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#Post#: 2665--------------------------------------------------
O-Scale Hogwarts Express engine troubles
By: quattj Date: December 22, 2020, 8:03 pm
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I have the Lionel Hogwarts Express 7-11020
(HTM) http://www.lionel.com/products/harry-pottertm-hogwartstm-express-o-gauge-4-6-0-conv-loco-5972-7-11020/
I received it as a gift many years ago. It was tested out once,
then put in storage. I brought it out for Christmas this year
and had trouble getting the locomotive to run. I ended up
having to partially disassemble it and clean oil from a few
spots where it was causing electrical contact issues. (There
was oil under the plate for the center rail contact rollers, and
oil around some of the edges of the larger plate that is
attached to). It has been working for a few days, but I just
ran it for a few minutes and it started slowing down a little
(had the throttle at maybe 50-60) and then it stopped dead on
the track. I was able to get it to do a half-second spurt in
reverse, but it won't move now. I have not taken it apart again
yet.
What should I check for to figure out what is happening? I have
the smoke unit switch turned off. I have the reversing unit
switch turned on. I've cleaned the wheels and track. The
transformer is working normally. The lights and air whistle on
the train all work as expected. The grease on the drive gears
looked good when I had it open. None of the wheels appear to be
physically stuck.
#Post#: 2666--------------------------------------------------
Re: O-Scale Hogwarts Express engine troubles
By: TrainLarry Date: December 22, 2020, 8:30 pm
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Welcome to the forum!
Sounds like a bad board or motor.
Can't find a service diagram for that loco, so can't identify
part numbers.
Perhaps some photos of the innards can be posted?
Larry
#Post#: 2667--------------------------------------------------
Re: O-Scale Hogwarts Express engine troubles
By: quattj Date: December 22, 2020, 9:34 pm
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I actually just did some troubleshooting. Tapping on it would
occasionally make it go for a second or two. I disassembled it,
cleaned a bit more oil residue, and put the body on the track to
test. There is a white wire from the circuit board that is not
soldered to the motor where it should be. It just happened to
be touching it enough to run, but the vibration or heat was
enough to break the connection. I found it by gently prodding
different parts to see if anything would start it up, and when I
poked the capacitor on the motor, it ran. Further investigation
led to the unsoldered wire.
I took this picture the first time I had it apart. The wire in
question is on the left hand side, the bottom of the two wires
on the solder point on the motor. It "looks" attached, but it
was just held in place by pressure.
[got a forum error saying the upload folder is full, so you'll
sadly have to imagine what it looks like]
I've just resoldered it, and the loco now has more considerable
pep. Better than new!
#Post#: 2669--------------------------------------------------
Re: O-Scale Hogwarts Express engine troubles
By: TrainLarry Date: December 23, 2020, 9:38 am
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Good to see you found the problem.
Enjoy your train, and have a Merry Christmas.
Larry
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