1976 Lionel with the dreaded pancake motor

[kboyette]

So I bought this old Lionel GP30 not knowing what kind of motor it had. Turns out it has the pancake in it. When I first got it, it ran but clearly needed maintenance. I took it apart, greased the gears, cleaned the commutator, carefully put it back together, and now it doesn't run at all. Only the light comes on. The motor axle gets hot, so I know electricity is reaching it and the motor turns easily when I prod it with a screwdriver. I know these motors are crap, but I read somewhere that Lionel's were better than others. Any hope for this thing other than "throw it away"? I can't believe there's no modern replacement for these, considering how many of them are in existence. I don't have the knowledge to rig one out of a motor poached from other devices.

[jayl1]

Why not pull the motor & gears & make it a dummy?

[kboyette]

As a last resort, but I want to exhaust my options first.

[Larry]

Originally Posted by kboyette

As a last resort, but I want to exhaust my options first.

Did you check the brass contacts from the frame to the trucks? Sometimes when you take stuff apart these drop out or are not put back in the right way.

[ianacole]

Can you pull the motor and apply power directly to it to see if it spins?

[kboyette]

Originally Posted by Larry

Did you check the brass contacts from the frame to the trucks? Sometimes when you take stuff apart these drop out or are not put back in the right way.

Do you mean the wipers from the power pickup wheels? I didn't mess with the non-motorized truck. I'm starting to wonder if I might have broken one of those tiny wires going to the windings. They're about the size of a human hair. I'll have to check when I get home tonight.

[kboyette]

Originally Posted by ianacole

Can you pull the motor and apply power directly to it to see if it spins?

I just did this and it still doesn't work. Next step is to get inside it to see if I damaged the windings.

[kboyette]

Ok this is weird. Rather than taking it apart again, I put it on the track and turned on the power. Using a toothpick, I turned the rotor through the little holes in the housing till it started wanting to turn on its own, much like the starter on a car. It started going, but now only wants to run in one direction. Reversing the power stops it from running again. I can live with this, but I'd sure like to know why. Thanks to everyone who replied!

[blackz28]

www.nwsl.com look up a new motor