TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I have a tram kit that has a 12v motor. However when power is applied (ordinary Hornby 12v DC controller) the motor buzzes on the track but does not move in either direction. Does this mean the motor is stuck and/or beyond repair? You can still get parts, and to buy one is an option, however they are £30 with postage. Is there a DIY option or anything at all I could do or try before buying a replacement? I have attached a photo of the motor if this helps at all. Thanks/media/tinymce_upload/fffc611319c6ed43656958301f3fb2f8.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Have you turned the armature with your finger to see if it moves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Precisely as WTD states.Is there free movement, or is it possible the armature is seized in position / very tight?Is there any arcing at the brushes?Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 Thanks for the quick replies. Yes I have, it turns. But it is not really freely, it does feel a bit stiff. Should it be very loose and very easy to turn? I could put a bit of oil on the spindles at each end to see if it frees further and try turning for a longer time. I was reluctant to do this in case it would cause damage but if it does not I could give it a go. Don’t see what else I can do anyway? The brushes seem okay and move easily in and out but can’t see any arcing? The buzzing does not increase in volume as I turn the power up if this means anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Has it ever been lubricated. A minute drop where moving parts touch should help. If you can see the oil, you have used too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane1707819582 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 The commutator looks burnt ,give this a clean .And it looks out of line with the magnet , will it move to more a central position ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 The commutator is pretty black. Can I use a small cotton bud dipped in isopropanol? I have lubricated the spindle ends and the cogs with 1 drop of oil it seems to be move more freely. Don’t know whether this will work? How long do I leave it after using liquid on the commutator before I can try it or is there another method? Jane2 your eyes are way better than mine. The whole thing looks pretty central to me on my desk. There doesn’t look like any obvious wobble in the turning to me. And it looks central in between the magnets. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Yes clean the armature as you said . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 There is signs of life!!!! I have tried it again. No buzzing and it spins slowly occassionally and moves forward occassionly albeit with a little bit of a push from the hand of god. It's not viable yet so I'll keep going for a while with the recommendations. Thanks everybody so far. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Did you apply some oil to the axle bearings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Don't let the motor get too hot! It is likely to get rather hot if it is struggling to turn and overheating could be disasterous! It's possible that the magnet is weak and that could be another cause of the slow running, besides dry bearings, and could also lead to overheating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 Okay. Loads more cleaning and a couple more drops of oil. It is turning a lot more freely now. I am getting it to run in one direction from a stop and it's also controllable to a slower speed. However, in the other direction it fails to start sometimes unless pushed and judders along but usually makes it to the end of the track. Any ideas what could be causing this behaviour? It looks pretty damn clean now were it looked burnt so probably no more to do there. Would running it for much longer help? So far I reckon a 7 out of 10 with the help of you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 RogI have run it up and down quite a few times now and it doesn't appear to be getting overly hot although I will watch for this. I don't know how long it would take before I could say this aspect was okay. The magnets on either side can gently pull a normal size paper clip from my fingers don't know if this would be considered sufficient? Thanks. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane1707819582 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 on the commutator the are segments which insulate the windings .with a small craft knife under cut the commutator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2e0dtoeric Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I suspect (hope!) that Jane means that you should carefully clean out the tiny gap between the segments of the commutator. DO NOT break the tiny wires that feed the motor coils!If you do that, the motor is dead!-You say 'ordinary Hornby dc controller' - which one, the dead cheap trainset one with about as much power as a dehydrated greenfly, or a decent one - an H+M or similar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 OkayDone that Jane2. It is actually running quite well now and is completely controllable in one direction. The juddering has also improved in the other. I don't know why but I tried balancing a small weight (none metallic) on top and this has improved this no end as it actually runs all the way along now with this on without juddering. Maybe when I put the tram weight on it (when built of course) it will work? This is an excellent result with all your help from something I would have given up on. I probably wouldn't have bought another for £30. I think we are definitely up to a 9 out of 10. Many thanks. Off for my tea now and a bit of tele relaxation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrainDriverJ Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 Ericm0hffWhen I looked at it on the table I guessed that was what Jane meant however your description is more specific. Anyway got it right. Yes it is the poor controller. I have DCC for my trains and this is what I got when I bought one of the train sets ages ago. I thought it would be okay for this though as I don't have another.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane1707819582 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 OkayDone that Jane2. It is actually running quite well now and is completely controllable in one direction. The juddering has also improved in the other. I don't know why but I tried balancing a small weight (none metallic) on top and this has improved this no end as it actually runs all the way along now with this on without juddering. Maybe when I put the tram weight on it (when built of course) it will work? This is an excellent result with all your help from something I would have given up on. I probably wouldn't have bought another for £30. I think we are definitely up to a 9 out of 10. Many thanks. Off for my tea now and a bit of tele relaxation.Probably best to run in for a spell to let the bushes bed in That is the carbon bushes ,not the rose bushes . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 My motors have carbon brushes... Not to be confused with brooms! 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane1707819582 Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 My motors have carbon brushes... Not to be confused with brooms! 😉So,That's a sweeping statement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Very good! 😆 Does that clean up the point? 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Yes it is the poor controller. I have DCC for my trains and this is what I got when I bought one of the train sets ages ago. I thought it would be okay for this though as I don't have another. In the abscence of a decent controller just lash a 9v battery to the track or just press it to the wheels for instant testing . It will run happily at that voltage, not too slow and not flat out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_nelmes Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I have picked up motors in the past where the brushes have worn unevenly and catch the edge of the commutator slots in one direction only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane1707819582 Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Very good! 😆 Does that clean up the point? 😉To be blunt ,There's a point ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now