My local hobby shop can't repair my FM train master because there loaded down. Is there anybody on the fourm that can fix it. It a conventional classic disel.
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Might help if you give an idea of what is wrong.
I think it's the e-unit but, I'm not sure. I have provided a video of it running with the shell off.
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Hard to tell from the video , but it seems as though the Motors are turning in opposition to each other.
How do you fix it?
Can you fix it?
You would have to unsolder the + and - leads to one of the motors and reverse them. It might be wise to attach leads to the pick up roller and frame to determine if that's in fact the issue.
If it's what Tom says reverse the blue and the yellow wire on one motor. But as he also said its hard to tell from the video but it looked like it to me also.
Did it work before? If so probably not what we are thinking. You say it a conventional classic but your transformer appears to be at full throttle?
Maybe lift one end of the engine OFF the track and check out the direction of the wheels. Isn't there an adjusting screw on top of the motor that puts tension on the armature ? I probably would loosen it off a bit and slowly tighten it again.
Gregg could be on to something with the brush plate on to tight
Agree back them off a 1/4 turn at a time and see how it goes
Also as he said lift one of the trucks off the track and see if the wheels are turning in same direction
Okay I will try. I will tell how it goes.
What do I do if that doesn't work?
southern Railfan posted:What do I do if that doesn't work?
we gave you three solutions
I would first do the easiest and that is lift one truck off the track and see if the trucks are turning same direction and also does it run better if you do it.
no they don't, change one motor's blue and yellow wires.
Yes they run same direction try losing the set screw ( will need tiny allen wrench) 1/4 turn at a time .
Not a Tech but I would think if the motors are mounted facing the same way they would turn the same if they are one in one direction and one in the another they would need to turn opposition to each other to run in the same direction???
It does not look like anyone has done anything to it to cause the issue and if it worked and then just quit I would not start swapping wires around unless you take pictures of everything before you stick your fingers in it.
I would try running it off jumper wires off the track. But my bet is it is the reverse board. Something is fried.
Not saying this a any kind of solution , but it is a suggestion.
The guy bought from never runned it.
I'm pretty sure you can fix it....Start with a good lube....It probably needs a little run time but it should run a little better than the video.. keep trying.
Will it cycle direction?
KRM posted:Not a Tech but I would think if the motors are mounted facing the same way they would turn the same if they are one in one direction and one in the another they would need to turn opposition to each other to run in the same direction???
Kevin you may be right but I think they need to turn the same direction but that's why I said lift one truck off the track and see if the wheels are turning the same direction. You have to remember one truck will be running in reverse so it will go the same direction as the other then you have it turned the opposite direction of the other. I would think they both need to go clockwise or counterclockwise to move the engine. They both still need to turn the same direction.
If
southern Railfan posted:The guy bought from never runned it.
How well do you know him. As lot's of people will say that to sell it.
Don't think so RT but would have to look at one running. Never gave it much thought. With the motors mounted facing each other like they do one has to run in forward and one has to run in the reverse direction for both to go the same direction on the track so one would have to turn clockwise and the other would have to run counter clock wise, right?
How old is it, how long has it been sitting? It may just need a good lube and get loosened up but to many un-knowns here for me to say much more.
You could always send it to me and I will try to fix it and get it back to you in 3 or 4 years. 
Kevin you have to remember one is backwards from the other so when it runs in reverse it is running the same direction as the other one running in forward. either way to turn the wheels the same directions they both need to turn the same to run the engine.
Take your NS dash 8 shell off and look
You just said it.
"one is backwards from the other so when it runs in reverse it is running the same direction as the other one running in forward."
With the motors mounted facing each other like they do one has to run in forward and one has to run in the reverse direction for both to go the same direction on the track so one would have to turn clockwise and the other would have to run counter clock wise. So one motor is spinning in one direction pushing the armature up the worm gear on the drive axle and the other is spinning in the other direction pulling the armature down. They have to for them both to go the same direction on the track.
I think we are saying the same thing.
It's from 2008.
Yes so they both should be turning the same direction on the engine not opposite direction of each other.
in the video the motors are fighting each other. as you look at them they should be turning the same direction. Forget one is forward and one is backwards. they still need to rotate in a manner where both as you see them in the engine are rotating in the same direction ( clockwise or counterclockwise )
Southern railfan if you can't get it going send me a email and I will try to help you. My email is in my profile
So most likely oil and lossen the screw on the e-unit
No the screws are on each motor
There like set screws they have a hole in them that a tiny allen wrench fits in.
Email me at rtraincollector@yahoo.com
Okay I will give it a try.
rtraincollector posted:southern Railfan posted:The guy bought from never runned it.
How well do you know him. As lot's of people will say that to sell it.
Southern Railfan purchased this engine (FM Thunderbird CC set) from me through the For Sale section of this Forum. I'm confident that I have a good reputation here on the OGR Forum and in the model railroading hobby. I buy and sell a lot of trains, and have never knowingly misrepresented an item in order to sell it.
I purchased this set new (or so I thought anyway) and never ran it. I took the engine out of its box to visually inspect it after purchasing it, but never put it on a track to test it. The pick-up rollers and wheels showed zero sign of use. I wanted to keep this set as "new" as possible and un-run. In fact, I never took any of the freight cars out of their boxes, not even to inspect them. The set has since sat on a shelf in its set box for several years.
What I failed to do when Southern Railfan agreed to purchase this set was to ask him if he wanted me to test the engine before shipping. I usually make that offer to people who purchase locomotives from me. "Operators" usually say yes to that offer, while "collectors" tend to say no. In my haste to get the set packed up and shipped out earlier this week prior to heading out of town for work, I simply failed to ask Southern Railfan if he wanted me to test it...and he never asked me.
Hopefully some Forum members can help him to diagnose and fix the issue!
Joe didn't mean to step on toes just wondering if he knew the person or weather it was like a ebay sale. That's why I asked. I'm willing to try and fix it for him but it's real hard thru pictures and talking to someone I take isn't that knowledgeable of the workings of the engine. I'm honestly thinking it was a factory goof now that you spoke in. and it could be as simple of just reversing one set of motor wires.
Thanks for offering to help him, Bill. Much appreciated!
This should be an easy fix. Anybody with pullmor experience would be able to get the motors purring. I can't believe any shop turning away business saying they are too busy.
Rod Miller
Tom McGriel posted:Hard to tell from the video , but it seems as though the Motors are turning in opposition to each other.
rtraincollector posted:Yes so they both should be turning the same direction on the engine not opposite direction of each other.
in the video the motors are fighting each other. as you look at them they should be turning the same direction. Forget one is forward and one is backwards. they still need to rotate in a manner where both as you see them in the engine are rotating in the same direction ( clockwise or counterclockwise )
They are turning opposite each other, but in unison, not opposition. If both armatures were turning in the same direction(CW or CCW), they would be fighting each other. Just visualize what happens if one truck could be turned all the way around while power is kept on.
So if there turning opposite reverse wires. I there turn the same lossen screw.
southern Railfan posted:I think it's the e-unit but, I'm not sure. I have provided a video of it running with the shell off.
Would you reshoot the video and hold the camera/phone horizontally and still on the engine? Also, turn the bell off.
Thanks.
ADCX Rob posted:Tom McGriel posted:Hard to tell from the video , but it seems as though the Motors are turning in opposition to each other.
rtraincollector posted:Yes so they both should be turning the same direction on the engine not opposite direction of each other.
in the video the motors are fighting each other. as you look at them they should be turning the same direction. Forget one is forward and one is backwards. they still need to rotate in a manner where both as you see them in the engine are rotating in the same direction ( clockwise or counterclockwise )
They are turning opposite each other, but in unison, not opposition. If both armatures were turning in the same direction(CW or CCW), they would be fighting each other. Just visualize what happens if one truck could be turned all the way around while power is kept on.
I'am and if so they both would be turning the same way and going forward. so now you turn one around and its trying to go forward while the other is, unless the other is geared differently you want the two armatures turning in the same direction to get it moving in same direction.
Think about it, right now if you put the two motor side by side with the couplers facing the same way the armatures would spin in the same direction. You turn one around and now it's still spinning in the same direction and pulling away from the other.
I just proved myself wrong they do need to be going in opposite directions. i see my mistake now. After rereading
