Hornby Duchess Class - more or less Dead

[stonesfan]

Hi All

Purchased an immaculate looking Hornby Tender driven Duchess of Sutherland model from Ebay as a 'spares or repair'. Item is exactly as described (and was extremely cheap even for a non runner) but I thought it may just need need some basic TLC. Isolated the tender and tested on my bench by putting two small croc clips on the contacts that hold the springs and brushes. Exactly as described by the seller there is a slight buzz from the motor but no movement. Appears the brushes are fine. The mechanism does move smoothly by hand and the gears are well lubricated.

So...clearly something a bit more kaput than what a usual electrical clean and lube would fix. Any ideas to resolve? Or am I just better off buying a serviced and tested used motor?

Cheers.

[508035]

Hi stonesfan

You mentioned a slight buzz from the motor, can I ask please if the wheels turn a little and then the motor stops ?, if thos us the case it is likely there could be a short on the loco wiring.

Also, does the same thing happen when the tender is connected and does it have a dcc decoder because if it does, the decoder could have been set up so that the loco would only move slowly around possibly a depot layout, removing the decoder would ( hopefully ) restore the loco to full high speed so that the loco could haul expresses like it was built to do.

Ok it's not a duchess loco but I purchased a Bachmann class A1 off a stand at a model fair in port sunlight a few months ago. The trader told me he'd heard it had been dcc fitted but recommendation I check it once I got home whih I duly did and sure enough it was. This was evidenced by the loco's driving wheels turning gradually faster or slower when power was applied or turned off but as my layout is standard dc operation, the only remedy was to remove the decoder ( which was done ) and reconnect the loco's original wires to the motor and it now runs just like it should do, high speeds but still very controllable even without a decoder.

Hope this helps.

[Mountain Goat]

Could also be a hidden track pin or tiny bit of wire in the motor. I have had this and once I had a track pin that would occasionally jam up the gears which was so hidden, I only came across it when I stripped it down though that was with a Lima motor bogie.
Check wheels move ok.

Once brushes and springs are accounted for (As you have power as it is buzzing), there is basically only wheels and gears, motor magnet and windings left including the commentator plates. Oh. And the central shift.
Jamming gear cogs can be possible. Why it may be an idea to take cogs off and then try the motor to see if it runs.
Motors magnet could have shifted. Though rare for these, magnets can go weak, but then it normally runs a little and then gets hot and the controllers overload triggers.
Magnets (Even round ones) can be re-magnetized. Windings... basically a three pole motor has three windings. Can't remember if it will move if a wire on one winding breaks, as I seem to recall it would take more than one winding out? But could be possible. Usually broken windings are visible. Motor buzz... If it is the wire motor windings that are broken, I am not sure if you will get motor buzz... Maybe if one coil works..
Wheels and gears are the first things to look at though. Autospell changed a word I typed so hope the rest came out OK as not wearing glasses.
Obviously if one gets motor buzz, do not keep the power on with it buzzing. A loud healthy buzz does indicate life (So you have power) reaching where it needs to be. Just no movement!) Just no movement! Uhmmm. Interesting!