Welcome to the forum   
Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error

Share
Options
View
Go to last post in this topic Go to first unread post in this topic
Offline number655321  
#1 Posted : 16 October 2019 17:16:09(UTC)
number655321

United States   
Joined: 16/10/2019(UTC)
Posts: 16
Location: New Jersey, Clifton
Recently my Hogwarts Express 29552 recently stopped running. All else continued to work so I figured it might be the motor and not decoder. Upon taking it apart it seems that the 2 brushes are warn down so much that there is limited contact with the rotor. I contacted an authorized Marklin repair shop and he said that there is little support for that engine due to its age. He stated that Marklin does not offer parts and to try Bachmann as he had read it was a Bachmann made motor. I know here that I have read it might also be Hornby. I know I have 2 pics I will post of the motor, and the brushes are round. I do not know what the material is, but I would assume it to be graphite. I believe I read somewhere that Bachmann also uses carbon but I do not recall where. Either way, any advice towards how to go about getting this family favorite running again would be greatly appreciated. Also in my research the motor and setup to do not match the motor and setup of either Bachmann or Hornby Hogwarts express motors. Bachmann has their Hogwarts Express motor with a single frame with a motor and a worm gear, which this does not have. Hornby does not even offer up a similar motor in their repair or purchase section of their website. 20191015_204943.jpg20191015_205023.jpg
Thanks,
Vince
Offline JohnjeanB  
#2 Posted : 16 October 2019 19:01:03(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,084
Location: Paris, France
Hi Vince

First I am very surprised that the brushes are worn off unless you kept it running for ages. But if this is Hornby or Bachman this may be different.
Unless the motor is burnt I would try to find similar size brushes and springs (if they are damaged).
If you have a dremel-like drill you may even adjust the brush diameter to exactly what is needed.
Brushes for old-style Märklin 600300 could be used (only the carbon brush one so you need 2 pairs of 600300 brushes. You will have to check the diameter and be patient.
Brushes is something I change only once on one loco every 5 years (I use regularly 32 of them) so I guess Märklin sells very few of them.
With very rare exceptions (like very old Märklin motors) all brushes are made of graphite. This is a good conductor with excellent lubrication characteristics.
Bonne réparation
Cheers
Jean
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by JohnjeanB
Offline number655321  
#3 Posted : 16 October 2019 20:55:30(UTC)
number655321

United States   
Joined: 16/10/2019(UTC)
Posts: 16
Location: New Jersey, Clifton

How would I tell if the motor is damaged or burnt? I noticed like an ozone smell emanating from the motor before it stopped running. The rotor was significantly covered with whater the medium was either carbon or graphite. In looking at brushes across the internet, it looks like they are significantly smaller than any new brush whether it is a Makrklin, Bachmann, or a generic brand. What would symptoms of a burned motor be?
Thanks,
Vince.
Offline cookee_nz  
#4 Posted : 16 October 2019 21:24:51(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,948
Location: Paremata, Wellington
The Hogwarts Express has been discussed here several times in the past. There are threads that categorically state the Märklin model is actually Bachmann, and others that state it is Hornby. Unfortunately It appears not one of them cites any reference to back up the claim either way.

For "proof" I would like to see the insides of all three, then it should be more obvious. If anyone knows 100%, and can back it up with photos, references etc please do share.

I too have the set, but have only ever run it a couple of times but the photo you posted of the motor brush plate looks nasty. In a Cheap plastic nasty kind of way. I'm sorry (really sorry) to say this but when you compare against more common production items it's glaringly obvious.

My personal view is that in this instance, M. sold themselves out by lowering their own standards and tried to ride a wave of popularity on a passing fad.

SBModellbau make quality motor kits for a range of M. models, I seem to recall they did one for the similarly-fated Thomas Tank Engine but I don't recall one for H.E.

I'm sure you will be able to find suitable brushes but you may need to do some shopping around to find them, or better still, just wait a few days for others to read this thread and more experiences or ideas to come in.

Best of luck in the quest.

Cookee
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
Offline IanC  
#5 Posted : 16 October 2019 23:05:08(UTC)
IanC

United Kingdom   
Joined: 05/03/2016(UTC)
Posts: 344
Location: England, Bedford
The Marklin Hogwarts is definitely derived from the Hornby model, NOT Bachmann. Bachmann did an even cheaper and nastier one for the USA market based on pre-historic tooling. I have both. Different marketing and licencing franchises for Europe and America. I suspect that Hornby would be the place to go for spares. Just to complicate things further, despite being Hornby it may have been made in China by the Kader factory who are the parent company of Bachmann.

IanC
Offline number655321  
#6 Posted : 16 October 2019 23:31:50(UTC)
number655321

United States   
Joined: 16/10/2019(UTC)
Posts: 16
Location: New Jersey, Clifton
Thanks to all replies thus far. As I said, it does not match the limited information that I can find on either the Bachmann or Hornby versions. The Bachmann was a solid piece with a cheap engine and worm gear. The Hornby was different than this. I have found a video on a gentleman repairing a cheap Life-Like motor that looks very similar to this. I have a few e-mails into Hornby repair shops and Marklin. The Marklins have no Marklin provided info and the Hornby has not gotten back to me. I might just find a set of brushes that fit and hope for the best.
Vince
Offline cookee_nz  
#7 Posted : 17 October 2019 00:58:47(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,948
Location: Paremata, Wellington
Originally Posted by: IanC Go to Quoted Post
The Marklin Hogwarts is definitely derived from the Hornby model, NOT Bachmann. Bachmann did an even cheaper and nastier one for the USA market based on pre-historic tooling. I have both. Different marketing and licencing franchises for Europe and America. I suspect that Hornby would be the place to go for spares. Just to complicate things further, despite being Hornby it may have been made in China by the Kader factory who are the parent company of Bachmann.

IanC


Hi Ian, thanks for that but have you something to back up your statement, something concrete would be great to settle it for sure - photos of the models or some documented and verified reference confirming the origin?

Not doubting you for a minute and from what I've read there are far more people saying it's an origin Hornby rather than Bachmann or otherwise so I'll go with that but would still like something to support it.

Cheers

Cookee
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
Offline mike c  
#8 Posted : 17 October 2019 01:12:39(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 7,880
Location: Montreal, QC
I seem to recall some posts saying that it was Hornby. Perhaps there is something on the inside of the model which would identify the manufacturer.

Either way, if it is not working, you should just wave your wand and state "locomotore" and it should start moving again...

Seriously though, this might be of some assistance:


Regards

Mike C

Edited by user 17 October 2019 18:10:17(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

thanks 1 user liked this useful post by mike c
Offline number655321  
#9 Posted : 17 October 2019 02:37:05(UTC)
number655321

United States   
Joined: 16/10/2019(UTC)
Posts: 16
Location: New Jersey, Clifton
Ok. It is definitely Hornby. The Castle locomotive schematics match it to a "t" I Just rigged it up with some aluminum foil to bridge the gap between the spring and brush. It was working. Now just to buy Hornby spring and brush. Man what a chore it was hunting information on this. Thank all of you for your help.
Vince
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by number655321
Offline xxup  
#10 Posted : 17 October 2019 02:57:53(UTC)
xxup

Australia   
Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC)
Posts: 9,457
Location: Australia
When you do fix the loco, please post the part numbers you used to do the job...
Adrian
UserPostedImage
Australia flag by abFlags.com
Offline cookee_nz  
#11 Posted : 17 October 2019 03:24:57(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,948
Location: Paremata, Wellington
Originally Posted by: number655321 Go to Quoted Post
Ok. It is definitely Hornby. The Castle locomotive schematics match it to a "t" I Just rigged it up with some aluminum foil to bridge the gap between the spring and brush. It was working. Now just to buy Hornby spring and brush. Man what a chore it was hunting information on this. Thank all of you for your help.
Vince


Hi Vince, yes I am also confident that it is Hornby. Are you able to post the schematic images you refer to or a link to them and any other helpful information you found? May save someone else (even me one day) having to research it all again.

Cheers
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
Offline number655321  
#12 Posted : 17 October 2019 22:52:29(UTC)
number655321

United States   
Joined: 16/10/2019(UTC)
Posts: 16
Location: New Jersey, Clifton
Here is the link to the castle class Hornby: https://www.newmodellers...nty-and-castle-class.pdf Now I am not going to guarantee that this is for all models of the Hogwarts Express because I do believe that there might be different models; the gentleman that I contacted was surprised that this particular model was not a Bachmann. Again, this was set 29552. canvas.png I just need new brushes/springs to get it working.
Thanks all
Vince
Offline Boxbrownie  
#13 Posted : 21 October 2019 17:50:41(UTC)
Boxbrownie

United Kingdom   
Joined: 11/10/2019(UTC)
Posts: 14
Location: Cornwall
The Hogwarts engine you show there is the Hornby version, it has the Hornby (and old Lima) Ringfield Motor assembly (a bloody awful machine) if you need spares best place I know is Peter Spares in the UK, although no doubt there will be other suppliers world wide, but I know Peter Spares supply genuine Hornby parts.
Best regards.........David
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Boxbrownie
Offline number655321  
#14 Posted : 24 October 2019 23:44:01(UTC)
number655321

United States   
Joined: 16/10/2019(UTC)
Posts: 16
Location: New Jersey, Clifton
So I got it working. Have an update email set at peters spares for ehen they get the necessary partd in. Got a replacement used off of ebay. The springs were shot on my model; about half of what the new used ones I got are. So it works.
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by number655321
Offline AJH4  
#15 Posted : 08 December 2019 15:34:26(UTC)
AJH4

United States   
Joined: 09/03/2011(UTC)
Posts: 41
Given how quickly these models seem to fail and the lack of decent parts is it safe to assume that these are not great models to buy used unless you really are willing to put in some effort? They pop up once in a while on eBay and higher asking prices seem to match the Marklin name and the Harry Potter theme, but not the reality of the quality. I was thinking of maybe trying to get one, but I think I am starting to get over that seeing how many are sold for parts or not functioning.
Offline Will  
#16 Posted : 12 December 2019 02:51:50(UTC)
Will

United States   
Joined: 26/08/2002(UTC)
Posts: 320
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Originally Posted by: AJH4 Go to Quoted Post
Given how quickly these models seem to fail and the lack of decent parts is it safe to assume that these are not great models to buy used unless you really are willing to put in some effort? They pop up once in a while on eBay and higher asking prices seem to match the Marklin name and the Harry Potter theme, but not the reality of the quality. I was thinking of maybe trying to get one, but I think I am starting to get over that seeing how many are sold for parts or not functioning.


I'm in the exact same position. Starting to feel better about not pulling the trigger on sets I've seen on eBay in the past.....
Offline IanC  
#17 Posted : 12 December 2019 13:05:36(UTC)
IanC

United Kingdom   
Joined: 05/03/2016(UTC)
Posts: 344
Location: England, Bedford
Things to consider: it's basically a Hornby and not Marklin quality, it's been adapted for 3 rail AC operation. Apart from the slider and a DC / AC converter there should be shedloads of Hornby Castles to cannibalise for spares. In my experience, the metal tyres on the plastic drive wheels can slip sideways and cause an eccentric motion so need to be pushed back on concentrically occasionally. Finally, it's out of scale at OO 1:76 and looks a bit odd alongside other Marklin HO at 1:87 scale. But it's fun and the kids will love it. The HP sets for the American market were Bachmann formerly Airfix models and far inferior to the Hornby / Marklin offering.
Users browsing this topic
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

| Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2024, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.816 seconds.