I just acquired a 6110 and went to go test it out on the layout to see how it ran. Unfortunately the only sign of life it gives is a momentary clicking from where I presume is the direction control is located. The wheels move freely and aren't binding. I do not know how to service these plastic scout motors so any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Lube it.
Yep clean & lube, I'm not sure I would take it apart. There's a spring the lets go and everything flies in all directions.... Never did get it back together.
I got mine back together but It still didn't work.
Gregg posted:Yep clean & lube, I'm not sure I would take it apart. There's a spring the lets go and everything flies in all directions.... Never did get it back together.
I lubed all of the exposed gears and points, is there anything that I'm missing?
I don't look forward to opening this up but looks like I may have to.
Hopefully you don't have to open the motor. In order to open the motor, first you would have to remove the drive wheels.
There is a "hatch" on the side of the motor that covers the reversing drums and brushes. There is a good chance that the loco's brushes need servicing. There is also a good possibility that the reversing drums were put in wrong. Another possibility is that one of the drum contacts is missing.
Replace or clean the brushes and springs. Clean the metal parts of the reversing drums. Put a little drop of oil on the exposed bearing while you have the cover plate off.
Sometimes, if the reversing mechanism is hung up, you might be able to help it reset by pushing the loco in one direction or the other. Can also try shaking the loco. May not help but easy to try.
Check the brushes as Burfle suggested, he is the expert on these. If you take the brushes out you can try to clean the commutator by sticking a q-tip through the brush well and turning the wheels. Further dis-assembly requires pulling the wheels and is very tricky to reassemble properly.
These are cheap motors and not worth a lot of time and effort. Even if you do get it running, the bearings may be shot and it will squeal and not run well. But if you like mechanical tinkering, have fun with it !
Just cleaned the brushes and commutator and popped the drums back in and we have life! Albeit very intermittent, but progress nonetheless! I'll go back and clean things up bit more and see if performance improves. Thanks for the tips and information everyone!
If I were you, I would clean the electrical pick ups and make sure the brass wipes are clean and tight. That isn't a very good way to pick up juice from track. I learned on my AF locos.
For anyone wanting to get their scout motor running again, you can send them to me. I have a 99% success rate.
Chuck
These are cheap motors and not worth a lot of time and effort. Even if you do get it running, the bearings may be shot and it will squeal and not run well. But if you like mechanical tinkering, have fun with it !
The armature bearings can be lubricated without complete disassembly. One is under the reversing drum chamber cover.
I find that often the axles cause squealing. I've never been able to get any lubricant in the proper area without removing the wheels. Once the wheels are off, I put a light coat of Labelle 106 grease on the axles in the area they contact the motor casing, and a light coat on the built-in bearings of the motor housing. You do not have to separate the halves of the motor to do this. On reassembly, make certain the axle wipers are in the proper position.
This is best done with the correct tools: a wheel puller, and an arbor press with the correct cups. I realize that most don't have them, but maybe you know someone who does and is willing to help.
One more thought:
Take your time and carefully clean those roller pickups and the drive wheels as well.
When I clean the rollers, I stick a QTip swab though the center to help hold them up (you'll have to bend it). Then I use a fairly wet QTip (mineral spirits) to scrub the roller. I like to leave it wet as I rotate the roller, in the hope that it will clean the contact inside the motor. Go around a couple of times, and then wipe away the excess mineral spirits with another clean QTip. Don't soak the area with mineral spirits. Just leave the roller wet looking.
Sometimes I put the motor aside for a while to make certain everything is 100% dry, and use a fiberglass burnishing tool to clean the rollers, followed by another QTip / mineral spirits treatment to clean away the debris.
Some might be surprised at what a difference clean rollers make. Usually the ones I've cleaned will even go through 022 switches without reversing or stalling.
Good advice on the rollers and the wipes. Like I said, I learned on AF locos and tenders to clean the axles and wipes really good. Something that is too easily overlooked.
Sorry, I didn't mean to repeat Jim's advice without acknowledging it.
No problem-worth repeating. I didn't realize Scouts had wipes. One reason Lionels last is because there is a lot of good, basic, solid design and engineering that has gone in to them.
C W Burfle posted:
The armature bearings can be lubricated without complete disassembly. One is under the reversing drum chamber cover.
I find that often the axles cause squealing. I've never been able to get any lubricant in the proper area without removing the wheels. Once the wheels are off, I put a light coat of Labelle 106 grease on the axles in the area they contact the motor casing, and a light coat on the built-in bearings of the motor housing. You do not have to separate the halves of the motor to do this. On reassembly, make certain the axle wipers are in the proper position.
This is best done with the correct tools: a wheel puller, and an arbor press with the correct cups. I realize that most don't have them, but maybe you know someone who does and is willing to help.
I've tried lubing them with a syringe needle behind the wheel but it's hard to reach. And (as I recall) the axles just run in a bore in the bakelite casing. Next time I rebuild a Scout motor I may try to put bushings in there, or at least make some provision to lube it more easily.
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