I am aiming at the Guru, but will take any advice I can cause I know many of you guys are well versed in this. I just acquired a #60 trolley and a #50 gang car. Both complete and pretty nice. I did the normal things I do on old locos when I get them. Clean brushes, brush wells, and commutator slots. Re assemble and a basic lube.
The gang car goes super one way, hit the bumper then nothing. The little slide contact is clean and touching fine. I hate to say this but it did work both ways before I cleaned it. Not good but it tried. Now it goes great one way and dead the other way.
The trolley goes great one way, hit the bumper, and it labors like a gear locked up. The light dims and it hums hard like it's trying. I pulled the brush plate back off, lifted out the armature, wheels spin fine. Put armature in and it all spins fine. After this attempt at running after I cleaned it, and then pulled the brush plate back off, the copper armature face is as dirty black as when I started 10 minutes prior. Maybe worse. It was shiny when I put it together the first time after the basic cleaning. I also made sure the little ball bearing was re-installed in the brushplate head. It blackened the copper face right away.
What is happening?
I obviously am no Guru, but I have cleaned and worked on many old Lionels, but this is a new problem to me.
Any help from ALL is surely welcome.
Thanks,
Matt