Alright first off I am don't usually do this type of stuff so I am a rookie. I think I have a dead motor as when I put the locomotive on the track I get no motion, and when I took it apart and did a continuity test I got nothing. When it is on the track I can get the light to come on with the DCC controller but nothing else will work. Any suggestions while I have it apart for making sure it is the motor? I have read you can test with a 9 volt battery, if so how? And man if it is the motor, the wires are super tiny and I haven't soldered in ages Thanks for your help! And remember I am new at this motor testing stuff! I am kind of amazed I even got it apart without destroying it I really don't like doing this kind of stuff, eye's are bad, shaky hands, just plain old. But I also hate having a non working locomotive. Of course if it's the DCC board time for a new loco, might even get a few anyway, but would like to know if I can do this!
Well for a start with a 9 volt battery just touch the terminals either to the wheels of one axle, or to the motor leads. I would try to spin the motor shaft with my fingers first just to see if it turns. If the unit has some age on it it may just be gummed up bearings which in that case a small drop of LaBelle's oil on each end where the shaft goes into the motor could loosen it up. Don't have Labelle's a light sewing machine oil also works well. You may have a fried board but the motor may still be good. In that case you can go to Bachmann's site and under spare parts for N scale they may have a replacement board for the F-7.
Can you see where the gray and orange wires are soldered to on the motor? If yes, you need to apply power there to see if the motor spins. If no, can you locate the pads where the wires are soldered to on the circuit board? Apply power to those pads. You will need to get some small test leads to get the 9V power to those pads or figure out something other way. Another method is to use a multimeter and put it on the resistance scale (Ohm) and see if there is some measured resistance in the motor. If they there is no resistance then there's probably a short in the windings. Also do what John suggested about spinning the motor by hand. It should spin freely. If not, then you have a motor problem. Put a gun to my head and I say it's the board and not the motor. Electronics are easier to blow than a motor.
