Just today, I removed the shell of my Life-Like Spirit of '76 F7, so I could clean and lubricate it (I bought it secondhand about a week ago)and discovered the entire motor is covered in metal shavings, most heavily towards the two metal pieces on the back of the motor housing, likely from use or abuse by whoever last ran it. How do I clean them off without goofing something up? What would cause this many metal shavings to be on the motor? What would be a good, inexpensive plastic-friendly lubricant? Also, the front coupler was detached from the front of the shell, and a coupler and small metal plate was provided loose. The place on the shell where the coupler is badly worn so how would I put it back on?
Pictures of your coupler and mount are needed. Metal shavings are not good...ever. You are going to have to tear it all down, clean out all the gears of any shavings (including dragging a knife blade tip through all the teeth), re-grease and re-lube. My cleaner of choice is lighter fluid and q-tips, but that's just me. Start looking for another engine. Dave
You didn't mention if it runs or not.. The shavings are odd. But if it doesn't run I'm guessing the shavings are part of this. If it does run I don't see why you don't just close your eyes and blow out all of them. If the magnetism is holding them on, maybe a stronger magnet (at a tool supply outlet ). Then maybe dowse or dunk motor in 90 alcohol, then lube. I don't know what couplers you are talking about or even what scale you are in. That metal plate makes me suspect you have the old horn-hook (or NMRA) couplers. If this is true I'd cut my loses and moth ball the engine and buy a new, or at least way newer diesel with Kadee or equivalent (knuckle) couplers. This hobby is very very 'you get what you pay for'. Go to ebay right at top of this page and you'll find a billion great MRRing items/prices.
For lubricant, look at the LaBelle brand. As to the metal shavings, I have some doubts they came from the motor itself. But rather from a careless owner, who did a poor job of storing it properly. Getting those ALL out will be a chore. A vacuum cleaner carefully used will help some. Maybe compressed air. (Use eye protection!) Photos of what you are seeing will be of further help for anyone who might have suggestions.
The locomotive was sold as untested, but I tested it and it runs fine, and the light works as well. I had it running around the track quite a few times I'll try to get pics by this weekend. I was able to clean some of the shavings off the motor using an old toothbrush.
I re-iterate. Just so you know if the shavings came from inside the gearbox, and to insure none got INTO the gearbox, you need to open the gearboxes up and clean/inspect/re-lube. Or, just ignore it and maybe, just possibly, you'll be back here in a couple of weeks wanting to know what that horrible boise was just before it locked up. Note the word "maybe". Followed by "possibly". You may luck out, it may be, oh, a handful of shavings carefully sifted through the window openings just to confuse the issue.
Where can I find exploded diagrams to specifically my F7, as so far all I've found is instructions for a Proto 2000 by Walthers-Lifelike, which I know is newer. How do I take the gearbox apart?
Every one is saying what to do with the shavings. But, WHERE did they come FROM ? This is the utmost first thing to find out ! IF not from this motor frame or engine chassis then HOW did they get in it ? I keep thinking magnetism 'sucked' them in through un glazed cab windows, truck frames, or engine ran over metal shavings in prior ownership that were somehow in the ballast or from a work bench where owner was filing other metal and loco got dragged through it ....Even if it runs now, you've got to find out.... My HO Bach RS1 sucks up loose spikes.The engine won't budge. Now I'm well aware what it is...The spikes stand straight down into ties having magnetically been sucked into the speaker holes...! I always have spikes laying around lost in the ties. Thinking of adding a fine brass screen over speaker which spikes can't penitrate... Mark
I use an airbrush with 90 % isopropyl alcohol at about 20 psi on my locos and then blow dry them and then use atlas oil or equivalent and this works great for me just lube the axles armatures and use La Belle grease um on the gears sparingly as not to attract foreign particulates , and the shavings if strands may be from someone using steel wool to clean there tracks as some did before bright boys if shavings I would look at the gearboxes if they are metal gears and replace if it is worth it to you and if not make this your educational model and tinker with it for future experience if some things relate to modern power .. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
It had to have been from the previous owner. The locomotive came in a Cox locomotive's box, which was missing the plastic film on the front and the box was quite battered. It could have happened in storage somehow. When I ran it, I ran it on a brass track (from a secondhand lot I bought earlier) on the bare clean hardwood floor in my room.
Many years ago, I ended up with some HO items which were supposedly new. Problem was even though kept in original boxes, where they'd been stored was in a work shop area. They had somehow become filled with metal shavings and sawdust. A bench grinder and table saw were close...
I've misplaced the front coupler at the moment (put it in my small loco parts box, I think). The coupler is virtually the same as a standard hook coupler Here's the coupler mount on the shell. I couldn't get pics of the shavings, though, as they're too small for my low-end cellphone's camera (don't want a smartphone) to pick up.
I think I've figured out where the shavings "might" be coming from. I removed the shell and weight block, and then set the rest on the track I believe the armature is rubbing against the metal plate at the top of the motor housing, but that plate seems to be brass. I believe that's the way it's supposed to work, as there's wires soldered to that metal plate.
Well....you've at least torn it down enough to determine where the shavings may be coming from. Armatures rub on..nothing. Not good. Close to pole pieces, but they aren't brass. If you've got shavings inside, between pole pieces and armature, they need to come out. Not sure isopropyl alcohol and an airbrush will do it.
