Nice job.. well done! I had the same problem with mine but solved it a different way. I fitted a Strathpeffer CD motor kit, hard wired a DCC decoder and fitted a stay alive. It now runs perfectly.
Well done Keith. There are several people on RUclips that seem to love stripping down motors, scraping commutators, scrubbing and oiling to the nth degree. Yet as you have shown here the problems are usually much more subtle. I have 2 tips. Firstly check the spring isn't missing on the drawbar. This ensures good conductivity through to the chassis....Or as you have done bypass this entirely. Secondly put a small drop of oil on the tender axles. Hornby ringfields ran smooth and quiet when new, but over time the steel axle and alloy chassis makes a black oxidized layer that causes poor pick up. Some people mistakenly think these motors work better when "warmed up" when in fact it's just breaking down this layer that does the trick. A small.bit of 3 in 1 or similar is all that is required and it self cleans. You are correct, when these locos came out they were a massive leap in detail. Kind regards Gary
Thanks Gary for your very helpful reply. I have just watched your video showing double headed 9Fs....most impressive, although a bit too large for my layout and its sharp curves, Regards Keith
That was of particular interest to me as I also have a Hornby Schools loco that I bought via eBay to enhance my Southern Railway layout. The tender drives are appalling, and I even had to get a replacement unit. The running quality was bad so my solution was to wire some jumper cables to pick-ups on the adjacent coach. It made a considerable difference, but it does prevent uncoupling and running around the train. Now that I have seen your method, It seems a much better arrangement so when I get a chance, I shall try modifying my loco as you did.
Keith can you show where you wired the pickups for impoved running, negating the depedancy of the brass pin on the loco? I have a few old tender drive loco's that are still poor runners and I believe it is the poor contact with the pin, which I try to keep clean.
thanks that was interesting. I have two Schools on my Kent Coast layout. They are one of my favourite locos. Never saw them in BR revenue earning service but saw them stored at Fratton and then Stratford, I think. Have seen all three preserved examples and in steam on the NYMR. After Christmas I'm going to have to do a major rebuild of board and track
Such a beautiful loco, so pleased you were able to mostly solve the problem, enough to be able to run her.
One of my favourite locos.....but then I have many favourites!
Nice job.. well done! I had the same problem with mine but solved it a different way. I fitted a Strathpeffer CD motor kit, hard wired a DCC decoder and fitted a stay alive. It now runs perfectly.
Excellent.....I haven't yet added a CD motor to any of my models yet.....maybe a task for a very rainy day!
Well done Keith. There are several people on RUclips that seem to love stripping down motors, scraping commutators, scrubbing and oiling to the nth degree. Yet as you have shown here the problems are usually much more subtle. I have 2 tips. Firstly check the spring isn't missing on the drawbar. This ensures good conductivity through to the chassis....Or as you have done bypass this entirely. Secondly put a small drop of oil on the tender axles. Hornby ringfields ran smooth and quiet when new, but over time the steel axle and alloy chassis makes a black oxidized layer that causes poor pick up. Some people mistakenly think these motors work better when "warmed up" when in fact it's just breaking down this layer that does the trick. A small.bit of 3 in 1 or similar is all that is required and it self cleans.
You are correct, when these locos came out they were a massive leap in detail. Kind regards Gary
Thanks Gary for your very helpful reply. I have just watched your video showing double headed 9Fs....most impressive, although a bit too large for my layout and its sharp curves, Regards Keith
Great improvement 👍🏻
That was of particular interest to me as I also have a Hornby Schools loco that I bought via eBay to enhance my Southern Railway layout.
The tender drives are appalling, and I even had to get a replacement unit. The running quality was bad so my solution was to wire some jumper cables to pick-ups on the adjacent coach.
It made a considerable difference, but it does prevent uncoupling and running around the train. Now that I have seen your method, It seems a much better arrangement so when I get a chance, I shall try modifying my loco as you did.
Hope it works for you Mervyn. BTW I love your Southern Layout, Regards Keith
Keith can you show where you wired the pickups for impoved running, negating the depedancy of the brass pin on the loco? I have a few old tender drive loco's that are still poor runners and I believe it is the poor contact with the pin, which I try to keep clean.
Hugh, the wires are soldered to the brass brush arms on the right hand side of the motor, looking forwards, Regards Keith
In early 2000s Hornby added double pickups on their tender driven Schools Class as standard
thanks that was interesting. I have two Schools on my Kent Coast layout. They are one of my favourite locos. Never saw them in BR revenue earning service but saw them stored at Fratton and then Stratford, I think. Have seen all three preserved examples and in steam on the NYMR. After Christmas I'm going to have to do a major rebuild of board and track
How do you remove the tender body ?
The tender body is just a push fit on the chassis....gently lift it off.