Karl Bub Locomotive

Hi John,

do you have some more information? Is it a 0gauge, or S? I am not that familiar with Bub electrics, but your problem seems to point into the reverse more than a dirty commutator.

But, some further info or a picture could be helpful.

Regards, Kieffer

Hi Kieffer,

 Thanks for the comeback. I agree I think it has something to do with a sticking revese unit, (something clicks inside).

 I have a Lionel 2037 locomotive that acted the same way when I first brought it out for the first time after 2 years storage this year. I had to give it a little push to get it going, but now it is running just fine.

 The Bub runs silky smooth, it just that you have to play with the transformer power, on and off, to get it going, but once it starts it runs smooth. Pushing it to get  it going does not seem to help, just putting the power to it on and off from the transformer until you here it click.

 The bub I believe is O gauge, I have it running on my O-Gauge lionel track.

 I attached pictures below of the Bub.

Thanks,

John

Hi John,

nice pictures! I only have that Bub with a clockwork engine, these were and still are quite common, as they were the cheap ones in toy train world. They (the clock works) must have been a real frustration, as they run away like a rocket, and derail all the time.

The electric must have been a big improvement I guess.

Your Lionel: I have that too sometimes. But that's the carbon sludge on the commutator I think. By pushing the engine the commutator moves, the brushes picking up a not so dirty spot, the motor starts to run and the spinning commutator 'neglects' the filthy spot, as long as it lasts. Cleaning with a cotton slab and alcohol will do, and fresh brushes too.

I don't know exactly the type of the Bub reverse. It might be the copper 'fingers', may be there's some corrosion. Be careful with cleaning, they are easily bent. Don't sandpaper them or file, that just scratches and dirt will stick on it easier.

Some of these reverses have two very small springs, may be they are a bit overstretched by age.

I think the clicking is the magneto, trying to shift the contact fingers but somewhere the contact fails. It's like the Lionel reverse, the magneto driven hook just doesn't snap the cog wheel, the hook falling back again, without result.

Putting power on and off quickly usually does the trick, sometimes you have to do that a few times. Considering the age and quality of these engines, one can't have to high expectations I think. And even my better quality Marklins, and Lionels do stutter every now and then. As a kid that made me furious, now that I'm old and slow I can live with it.

Have fun! Kieffer

PS My 'advice' is from the players view, the try and error. I'm not an electrician, other people on this forum surely can explain that aspect much better than me.

Hi Kieffer,

 Thanks for the info..

 I will try cleaning the commutator on my Lionel #2037 and see what happens, I will also take a peak at the Karl Bub.

 You stated that you can clean the carbon off the commutator with alcohol and a cottom swab, did you ever try lighter fluid,(Naphta), mineral spearits, or Die Cab Electrical Cleaner Spray in the can, I believer Permatex makes it.

 I guess your right, as old as these trains are, we can't complain if they get a little testy. LOL.

Thanks,

John

Hi John,

there's some posting on the cleaning theme here on the forum I think.

I am not a chemist, and I might be wrong, but my opinion is that mineral spirits like white spirit are a bit greasy. I stick to what we call here 'spiritus', the stuff used in households.

It's an alcohol, with a blue colour and certainly not meant to drink!

The Lionel commutator: the rims between the copper clad sections, try to clean them too, gently with a pointed matchstick, as the carbon sludge can cause trouble too.

Good luck, Kieffer