Sluggish motors

The "O" gauge MPC "Little Joe" locomotives can be serviced. There shouldn't be any need to replace an entire motor. Your locomotive probably needs to be cleaned and lubricated. Perhaps a new pair of brushes.

"Santa Fe" is not descriptive enough for me to identify your other locomotive. If it is a steam engine, it should have a number underneath the cab windows.
Most "O" gauge MPC steam engines also can be serviced.
Does your locomotive have black band(s) that are popping off?
If so, they can be replaced too.

Here is a diagram of the MPC era Little Joe locos.
There are separate diagrams for the motor truck and the motor itself.

Thank you. The Santa Fe is the early single engine F3 6-8652 

I have the post war power truck if you want to get magnatraction, and that would give you metal gears...

Marty

Marty

thanks; assuming it fits that would be ace. 

Let me know how much.

d

The early MPC F3's have the same motor and truck mechanism as your Little Joe. The cover over the truck mechanism is different, but it is only held on by one screw.

By the way, I have worked on early MPC power truck blocks with binding issues. I don't think the problem is that common, hopefully yours are OK.

My 8652 did the same thing.  I put the postwar truck underneath it and it works great.

Thank you, are the post-war trucks easy to come by? 

As Martin and Paul indicate, Postwar truck blocks are a drop in replacement. They are fairly common and should not be too  difficult to come by. Why not take up Martin on his offer?
Of course you want them with good bearings, gears, and wheels that don't wobble.

I don't know whether he has any left, but Grzyboski's Train store had new, old stock MPC F3 rear trucks at a very good price.  If you are interested, you'll have to write to them.  As far as I know, they do not list them on their site.

If you have binding issues, they can be addressed. I did so by adding shim washers where required. Unfortunately, the way I did it required wheels and gears to be removed and reinstalled. I don't know whether there is a way to get it done without removing them.

Thank you all. I will get a couple of sets of prewar trucks for the Santa Fe and a couple of spare motors and brushes. As I live abroad and time is tight a simple drop-in solution is always best.

David 66:    In your last post, you stated that you will get a set of  "PREWAR"  trucks for your Santa Fe.  I think you meant to say  " POST WAR"  trucks.   Dennis M.

Post war; fat finger syndrome.