Need help with Century Club 671

Charlie: here's my take on this and I hope it leads to a successful fix for you; there seems to be a lot of sparking off the LH brush (looking at the brush plate end...). Have you tried a new set of brushes? Are both brush springs intact (not broken, especially the LH spring)?

If the answer is you have tried new brushes, I'd pop the brush plate off again and seriously check the condition of the commutator itself for "trueness/flatness". I'd also take a multimeter and ohm-out each of the three poles of the armature to be sure one (or more aren't showing a "ground" to the armature shaft. Also take the multimeter and ohm-out the armature wiring between the three poles for continuity. Check to see if you have a armature winding that has become un-soldered from its commutator pole piece.

Lastly, lightly try to turn the commutator assembly to be sure it is still firmly attached (and "in-time" electrically )with the armature shaft.

Good luck in your sleuthing.....

D&H 65 posted:

Thank you D&H and you gave me some other ideas to try.

Charlie: here's my take on this and I hope it leads to a successful fix for you; there seems to be a lot of sparking off the LH brush

Agree and is the reason I moved the camera back to the brush plate. I don't know what "normal" sparking is for this engine.

(looking at the brush plate end...). Have you tried a new set of brushes?

I have not tried new brushes as I thought they "looked" fine, maybe not.

Are both brush springs intact (not broken, especially the LH spring)?

If the answer is you have tried new brushes, I'd pop the brush plate off again and seriously check the condition of the commutator itself for "trueness/flatness". I'd also take a multimeter and ohm-out each of the three poles of the armature to be sure one (or more aren't showing a "ground" to the armature shaft.

This is did not do but will. I should have checked this while the motor was apart, great idea thanks.

Also take the multimeter and ohm-out the armature wiring between the three poles for continuity. Check to see if you have a armature winding that has become un-soldered from its commutator pole piece.

Lastly, lightly try to turn the commutator assembly to be sure it is still firmly attached (and "in-time" electrically )with the armature shaft.

Good luck in your sleuthing.....

I will be sure to respond back with my findings. Since it is the holiday weekend I can't get to the brushes, but I can do everything else.

Thanks again D&H.

Charlie

Thanks again D&H and/or anyone else who can assist with this issue.

I just disassembled the motor (again) and I measured the three commutator faces. 

Question: should all three faces be isolated from each other or will two of them show continuity?

Brushes look good, windings seem to be connected to the commutator and the shaft is isolated from the three commutator faces.

I think I answered my own question, I do believe the commutator has a short between two of the poles. I will try to order a new one next week.

Thanks again for your time and knowledge.

Charlie

D&H 65 posted:

...Check to see if you have a armature winding that has become un-soldered from its commutator pole piece.

 

Problem solved, and thank you D&H!

After reading through your points and checking one by one, I finally noticed that one of the armature contacts came loose, but not detached from the commutator face. I little dab of solder and that was all it took.

I'm reassembling the unit now and will post a video shortly.

Charlie

Look at the motor top, there is a hole for oil where the shaft lies. if this is dry it will bind up esp under load, i fill with Mobile 1 and put a screw  in the hole to keep the oil in if i turn over the locomotive. Also I find out Lionel fails to fill the  gear area with grease, clean it out and with a mag glass and check the gear to make sure the gear is not messed up.