@gunrunnerjohn posted:From that description, I'd say that you may have an internal short between a motor brush and the motor case. You should have NO CONNECTION from either brush to the motor can.
That is kind of what I was thinking John.
Not necessarily a brush, but something shorting to the motor can.
I see no bare wires, and it is for sure the can is shorting to the bottom frame, so something has to be shorting to the can.
I am taking it to JR Junction, my local train dealer.
They repair MTH locos, and I have gotten to know Phil, the owner, a fair bit over the last several years.
I can show them the pics and then let them fix the problem.