Lairdy Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Hello there,I got myself a R3957LNER, Class 43 HST, The LNER - Farewell Tour™ Train Pack just over a year ago from the hornby shop.when running it I soon realised that if I say put the power to 60 on the controller the train would run fine but after a couple of minutes of running it would then speed up slightly. It’s like it needed a warm up before the motor started working properly.Its been like this for the last year but just recently it started slowing down and speeding up again without me changing the power on the controller. That happened for a while but now it’s running slow/lost power, there is a smell of burning and the body of the train gets hot.I took the top off it and touched the motor which is extremely hot.Its a dc analogue setup on an oval track.I had put lube on the required parts but this was about 4/5 months ago.It pulls 3 carriages and the dummy train.Any thoughts?CheersDave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Likely to be one pole of the motor gone duff. Pull the motor and/or disconnect the wires to the brushes then carry out a continuity check (ohms) across the brushes as you slowly turn the motor, each pole should give the same reading (ohms). Depending upon the motor installation and any capacitors, etc hanging across the brushes you may be able to do this check with the loco assembled measuring wheel to wheel side to side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lairdy Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 @96RAFThanks for this. I should have added that I’m quite hopeless and not very confident with tampering with things.However, I can get hold of a meter and hopefully I’ll not need to do too much disassembling. I had a suspicion it was the motor. If that is the case would that mean a new motor?thanks againDave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Could be tight gears or bearings/bushes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What About The Bee Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Hi DavidUnderstanding WHY is always a good thing.96RAF wants you to measure the ohms of resistance for each coil of the motor. Why? An electric motor produces magnetic energy by the number of windings and density of those windings. To obtain maximum power, a motor manufacturer will make the coils with wire dipped in insulation. This allows the wire to be packed closer together, producing more magnetic energy.When you measure the resistance of each coil, you are essentially measuring the length of wire by its resistance. If one coil measures a lower resistance, it means a shorter wire. How could that be? Aren't the wires still the same length? Well, no. A very hot motor will melt that dipped insulating material, causing an electrical short within that coil. The electric energy has a shorter path, and therefore less resistance.Once the coil is shorted, this is only recoverable via rewinding the motor. This may not be economically feasible or indeed, if the motor is potted in epoxy, complete junk.Heat is the enemy of motors.Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lairdy Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 @WATBthanks for this and very interesting.It doesn’t sound to good for the train in question!@Rogthanks for the reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What About The Bee Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 DavidWe will not know until you perform the measurement. It is very possible that the motor got hot without melting insulation.Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 I suggest getting in touch with Customer Support with a view to returning for them to look at. Phone is best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry-350851 Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 The motors aren't terribly expensive if it is that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brew Man Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 @OPGiven your admission to not being very handy DIYwise I would go with Fishy's suggestion and return it to Hornby who can properly diagnose the problem and carry out a repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lairdy Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 Good morning to you all,thanks to everyone for their reply’s and advice.I’m going with the advice to send it back to hornby.thanks againDave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lairdy Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 Hello, I got a pleasant surprise in the post today.the above train returned and fitted with a new motor and fixed free of charge.result!10 out of 10 for hornby!cheersDave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lairdy Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 Should of added I sent it back to hornby.cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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