06-14-2011, 10:57 AM
torikoos Wrote:Great, looking forward to it Jonte!
By the way, if you do get another loco, and it happens to be an older Athearn, this page is very helpful in how to 'tune' these and get the most out of them.
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The only thing I do not agree with there is using a fine file on the motor commutator. Better is a a piece of very fine sand paper, grade 800 or higher (get it from car repair & paint shops etc), glued to a small stick or so. You need a polishing action, not a 'scraping' or 'scratching' one. That only results in a courser surface and will in turn wear the motor brushes much faster.
Koos
I don't use any abrasive on Athearn or other open frame motors. I disconnect the drive shafts from the motor to allow it to pick up power from the wheels, but not move. I then use a new #2 pencil eraser on the spinning commutator to clean it off. Polishes it up beautifully. I use a small micro screw driver blade to clean out the slots between the commutator bars. After that I reassemble the locomotive and if I haven't done it already, used Jim Furhman's 5 wire system for wiring up an Athearn locomotive to make as positive electrical connections as possible.
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