Old Atlas industrial switcher, lube tips ?

[Flatrat]

Got another heritage N scale piece from my brother this week. It was frozen up when i tried to run it but I took it apart and cleaned wheels, pickups and lubed what seemed the pertinent spots. Kind of an odd mechanism to me so not sure i got everything.
Seems to be running well tonight but wonder if there is anything in particular i should check on this engine.

Thoughts?

Scott

[Flatrat]

oops. I just checked Spookshow's encyclopedia and I think it's a 1969 Lima model, not Atlas. He says it's a real turd but at the moment i got it running around pretty well. Sounds like that's rare from his description of the model.

Sorry for the confusion.

s

[brokemoto]

Is it the large, funny looking thing with the funny couplers?  Or is it the thing that various manufacturers have sold over the years?

If it is the former, it is way out of scale, but it does not run all that badly, for what it is.  Unlike many N scale offerings of that era, it actually has four speeds:  a bit fast, very fast, way too fast and not at all.  Many N scale offerings of that era had two speeds:  very fast and not at all.

If it is the latter, and you want that sort of locomotive, buy the Bachmann Standard Line version of it in a plastic box.  All of the other versions of that thing were pretty bad, including the B-mann in the cardboard box.

If you like industrial diesels, Bachpersonn also offers a superb GE forty four tonner and seventy tonner. 

[Flatrat]

I'm pretty certain it's the lima pancake motor model which spook says "is almost completely useless". Looks exactly like the one on Spookshow's encyclopedia. The layout I just built was intended to run old stuff that i have inherited from friends and family along with the old stuff i have in my collection plus some new stuff. Everybody has different goals with their layouts. it's like the code 80 v 55 discussion that's going on right now. In the future I'd love to model another layout with all new engines and rolling stock and will probably use Atlas 55 since i think it's much more realistic looking. This layout i just built was intended solely for running old and new smoothly without modifying old wheels, etc. I chose peco 55 and elctrofrog switches for the task of smooth running track for geriatric model trains instead of regular code 80 because...that's just what i wanted to use and it's running very smoothly. On this layout I'm just enjoying making the old stuff run smoothly and so far i got this stupid over sized swtchr which was frozen solid to running real smoothly right now. It is running really well, even at slow speeds so...I'm pleased with it and the performance i'm getting from other older engines that i've been fiddling with.

This particular project is NOT about building the most realistic/accurate layout possible by modern standards.

I was just wondering if anybody knew of any tips i have yet to discover that might keep it running well.

[u18b]

Most old locos benefit from better electrical pickup and weight.

Sounds like you already did some good stuff, but here is my complete suggestions (which includes some of what you already did).

Looking at Spooks photos....

Notice the electrical pickup touches the back of the wheels.  so....
1.  Disassemble and clean wheels thoroughly.
2.  Gently sand the wipers with 400 or 600 grit until the last 4 mm tips are bright and shiney so all oxidation is gone.
3.  bend the contacts outward a bit so they will press on the wheels harder when the wheels are re-inserted.
4.  replace the wheels and test.
5.  I would probably find a way to add extra electrical pickups on top of the wheel tread.  Would be delicate work and not all could do it.
6.  Clean the commutator (the spinning pancake) by placing a fine drop or two of Conduct-a-lube  on the disc above the brushes and putting power to the loco.  Turn power only to medium and do it in bursts-  this motor is very delicate.  Product is electrical conducting oil.  It will "wash" carbon build up- but you will probably need to try to wipe black crud that may move toward the edges of spinning disc.
7.  check the weights.  They are probably made of lead, but if zinc or Zamak, then new weights made of lead would be better.  DON'T add weight in the empty area of the cab since most of that area is BEHIND the wheel.  Heavily weighting the cab will actually make the nose lighter- conterproductive.
8.  Use a very light oil to oil the motor bearings- in center of pancake- both sides.
9.  Clean, clean, clean.  Dirt/fuzz/etc = friction.  Take individual gears out and completely clean.  reassemble and apply a LITTLE teflon impregnated grease.

These are a few steps that will help.
Ron Bearden

[Flatrat]

Thanks Ron. I missed one or two of those cleaning steps. It's running really well now but I may fiddle with it more if it gets finicky.

[Flatrat]

Aero-locomotive works lubes Rock! I got some a few years ago upon advice from a large scale forum to lube some steam locos. I drenched this little pancake motor switcher in conducta-lube after cleaning everything real good with alcohol and cleaning of contacting points and polishing the crud off of the wheels and applied the heavy gear lube to the gear drive and this stupid little switcher now creeps along smoothly. Not at the "too fast" speeds aforementioned but at very slow speeds. It CREEPS along smoothly on my Peco 55 at very slow speeds. i guess i also did a pretty good job at track laying but for a crappy old engine like this to inch along smoothly pulling a half a dozen cars, i have to recommend Aero-Locomotive work lubes and taking extra time cleaning the wheels and pick ups. if you have some old engines that you have put aside I heartily advise that you may want to get them out and douche the old lube out and brighten the contacts and douse them in conducta-lube and use their gear lube. it's worked wonders on my old Aurora F unit and a minitrix pacific loco I bought in the early 80's that only ever ran herky-jerky. They not only run smoothly now but also a lot more quietly.

It's been fun/rewarding renewing these old engines that have sat neglected in drawers for 4 decades.

S

[choochin3]

Flatrat,I glad to see I'm not the only one still running the old school stuff.
Though I do have a few modern locos,most of mine are the old Atlas,Rivarossi,Trix,and Bachmann coffee grinders.
And although I mostly collect,and run Lionel O gauge,and HO scale stuff,n scale no matter how old will always have a place in this house.
Now to find some Lone Star TrebleO.

[Flatrat]

Lone Star TrebleO? Isn't that the stuff that runs with rubber bands for a final drive off of the motor armature? Pheewww! Best of luck with that. That's a bit too archaic for me to fiddle with. I'll stick with my early 70's/80's locos.

Scott