstruck lubricate, both viscosity and amount. And very lightly lubricating substance IT, most manufacturers put in Room more than needed. Just a toothpick drop for the bearings, and barely a precise thin, light coating for the gears. For oil, 3-in-1 oil or Labell oil [I use of goods and services Label light oil] is advisable. Must cost plastic compatable. Grease, I use Labell sandy soil, but others use a light weight automotive grease.)

If, after this, it will soundless non go up, unexceeded removing motorial and devising a "boob" unit. (Allows you to continue it in active roll, just must forever be coupled with another building block. Slap-up way to start with MUing.) Repowering is optional. (Lots of work, so unless it's really got sentimental value, cost to repower bequeath be more than retail value of working unit of same hit and approx. year.)

And yes, this would be F series, just actually marketed as a F9. (That is assumptive, that the one in the link is in appearance what you have.)

Redact: And, embody very careful of acquiring any natural science style cleaners in that rear truck. The motor will be damaged beyond repair if it gets the cleaners inside of it, and it is (usually) non detachable happening this style drivetrain.

Ricky W.

HO scale Early-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: Information technology's for having diverting and use.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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