I have an American Flyer 302 AC locomotive. The motor doesn't want to start on it's own. If I apply power and spin the armature, it will run. It isn't tight and has been cleaned and lubed as best I know how. Do you think I have one segment of the armature shorted out? I'm at a loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Harm
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As a first quick fix have you removed the brushes and springs and cleaned the brush tubes?
I just tried your suggestion and I am in the same boat. Doesn't make sense to me. Everything looks okay, but it just doesn't seem to run right.
My favorite little engine. I would test the armature with a ohm meter, should be between 1 and 2 ohms to each segment. Make sure you have good brush spring tenshion on both brushes, and a clean commentator and all electrical connections are soldered good. Sounds like you have to spin it to get it started..
Also take a ohm reading on the field, should read about 1ohm or a bit more.
Marty
Martin Derouin posted:My favorite little engine. I would test the armature with a ohm meter, should be between 1 and 2 ohms to each segment. Make sure you have good brush spring tenshion on both brushes, and a clean commentator and all electrical connections are soldered good. Sounds like you have to spin it to get it started..
Also take a ohm reading on the field, should read about 1ohm or a bit more.
Marty
I agree with Marty. Offhand, it sounds like a faulty armature segment. That is, once rotation is started, it will bypass the offending segment and momentum will make it run. I had a 300 series engine that had a broken wire to the commutator plate, and once soldered, it ran fine. Armatures are out there as replacements.
Those 300 series locomotives are usually like the Energizer Bunny. Let us know if we can help, that's what we do!
I've only ever seen this once and it is a long shot, has someone in the past fitted it with an armature from a DC motor as this explains why it needs a flick to start it. The tell tale indication of a DC armature is that the factory painted a segment of the plates a green colour.
I built this up last weekend. Let me know if you are interested. It does sound like you have an armature problem.
You could also run a soldering iron on the three commutator lugs to see if you have a dry/HR joint.
Any luck with the testing yet???
Marty
Any resolution to this problem yet????? Haven't seen any replies yet...
Marty
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