"New" loco did not run.

[Joetrain59]

I got another set of LL FA/B-1 locos from BLW today. The A unit would not run, but the bulb for headlight did go on. (Motor did spin manually.)
 So, remembering what I recently learned from Sir Peteski, I thought of the commutator. Could barely see it, but first I blew compressed air into
 that end of motor. Then I sprayed electrical contact cleaner at it, let it dry a bit. Sprayed more air, and it purrs like a kitty now. 
 Joe D

[peteski]

[MK]

Peteski is all thumbs! 

[Steveruger45]

I got another set of LL FA/B-1 locos from BLW today. The A unit would not run, but the bulb for headlight did go on. (Motor did spin manually.)
 So, remembering what I recently learned from Sir Peteski, I thought of the commutator. Could barely see it, but first I blew compressed air into
 that end of motor. Then I sprayed electrical contact cleaner at it, let it dry a bit. Sprayed more air, and it purrs like a kitty now. 
 Joe D

Yep, that often works, but sometimes the motor brushes are a little frozen and stuck up such that what you did may not fix it.  In case this so just remove the motor and give it a few short sharp wraps against a block of wood.  Just another arrow in the quiver.

[peteski]

Yep, that often works, but sometimes the motor brushes are a little frozen and stuck up such that what you did may not fix it.  In case this so just remove the motor and give it a few short sharp wraps against a block of wood.  Just another arrow in the quiver.

That will also realign the bearings (if they got out of alignment).

[Joetrain59]

I'll keep that tip in mind. These were in original LL packaging from many years ago. A/B units still cello wrapped together.
 Even like that, the wheels were quite dirty when I cleaned them after getting loco running.
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[peteski]

Even brand new (never used) models can have problems if they have been sitting in the box for years.  The lubricants harden up. The wheel treads might have had a coating of oil or grease which thickened up or hardened up and is non-conductive.  Same goes for things like bearings.  I had new locos (usually European steam like Fleischmann, Arnold, Roco or Minitrix) that I bought as new old stock and they had driver axles or even gears seized due to dried up sticky grease.  I had to put them in ultrasonic cleaner filled with Naphtha to get them loosened up.
I also had more recent Atlas locos (split-frame chassis and low-friction trucks) with hardened grease in their truck gears.

So a good cleaning might be needed to get new old stock locos running after they have been sitting in their jewel boxes for years. Which sounds like what you did to make your "new" loco run.

[Joetrain59]

It needs the Bearden treatment, and while apart, I'll give it a good cleaning.
 Thanks. Learning all the time here.
 Joe D