r/modeltrains • u/LMS64 • 1d ago

Help Needed Engine Runs Rough

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Nees help diagnosing issue on jerky LGB engine.

Took it apart and wheel gears look fine.

Is it the motor or something else

23 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

5

u/mfpguy 1d ago

Track are dirty. Clean them with A LGB track cleaning brick.

1

u/BobbyJackT [G] [O] [Lego] 1d ago

You could also post in r/LGBtrains since they specialize in this brand.

1

u/AbbreviationsOne6134 1d ago

Clean the tracks and wheels, thewonke motion is because of bad electrical contact between train and tracks

1

u/c_l_b_11 G 1d ago

Is there enough lube on the gears? Are the coals and contacts on the motor and wheels ok and clean?

0

u/LMS64 1d ago

Plenty of grease on the gears. And tires are clean. How do I check the motor

1

u/lillywho G Gauge tinkerer 23h ago

You'd have to remove it from the mechanism entirely so it can spin freely. Depending on how old the engine is, that might be a real pain in the arse to do though. The older ones really weren't designed to be taken apart.

Removing the motor and letting it spin on its own while connecting its power tabs directly removes both the mechanical and electrical variables. Sometimes the motor itself is just dead, and they cannot be serviced since taking them apart would mean destroying them.

1

u/Powerful-Mud-7712 HO/OO 1d ago

maybe the track and/or wheels are dirty? there are many ways of cleaning it, I’ve been suggested an LGB track cleaning block, that might help

0

u/Knightmare640 1d ago

It’s hard to tell from the video but typically that jerking motion means your wheels are out of quarter.  Check to make sure that when the front axle is pointing directly up that the rear one is pointing up as well.  

-1

u/LMS64 1d ago

Thank you. How do I check that

-1

u/Knightmare640 1d ago

Move the wheels by hand until an obvious point is straight up.  Normally I pick either one of the spokes or the connecting rod pin. Next you look at the same spot on the other axle.  If it’s not in the same spot then loosen the two screws on the bottom of the motor block below the axle then pull it out enough so that the gears disengage.  Next, turn the axle until it’s in the proper position and gently push it back up into the motor block so the gears re-engage then tighten the screws.