I am an avid N-scaler but purchased a MTL Z-scale train set years ago. I painted the entire set in Maine Central colors as that is my home road in N. The MEC had F3s that had F7 like side grills. Anyway, after years of storage I hauled it out and attempted to run it on some new MTL track. Wouldn't run well at all. Being experienced in N I "serviced" the loco by cleaning the wheels, the bronze contact strips inside the loco and the area of the truck that contacts the bronze strips. I gave her a touch of oil too. It made a huge difference, but she will still come to a dead stop whenever the spirit moves her and she runs hot. One curious thing is that if I hold it and allow the wheels to spin for a few seconds and then let it go it will run beautifully for a short time (a few laps) Keeping mind that it is essentially a new loco with no break in time is there anything else I can do? I have not cleaned the axles where they make contact with the truck. Thanks in advance, Clint
I have cleanned mine by taking it apart and spraying the whole mech with Nitro (RC car cleaner in a aerosol can) I then relubed the appropriate parts, gear/worm etc, and it runs like a champ. It is my experience that a hot motor means somewhere it needs oil or somewhere it has too much. (I know it sounds vauge but it really is true! ) However, be carefull when taking it apart. You really want to make sure you get everything back in the same place. The mech is not as simple as the N scale split frames.
If the engine runs well while you are holding it and the wheels slip you are essentially cleaning the wheels and the rail in that spot. so when you let go it runs until it hits a dirty spot on the wheels and or track and stops again. solution clean the track and wheels. However if the engine has been taken apart and put back to-gether again. the cats whisker contacts in the chassis that contact the top of the truck to carry power from the wheels to the chassis may be bent or damaged as they are a problem for first time mechanics when they assemble the engine the first time. There is a solution that helps and that is to install the wheel wipers from Glen Chenier. glen@teetertottertreestuff.com is his e-mail and his web site is down. He will do installs and tune ups or at least he used to.
If the motor is getting hot it is working to hard, at best it should only get warm. I've had problems with over tighting the two frames together. They are only spaced apart by a couple of plastic spacers and over torqueing the screws will cause binding in the worm gears. Don"t forget the bearings are plastic as well and will act as brakes if compressed. Just pop off the shell and loosen all the screws 1/4 to 1/2 turn and try it out. Dave
Dave, I do that all the time to my N scale locos. Don't know why I didn't on this one. I'l give it a try.
Well, she is running nicely now. I loosened the screws ala Dave and also took apart the trucks and cleaned the axles and corresponding axles holders. Any issues she has now is with the track. I don't know how you Z scalers keep your track clean! These little locos sure seem to be sensitive. Maybe it is just this model.
If you are running DC a Guagemaster electronic track cleaner makes all the difference in the world. Todd
As Garth mentioned earlier, adding wheel wipers to the F7 helps a great deal. The electrical pick-up on the stock F7 can be a bit finicky. Dan S.
This was just what I needed. Was going through the same problem and after unscrewing the frame by 1/2 turn... Fantastic. Slow speed creep is even good with NO hesitation. THANKS! :mbiggrin:
