Hello, hope all is well.

That is a great locomotive, a Marklin Dealer special model usually signifying limited production from 1994. Here is information I found about it in the z weekly. That is basically a BR 10 with a special paint job and streamlining panels.

http://ztrainsweekly.com...-br-10-steam-locomotive/

Just think, a model almost 30 years old, still looks new and has already shown you some signs of life. It is amazing how these well designed jewels just seem to keep going and going.

You are right, Hardened Oil Syndrome (HOS) may have set in on this locomotive. It will cause the problems you have described. If not cleaned out, this locomotive may run but might be erratic and run hot, eventually burning out the motor. Since you have experience with N gauge, the z scale is not really that much different, mostly it is smaller. The one issue I can see ahead if you decide to dive in is that with the steam locomotives the drive wheels once removed for cleaning, must be re-synchronized (a process you might know as quartering). You can search this site for a discussion on this process. Most users new to Z don’t start working on locomotives with this complexity, but your experience may give you an advantage. There aren’t that many parts, but they are small and easy to lose. Once one goes missing, you likely cannot get the from Marklin but will need to check the secondary market. Good luck, a steady hand and courage will likely get you thru. Just take your time. If you have a small screwdriver, that is usually all you need. A ultrasonic cleaner is helpful and gets your parts really clean, but not for the motor. If you have some lite oil, these usually do not harden. Synthetic oil works well. If you decided to upgrade to a 5 pole motor it is E211909, good luck finding one, but who knows. I don’t have this locomotive, so am not familiar with what is available. Brushes are available if needed, you will probably find these.

I searched the Marklin website and did not locate a parts breakdown and diagram. I will keep looking and share what I find, but I might not find this exact model but an equivalent. If I find something, this diagram will give you an idea how this is assembled. I took photos of each step when I started. The position of the drive wheels in a photo might help as long as somebody was not in this locomotive before you.

It might be a challenge, but it is not impossible and you will likely get this locomotive working like it should in no time.

Best wishes. Enjoy.

Dwight

P.s. found diagram

https://static.maerklin....d044ff55d21434542306.pdf

Hello, I know what you mean.

For the past several weeks I have had a Br212 Sersa apart and back together about six times searching for a way the make it quiet and smooth. It is a surprise when even new parts don’t make a difference.

This has not happened to me before. When my solution does not solve the problem, I have to put it away and think about it for a few days. I guess it goes this way sometimes.

Best not to rush into things, enjoy the moment.

Take good care.

Dwight

Hello. Yes I agree. This was a new old stock item off of eBay. Turns out it is closer to old than new.

I noticed the handrail was a bit damaged, but went ahead and bid on it anyway anyway. As I mentioned, I have taken this one apart more than enough times. The original motor was so bad, it would burn your hand after running three or four minutes. I had to use tweeters to take it off of the rails. This is the first series of v100/212s, 8869# group and they seem to have more issues. Things have been refined in the bogie and wheels area and the wheel contacts to circuit board. Despite adding a few new parts, and a different motor I cannot get this one to run quietly. Seems to lack speed as well.

Sometimes I think someone dropped this locomotive at one time or another another. Perhaps this is what twisted the handrail on one corner. I have noticed a single drop on the floor will really influence running characteristics. Ouch. A soft carpet minimize damage, but it has never run as quiet and smooth as it did before.

I might never be truly satisfied with this one, but I cannot give up on it, after all it is the Sersa.

Thanks for your observations. Take good care.

Dwight

Another piece to put in my 'Information' folder - thank you.