Hot, Smoking Motor

Probably some stray arcing and lube mixing together.

Oil soaked brushes & commutator segment gaps.

Commutator segment gaps ?      Please explain.

Lionel Motor Maintenance

ADCX Rob posted:

Lionel Motor Maintenance

Really ?    I come on to this site to get the help that fellow O Gaugers are willing to share their experience and knowledge.  Not just to be sent to Google

Use a toothpick to clean the groove in between the copper segments.  One drop of oil, or a very tiny dab of grease on the protruding armature shaft is the only lubrication required in this area.  Some people think more is better, but it's not.  If oil or grease gets on the copper segments it will arc (spark) and burn, eventually ruining the commutator.  If the commutator is very heavily pitted, you could try resurfacing it with fine sandpaper.

It's rare but possible for one of the armature windings to fail.  If the armature or commutator is shorted, the loco will operate erratically and I suppose it could run hot and smoke.  New old stock replacement commutators/armatures are available for a Wabash 2337 and repair is pretty straightforward.  There are even folks who could rewind yours to as-new condition.  -Ted

Steve24944 posted:

ADCX Rob posted:

Lionel Motor Maintenance

Really ?    I come on to this site to get the help that fellow O Gaugers are willing to share their experience and knowledge.  Not just to be sent to Google

Sorry I responded at all. The dinner bell was ringing.

Like Ted said, be really sure to clean out between the commutator segments. The insulating material that the commutator face sits on that when it is overheated from the worn brush carbon that collects in the break in the segment actually turns to carbon and becomes conductive! This is what overheats the armature and causes that 'ring of fire' and the motor runs slower than normal and you get that burning smell and it is drawing a lot of power. It will sometimes burn off and the motor will speed up. That is what causes the pit holes in the armature face. This is a really common problem in the 'atomic' style motors used in the early 671 and 2020 turbines.

ADCX Rob posted:

Steve24944 posted:

ADCX Rob posted:

Lionel Motor Maintenance

Really ?    I come on to this site to get the help that fellow O Gaugers are willing to share their experience and knowledge.  Not just to be sent to Google

Sorry I responded at all. The dinner bell was ringing.

Thank you Rob.  While I now just run Legacy I have a couple of PW locos I need to tune up.  Your link was very helpful.  I've used many helpful suggestions while lurking here.  Sometimes you help people and you don't even know it. 

Thanks, John 

OK  -  I pulled off the Brushplate Top, cleaned the copper top of the armature with isopropyl  alcohol using a Q-Tip.  Also cleaned the brushes and cleaned out between the commutator segments with a toothpick.  Put her back together and ran her around with a string of freight cars for a while.  No smoke and she did not get so hot.

Now-  I have done this before, just a couple of months ago.  This locomotive will sit on my display shelf for quite some time, then once in a while she gets a turn on the layout.  Will see how long she stays clean. 

Thanks for the feedback

Steve