Slow to start loco

What type of loco is it? Steam? Diesel? Number on the unit? What type transformer?

The loco needs to have the motor disassembled and cleaned, the wheels and gears cleaned, and the motor properly oiled and the gears greased.

The track needs to be clean, and the pins joining the tracks tight.

Naphtha is the best cleaner/degreaser to use.

Larry

It is a steam locomotive number 249 I believe you're correct that motor needs to be lubricated and cleaned I took it to the Hobby Shop and he put a little bit of oil on it and it worked okay for a couple times and now it's back to where it was do you have any literature on how to remove and clean the motor. I believe the Transformers at 10:15 it's putting out enough voltage maximum wattage it's putting out 14 volt AC and the tracks receiving it also so I believe that that it is the motor

Here is the service manual for the 249 loco. It gives you exploded views of the entire loco.

Take off the front truck and side rods and the motor mounting screw on top of the boiler shell.

The motor should come free.

Remove the brushplate and clean it, the brushes and the copper commutator sections of the armature with Naphtha. DO NOT use alcohol on the motor, as it will dissolve the shellac insulation on the armature and field windings.

Clean the wheels and pickup rollers with Naphtha using a rag or Q-tips. Grease the gears lightly, and add a drop of oil to both  ends of the armature shaft. That should get the loco running well again.

The 1015 transformer is a very small transformer, rated at 45 watts. It may just be able to get your loco running after it is serviced, but only pulling a few lightweight cars. Recommend getting a larger transformer with double the capacity at 90 watts, say a 1033 or 1044.

Larry

Ask the hobby shop where it was repaired how many Watts their transformer provides.

Thanks for the info. I looked t the transformer and its a 1010. I'm going to look for a 1044. Any suggestions on a good site to buy it? Side note, I went out and got it moving pretty good but it only lasted about 5 mins steady run and then stopped. I haven't been back to see if it would run after cooled off and thoughts? Thanks for all the help

Like new 1033's are available here.

A good looking 1044 on e-bay is here, as are others if you do a search.

It is difficult to tell what the problem with the locomotive may be, or if the problem is a too-small transformer.

Does the transformer get hot?

Have you serviced the motor thoroughly as posted above?

Larry

  It sounds like one heat is fading.  Which seems "taxed" more?

Cleaned and oiled, Id look at power.

  If this is in kinda poor shape with rust and gunk, it may need some "break in time" with lots more oilings to come. Each ,a step towards no rust in the near future. Oil at night, leave it on a towel overnight, wipe, repeat till its "flushed".

Is that 14v under load? You need to see how much voltage is showing as the train runs &/or take an amp reading while it is running. Amps used just tells you more specifically about the motors eating habits that the supply.

  Imo, the only little transformer worth a darn with track over the size of a small loop was the 65w tall, sheet metal case with the thin button on the top. (1065?...I forget)

  A worn engine might need more power today than may have been matched to it originally. Gears and shafts loose thousandths and the forces needed to move multiply.

   In particular build up of brush dust in the 3 armature plate gaps will cause a need for more voltage and lead to more loco heat. I like to lightly drag a toothpick through them to aggitate any "cakes" of brush gunk when I clean, being mindful of the fine wire there.  But thats the area of most concern for the motor. For me #2 is Brush tubes cleaned, and wiping the brushes well. A smooth sanded arm.plate is needed, but like rotors on a car, keeping an eye on them here and there is the best practice for me vs dressing them a lot..

I think the 1033 has a better duty cycle than the 1044. Different windings? I know its a different breaker unit. (The normal weak point on this power family when issues pop up.)

I have the whole family, the 1044s are weaker than 1033s once hot, but slightly better than the lower rated 1032s.

  Nobody really complains about buying too much power, only wishes they'd bought bigger.

The single train PostWar gem is the LW....110w maybe 120w ..I forget ....lots.

   Slightly funky to mix(phase) with others, but a bang for the buck in watts, small size, and attitude, with it's very cool lit-up dial at the handle. Reminds me of a trolley's or other electric's throttle.

The 1033 is the tougher shell, but the LW is the powerhouse.

Of course the KW or ZW wouldn't dissapoint and would leave more power taps to grow into.

  Just a note, an engine wanting a warm up is not unusual.

Even on a good 1033, my post war steam starts very slow and in about three min. has woke up. One has to run alone for two min. even on a 1033 it came with. 

It's the extent of it thats the real question.

Oh wait....the 249 is the red stripe plastic Pennsy isnt it? Ive had a two.

My last was a jumper. As in it suddenly just goes from zero to light speed like a bat out of... ....a tree. It came with light cars and low watt power, so its touchy with extra power, but it IS needed for extra or heavy cars. (Add weight to the engine and this thing CAN pull.)

These can become "screetchers"; " Screaming" for peroids when the gearing wears out just so. Grease and wait it out, most quit. Or replace the gear for peace, quiet, and longevity.

  Let me know if you need a tender. Not real super pretty, but here & cheap. The engine shell "has been retired", but the motor lives on where a early can motor once lived, in a JCPenny set's cast metal 9053.

TrainLarry posted:

Like new 1033's are available here.

A good looking 1044 on e-bay is here, as are others if you do a search.

It is difficult to tell what the problem with the locomotive may be, or if the problem is a too-small transformer.

Does the transformer get hot?

Have you serviced the motor thoroughly as posted above?

Larry

I took it back and he lubed again and I bought the 1033 transformer and everything seems to be ok. Still have to give it a nuge but it performs ok. One other thing is if I run tender and 2 other cars it will pull with a little wheel slip but anymore than that it slips real bad and not pull. Is this too  much for this Loco? If it should pull more do you have any suggestions on a fix? The track is clean and all cars lubed. Thanks for all your help

The 249 Scout loco with a plastic boiler will not pull much more than you experience. See here for a writeup of the loco. Read the first paragraph carefully.

Larry

Thanks again for the info it's still fun to play with my grandson loves it