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+--- Thread: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken (/thread-3880.html)
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - chrisjo - 11-20-2019
1. Apply power direct to the motor terminals (if you can see them, I forget which style of motor housing Annie has, and I don't have time to check 'cos I'm off to the dentist soon
). Whatever power the motor is normally supposed to be getting, double it. See this thread....2. If you can see the stub-axle that comes out the back end of the motor (there's a little slot next to it), grip it with a pair of narrow tipped pliers and give it a little turn, then try again.
If neither of these works (and 9 times out of 10 they will), the motor is dead........
(later that same day)
<table><tr><td>........hmm! I just had a look inside Annie, and it looks like a bit of a challenge just to get at the motor! I'm not saying it's not do-able, just that you need to be sitting down with a couple of hours to spare before you even think about it. You'll need a triangular screwdriver, and one of the three screws is hidden inside the lower battery compartment. You're going to have to go in anyway to replace the wiring, so go for it.</td><td>
![[Image: image.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/T53fPy27/image.png)
</td></tr></table>
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - gmeehanfilms - 11-20-2019
Oh don't worry about the triangle screws, I've got those sorted
Though the wiring does look a little complicated, and i'm not sure what I would use to give direct power to the motor?
![[Image: IMG-20191121-112617.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/hh5WWSzr/IMG-20191121-112617.jpg)
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - chrisjo - 11-20-2019
(11-20-2019, 10:29 PM)gmeehanfilms Wrote: ...and i'm not sure what I would use to give direct power to the motor?one of these with 2x AAA batteries in it, but I would unsolder the red wire from the motor first in case you ended up putting to many volts through the other electronics that are in there.
![[Image: image.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/5Q2qgdqK/image.png)
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - gmeehanfilms - 11-20-2019
Okay, and I test the wires directly to the motor compartment like such?
![[Image: IMG-20191121-113307.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/56qbvhkW/IMG-20191121-113307.jpg)
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - chrisjo - 11-20-2019
yes, but disconnect the existing red wire first (see edited post above). It doesn't matter which way round you connect the battery pack, the motor will run either way.
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - gmeehanfilms - 11-20-2019
Perfect, i'll try that
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - Super - 11-20-2019
I was under the impression, from watching the video, that the motor runs. With it all opened like you have just reinstall the battery in the tender and re-connect the coupling wires.
Have you inspected the axle gear? If not, remove the axle wheel assembly and hold the white gear in one hand and try to spin the wheels. If the wheels turn then the gear is bad. Inspect the gear closely looking for cracks, long ways between the teeth. On another note those rubber traction tires look pretty worn, might be a good time to replace them now that you have it apart.
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - chrisjo - 11-20-2019
Ah. It might have been a good idea if I'd viewed the video. Yes, the motor runs so as you say it's a gearbox issue.
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - gmeehanfilms - 11-21-2019
I think I've found the issue:
https://youtu.be/9cZHD-8LX1E
Just realized the switch was off! With the switch on however, the gear with the spring attached seems to go out of place a bit.
RE: Steam Along Thomas Coupling broken - Super - 11-21-2019
The gear with the spring is the On/Off gear which moves and engages (On) and disengages (Off) in and out with the switch movement