164 Log Loader Motor Help

Can you spin the armature with your fingers?

Yep. Armature spins fine when I have brushplate off and can reach in there are turn it.

How about the gear drive assembly that turns the chains- degrease the gears, relube and oil the shafts.  If that is all working well, check all the wireing for a short or open.  Could be one of the brushes isn't getting power.

Side Rod

If the armature spins freely, but the motor just hums when power is supplied, then I would suspect a short or incorrect wiring. Examine the wiring. Look to see if one of the wires is touching "ground". Take a transformer with a pair to wires (test leads) and set the voltage to around 6 volts. Apply power to the ends of the field wires only. Does the field become magnetic (attract a screwdriver)? If so, then the field is probably ok.

If you have a VOM, check the armature. There should be somewhere around 1-2 ohms resistance between any two commutator segments. All combinations should be tested, and all should have the same resistance.

Check for continuity between each segment and the armature shaft. There should not be a circuit (infinite ohms).

Back to the wiring. Generally, the power wire should go to one of the brush holders. One of the field wires should be connected to the other brush tube. The second field wire should go to ground.

There should not be any other wires.

Test the motor by applying power to the "power wire brush holder" and to ground.

Applying power any other way could cause your hum.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. 

CW -  I got out trusty multimeter and tried the tests you suggested. Commutator segments to armature shaft yielded infinite Ohms. Commutator segments are not behaving as well. When I test them in combination, only one adjacent pair show resistance (a little less than 1 Ohm). The other two pairs show 0 Ohms-same as if I cross the two meter leads. 

Sounds like your armature is shorted out.

Try cleaning out the gook between the segments (long shot).

I hope you did not use alcohol to clean your motor.

A long way back I ruined two armatures by cleaning them with alcohol before I realized what was happening. 

I typically use mineral spirits.

Long shot was the right shot!  I thought I had removed all the gunk-but there must have been some remaining. After a more careful cleaning (thanks for the mineral spirits tip), the thing runs great. Now all I need to do us find part number 164-50 - the lighting assembly that fits under the roof. Seems it was removed by the previous owner!  

Thanks so much for all the help. I learned a lot and managed to get the thing going. Good fun for a

holiday weekend.  

I looked for that 164-50 light from every parts dealer I know of. No dice. The only guy I did not try is Chuck Sartor. He may have one. 

Rob

Thanks oldrob. I sent a message to Chuck inquiring about this part.

Also try Dennis Waldron for the part.  Out of NJ.  DEW and Associates.  He has many old parts removed from cannabalized pieces.

I should have mentioned this earlier.
Apparently there is more than one type of mineral spirits on the market today.

Some mineral spirits is cut with water and emusifiers.

Reportedly one such product is Klean-Strip Green 1 gallon Odorless Mineral Spirits.

I accidentally purchased some and found that it did not work well for me.

I only use pure mineral spirits.

Here is the info for Dennis Waldron. I did not check there because they don't have an online parts source. I checked Olsens, Dr.Tinker, Stan Orr,George Tbolt, Jeff Kane, and several others.

What is the phone number for Customer Service?

You may reach Customer Service us  1-973-702-0545.

What is your mailing address?

Just Trains
1 Ridge Circle
Sussex, New Jersey 07461

Be sure to include a stamped preaddressed envelope as well as your  telephone number as part of your communication to us!

Can I reach you from outside of the United States?

You can call us at 011-973-702-0545.

Here, this link may help you find our ever growing online store:

http://store.justtrains.com/

Dennis