How To Repair A Model Train Engine
Recently completed M�rklin 3054 DB BR 103 from 1968. Sparkling clean with modern High Efficiency Propulsion DC motor, isolated bulb sockets, center vestibule calorie-free added, ESU 21-pin interface junction lath with ESU Loksound 5 mfx decoder and cell speaker. Topped off with the latest ESU DB form 103 "Hi-Fi" audio files.
"Service for the Finest Trains"
Mill Authorized Service Center for all Scales Big and Small
Roco Fleischmann M�rklin TRIX & HAG
We can practise anything you need including LED lighting installation in passenger cars, all types of sound and non-sound decoder installations, overhauls and extensive repair. We service HO, N, Z, I and more.
Decoder Killer!
Are your locomotive's lights flashing (a warning from your decoder that in that location is excessive current depict) or does it run and stall? Does it run again after sitting for a while? Or- Does it only generally run like crap? You likely take a chock-full commutator. Allowing this to continue volition permanently harm the armature and the decoder. Information technology does not matter how old the locomotive is.......
An important motor primer all hobbyists should understand:
All motors are susceptible to commutator clogging and M�rklin's new "maintenance gratis" can motors are no exception. This condition tin can destroy the decoder if not defenseless in time. The locomotive will tell you virtually it if you lot pay attention to the symptoms listed in the questions in a higher place. Motors are ofttimes over lubricated at the mill and the oil eventually seeps in around the motor shaft bushing to the commutator. Some motor designs are more than susceptible to this than others. Carbon shed from the brushes as the motor runs, mixes with the oil and continues to accumulate in the insulating grooves of the commutator until a thick paste of oily carbon is packed into the grooves. This carbon paste is conductive but like the motor brushes and information technology shorts the commutator segments together. This causes the motor to draw excessive current, causing the armature to overheat. The overeating tin become then farthermost that the solder connections between the armature windings and the commutator melt and sling off into the motor's interior or brush plate cover. This rut tin can also melt and burn the thin shellac coating on the motor windings and cause the bare wires to make contact, which destroys the armature. The photo below is a Thou�rklin High Efficiency Propulsion DC motor from a locomotive I serviced. A moving picture actually is worth a thousand words. You can come across the extreme accumulation of brush debris on the commutator. The commutator is shorted electrically, but is still okay on this armature and it maintains a normal color. An overheated commutator will plow dark or look badly tarnished or even distorted and no longer round. Motor windings will darken in colour if the shellac has overheated and burned. Nonetheless, I seldom run across darkened windings anymore every bit a locomotive'due south decoder is usually destroyed earlier this happens. You tin assistance slow or prevent this from happening to your 5-pole High Efficiency Propulsion motors by using a small-scale smear of grease instead of oil on the tip of the armature shaft where it comes through the castor plate. A little oil goes a long manner on motor bearings besides, so on can motors, use only i drop. I remove the tin can motor of every diesel fuel and electric locomotive with cardan shaft bulldoze that comes in for service. I
I have had armatures like the one pictured in a higher place come in that have overheated and gotten so hot (in excess of 400 degrees F) that the the solder joints where the windings come across the commutator accept melted and slung off and onto the brush plate!This armature's commutator is electrically shorted with oil and motor castor remainder that has gotten packed into the insulating segments. What's around the outside of the commutator is the excess brush debris that could no longer go into the insulating segments and only accumulated in the brush housing.
Brush remainder commencement to accumulate in commutator insulating segments (click images to enlarge)
Destroyed armature from overheating caused by brush debris clogging the commutator. Castor debris, which is conductive, curt circuits the poles of the armature and causes the motor to draw excessive current. This overheats the armature and leads to a range of damage from oestrus discoloration of the commutator to melted commutator solder joints or worst case, complete destruction as shown below. This one is an extreme case. If a motor gets this bad, the decoder will likely be destroyed too.
We received this for repair
We returned this to the customer
Before
After
Which level of craftsmanship do you want inside your locomotive???
Practise my locomotives need service?
Regular servicing of your locomotives is necessary for optimal performance and longevity. An quondam locomotive which has never been serviced has oil and grease that has thickened over time and causes a pregnant amount of friction leading to high current describe (read stress) on the motor and article of clothing. In some cases the oil is like molasses and the grease is completely dry. Models also do not run very well with dirty contacts, wipers and wheels. In some cases locomotives that accept been run every Christmas but never serviced in some fifty+ years, take accumulated dirt, lint and grime in the gears which causes excessive wear to the model. Lint will likewise cause steam locomotive side rods to bind and suspension. Those are expensive parts and are no longer available for many old locomotives.
M�rklin & Oil Lock Upward
Thousand�rklin locomotives (especially Z) manufactured from the early 1980s into the 2000s have bad lubricating oil, which solidifies with age and will actually lock up the locomotive'south machinery. At the very least locomotives will be very sluggish, merely improve as they heat up from the additional friction. If your HO locomotive's headlight work, only in that location is no move afterward being stored for a long time, information technology is probable locked up. In the case of some Z locomotives this friction really strips the teeth correct off the gears. If a Z locomotive is non running, merely the headlight is on, it is locked up and must be serviced. Attempting to get information technology to run on the track when it is locked upward will damage the motor across repair in a affair of seconds.
What's included and how much does it cost?
Our normal labor charge is $55.00/hr. When labor runs over one hour, you are billed in 1/10th of an hour increments for the fourth dimension required thereafter. Locomotives with Telex couplers, locos that are more complex to overhaul, similar 3015 crocodiles, typically accept more than an hour. Also, please annotation that locomotives that accept non been serviced with dirt caked into the gears and lint around axles and side rods crave actress time to clean. The lint has to be picked out by mitt and caked on dirt in gears has to exist removed using a three step cleaning process, which requires more time. These typically run 1.5 hours plus.
| Hi Scott, This afternoon I received your packet containing the 3 locomotives. I want to tell you I was so pleased when I unpacked them. You made them await similar brand new. Naturally I tried all 3 of them out and I can tell you lot they run and perform perfectly, just similar they came from the mill. Cheers and then much, you made me very happy. The F800 was from my babyhood dorsum in Germany. It was bought in the mid 50'southward. Scott, you did an absolute terrific job with these locomotives. Information technology is articulate to me why Maerklin in New Berlin recommended you. You are but simply the best. Proceed up the skillful work. I will put a check in the mail on Monday. Thank you again Scott! Best regards, Manfred Gaupp |
| Howdy Scott: Merely received the 2 Locos. I actually would like to congratulate you on your superb work and attention to particular. Even the shipping box and the private wrapping of the trains are outset rate. Your invoices are extremely detailed and provide a swell reference to the condition of the locos for managing the inventory. I was non aware of the poor quality of the previous DCC installations � that was ___________ when DCC was however new. Guess they were not as great equally I thought. You are a great asset! I believe y'all said yous were an engineer? At any charge per unit yous are i of the Sons of Martha. � unproblematic service simply given to his ain kind in their mutual need�. (See Rudyard Kipling�s prose) |
These are just a couple of the emails received after servicing customer's locomotives. Unsolicited comments similar these come in frequently because we do things the right way. The technology used today in model trains is very much similar the technology establish in your computer, automobile and home amusement eye. Repairing today'southward model trains takes a lot of technical expertise that tin only be gained through intense study, practice, research and hands on training. We accept invested untold hours to learn everything nosotros possibly can most today'southward technology so nosotros can offer our customers the most professional, high quality repair service available. With factory specialty tools and over forty years of experience, nosotros accept the cognition and skill to repair your locomotives the right way. Nosotros also keep a large stock of spare parts on hand to ensure faster turn around.
Your valuable locomotives are treated with respect! Your locomotive is handled carefully. All locomotives, whether in for overhaul or digital conversion, are completely disassembled, de-greased and cleaned in an ultrasonic bathroom. We then reassemble with new parts where necessary. This always includes new traction tires and brushes. This assures your locomotive is returned to its original performance. This is especially important for locomotives being converted to digital. Reliable functioning tin only be bodacious from a clean mechanism. Labor charges are $55.00 per hour. This accuse covers almost repairs and conversions. However, locomotives that require additional time due to the complexity of their mechanism or locomotives which require additional decoder programming (like sound decoders) are billed at this base rate plus additional time in 1/10th of an 60 minutes increments.
More unsolicited comments about our service:
| Hi Scott, But got around to running the two locomotives that you serviced. They both run better than before. I believe that Crocodile, MA 39565, has improved audio? I like. Loco runs and then shine and merely crawls so easily. A true joy to run. I really appreciate your attention and solution to the front trucks. On MA 36653, I was really impressed that you noticed and replaced broken horns and antenna on beat of the ITL loco. I did not expect this. Fantastic. I'll exist most careful from now on. Well, I can't thanks plenty for the wonderful servicing that you practise. I so glad you have this business organization. Otherwise, I wouldn't know where to plow for quality service. You accept great talent. Larry Fangman |
| I only received my converted lok with the 60904 decoder, and I have to say that you lot are the all-time dealer regarding speed of service, follow through, efficiency, etc.!!! I knew that these decoders but recently became available, and, for a TYPICAL dealer, I'd accept to contact them and remind them to install one of these in the lok they're holding for this purpose. I thought about emailing you lot, just, from past experience with you, thought you'd likely take care of it ASAP...which, is EXACTLY what you did. What a pleasure to have a dealer have intendance of these type of "pending" situations without me reminding them. You're great, keep up the great work, and thanks!!! Grant Markley |
Source: http://www.helmutshobbies.com/service_center.htm
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