Hornby L&Y Pug

[Caledonian]

I have three of these wee beasties. Two of them work fine, allowing for the usual problems with points and dirty track - and sometimes dirty points.

 

The other one has been problematic since the moment it was popped out of the box and placed on the track.

 

I've done a fair bit of tinkering with it and when I can coax it into running it can do so sweeter and more smoothly than the other two. Trouble is, without warning it will seize up.

 

The motor, I think, is fine.

 

The problem seems to be with the running gear and a tendency to throw the front wheels to the right [as viewed when looking at the bottom] and rear ones to the left - I realised this when I noticed a groove being gouged in the plastic motion cover. Removing the covers not only improved the running but to my mind the appearance as well, but it hasn't cured it.

 

Any suggestions?

[Gordon A]

If there is that much side play in your wheels, reduce by adding washers. This will involve removing wheels from axles.

 

Have you checked the back to back is correct? 

 

If it cannot be fixed a new chassis or a High Level chassis kit.

 

Gordon A

[Buhar]

If there is that much side play in your wheels, reduce by adding washers. This will involve removing wheels from axles.

 

Have you checked the back to back is correct? 

 

If it cannot be fixed a new chassis or a High Level chassis kit.

 

Gordon A

You might be able to slide slit fibre washers over the axles without having to remove the wheels. Remove about 1.5mm from the ring and it should distort to go round without falling off.

[Caledonian]

If there is that much side play in your wheels, reduce by adding washers. This will involve removing wheels from axles.

 

Have you checked the back to back is correct? 

 

If it cannot be fixed a new chassis or a High Level chassis kit.

 

Gordon A

 

Back to backs seem ok.

I don't get the same side-play on the others - and virtually none on 11250 which the oldest of the three. It may have to be washers although I'm looking suspiciously at the gear worm being just slightly off centre

You might be able to slide slit fibre washers over the axles without having to remove the wheels. Remove about 1.5mm from the ring and it should distort to go round without falling off.

That sounds a lot easier than washers. Any suggestions as to surce?

[Buhar]

That sounds a lot easier than washers. Any suggestions as to source?

Peco

http://www.petersspares.com/peco-r9-fibre-washers-0008-18-hole-dia-3mm-wagon-accessory-approx-50.ir?cName=peco-accessories

[kevinlms]

 I'm looking suspiciously at the gear worm being just slightly off centre

That is a possibility too.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

I don't get the same side-play on the others - and virtually none on 11250 which the oldest of the three. It may have to be washers although I'm looking suspiciously at the gear worm being just slightly off centre...

 That's the way to a correction: replicate the better performing specimens. The design is OK in fundamentals but the quality of the motor retaining and gear train parts, and their assembly, is a little 'hit and miss'. You can see that it has the potential to run sweetly, it may just need a slight change to motor alignment, gear meshing or sideplay to bring it consistently to its 'sweet spot'. Tinker time in short.

[Caledonian]

 That's the way to a correction: replicate the better performing specimens. The design is OK in fundamentals but the quality of the motor retaining and gear train parts, and their assembly, is a little 'hit and miss'. You can see that it has the potential to run sweetly, it may just need a slight change to motor alignment, gear meshing or sideplay to bring it consistently to its 'sweet spot'. Tinker time in short.

 

Yes indeed, a bit of tinkering and apart from tightening up a frighteningly loose crank-pin I'm not entirely sure exactly what it was that did it, but it now runs well and as reliably as these beasties ever are in either direction, only trouble is it runs almost silently backwards but has a ferociously loud growl in forward gear. More tinkering I fear.