Squealing pickup shoes

"Arthur",

Are you sure it's the pickup shoes? These engines often begin squealing because the armature needs oil at the fiber brush plate. This end of the armature need lubrication very frequently as the fiber tends to absorb oil quickly. Do both ends while you're at it, but it's the fiber end that is usually the culprit. I'd try that first if you haven't already.

But "Don't panic" and keep that towel handy. (Sorry - couldn't resist! )

Jim

i would take   the brushes out and polish the commutator to a high gloss with very fine emery paper finest grit you can get, polish commutator until you can see your self like in a mirror, then install new brushes and springs, then it should run light a top, you probably have a lot of arching on the commutator because the brushes are very worn, sometimes even groves worn in to commutator! this solution will fix your motor if this was the problem!

Alan

Alan

Thanks for the great tips fellows but I have already done those things, already being somewhat familiar with working on these motors.  I can demonstrate that the squeal is not motor or axle related by gently pushing the locomotive along the track while holding the wheels so they can't turn, it still makes the same noise.  I thought it might be the truck wheels, but oiling them didn't stop the noise.  It isn't a continuous loud squeal, just sort of a soft periodic squeak really, when pulling a consist at speed I don't notice it for the rolling noise, but when just running the locomotive by itself it is obvious in the otherwise quiet room.  I'll keep running it until I get the parts in, maybe it will straighten out on its own.  When I got the loco it was obvious that it hadn't run in quite a long time, maybe it just needs a bit of exercise.   

And yes, I always know where my towel is! 

Thanks for this topic Arthur.

I was faced with the same situation and tried the remedies above. Two new pickup shoes later and no more squealing.