Has anyone serviced a Thomas the Tank engine?
I have two that need service and the first one doesn’t work now that I serviced it!
I suspect that I lost some springs when I popped the first engine apart. Am I right?
ThoseThomas engines were built by Lionel.
U likely lost the brush springs when U took the wheels assemblies out…
Ft & rear axles have P/U brushes and springs, none under the center
axle…
Paul R…
I’ll have to crawl under the desk and see if I can find them. Thanks!
Never serviced one Doug but have gutted and cut them up
Don’t you have a picture of your last cut up?
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/005.jpg)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/CVRR%20Utility/033.jpg)
Sorry Doug …that’s all I got? It’s a Bachmann unit anyway not Lionel
Doug, check out George Schreyer’s site. He has some info that may be helpful. Also, Mik, who hangs out here, seems to be quite knowledgeable about Thomas.
Thanks Steve. I’ll have to get these done, the engines are making me nervous!
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/doug_arnold/_forumfiles/Thomas.jpg)
Send them my way Doug …I will tune them up for you!
I remember one LS dealer saying to me that Thomas is to large scale trains what Doctor Pepper’s is to Chateau Lafitte.
I responded by asking how much Thomas stuff he sold by comparison with his other ranges of merchandise. He advised me that he was unable to keep up with the demand for Thomas stuff, especially around Christmas.
I guess for some, that Thomas and Friends is a bit like Barney the singing dinosaur - you hate 'em. but you find that they have inextricably wungled their way into your life.
tac
I figure if it gets kids interested in trains…
I’ve been amazed how many kids have asked about Thomas on the club layout. That’s why I got them.
I totally agree. On the other paw, for reasons I can’t quite figure out, Thomas et al just makes me cringe.
ANYTHING that gets kids away from a TV, a cellphone, an X-Box or anything like them just has to be better.
tac
It’s probably those eyes that make you cringe!
The eyes are fine… its the fact that they actually move! Kinda creepy when you see a locomotive rolling down the track and he is watching butterflies in the pasture instead of the rails ahead!
Doug. yours are the Lionel ones. The brass wheel treads are crud magnets. cleaning both face and the back helps… for a while.
The other thing with these is you’ll want to zip tie the motor in place if you plan on pulling more than about 3 cars. The plastic well mount will flex as the motor warms up and the gears unmesh.
One of these days I’ll have to do something with my tarted up James. I haven’t run him in years, but I’ve got more in him than he’s worth since the B’mann version came out