Happy Labor Day all!
My Lionel VL Big Boy (6-11437) has developed a regular "squeaking" noise.
I'm the original owner since December 2014. The past six months or so, there squeaking has went from intermittent to constant.
I lubricated all the running gear, but it has persisted. Today I pulled the shell off and it sounds like the squeak is coming from the back of the motor. I attached a short video.
Is this fixable, or do I need to replace the motor? Any thoughts? Thank you.
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While I don't own a VL bigboy I have one of the earlier legacy M1b's that has made a similar squeal although less severe and usually just the first few revolutions then it goes away.
I oiled the shaft bushings on either end of the motor with little or no improvement. The one behind the flywheel is tough to reach. The occassional brief squeak persists.
I also had a legacy diesel that did the same thing, oil did not help.
Mike Reagan had commented in the past that a motor squeal can be caused by the high metal content of the brushes sqeaking against the commutator. His answer was run the **** out of it and it should go away.
While I can't say this is your issue. With my loco I feel Mike may have a point, as the only time mine makes this squeak is after its been sitting awhile. If its run regularly ,it doesn't occur.
Thanks for the comments. My main concern was damaging the brass gears and/or running gear while operating, but hopefully it's what you say. Mike R certainly is a great resource!
Yeah that is motor issue and not a gear issue. Run the !@#$ out of it until it either goes away or you need a new motor.
I had to run the video several times to really hear the noise. To me, it sound more like a rub - as if something is making contact with the flywheel or some other moving part.
I would try oiling both motor bearings. It can’t hurt. Use an oiler with needle point applicator.
I must be going deaf. I can't hear a sound and my volume is all the way up. What give's?
you can hear it, it sounds like a chirping sound or squeek
What I normally do it is to take the motor off the assembly (if easy to do) and make sure its in fact the motor itself "sqeaking". Then i would turn the motor over by hand and make sure nothing is hanging or rubbing up internally/externally. I use XL lubercants "ultra light" oil for this very application, as one small drop on each of the end motor bearings should be plenty. Power the motor again for a moment in both directions to work in and see if there is any improvement.
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