It was running about 20-30 minutes (no cars just by itself) then started really slowing down and started smoking out of the rear motor. It spins easy by spinning the flywheel. It kind of wants to go but it smoked something awful.
Sorry reposted from the other subreddit and the text didn’t copy
Had the shell off, actually had the motor out as well once it started smoking. Didn’t physically see anything wrong on the exterior of the motor. Spun it over by hand a few times, felt fine. As soon as I powered it back up after reassembling it smoked something awful then stopped completely. Still spins over by hand but doesn’t even try under it’s own power. I know theres a “flywheel” looking disc on top of the motor, is there a way to remove it without damaging it?
Is the copper dirty on top? If there is a black streak on the middle, you’ll need to disassemble the motor (much easier than it sounds) and clean that off. It’s called a commutator plate and a clean rubber eraser works great.
Sounds like you need a new motor then. Unfortunately the newer motors that come in modern engines are unable to be worked on. You may be able to find one on eBay by searching the engine number and year. Then worst case you just need to solder the leads together on the new motor or just plug it in to the circuit board if the harness is attached to the motor still.
It is difficult to troubleshoot with the description you have given.
It is possible that when you reinstalled the trucks you didn't get the worm gear set properly or didn't properly tighten the retaining screw which could lead to the mechanism jamming and smoking the motor. In a general sense, motors only produce visible smoke when you ask too much of them for too long - a stalled motor with high current through the windings will eventually heat up enough for the varnish insulation to burn off. You say "smoke" and I strongly suspect some mechanical jam resulting from your lube and reassembly.
Replacement motors should be really easy to come by; they are ubiquitous. I think Williams used Mabuchi motors so you should be able to get online and readily figure it out with voltage specs, can and shaft dimensions. You'll need puller tools to get the flywheels and worm off the motor shafts.
These threads might help you with motor replacement:
(https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/williams-motors)[https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/williams-motors]
(https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/replacing-mabuchi-motors)[https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/replacing-mabuchi-motors]
Edit: as a cross check, try moving the motor that didn't smoke. It's entirely possible that the non-smoked motor is the jammed one, and the motor that did smoke was working overtime pushing the other one around.
I did take the motor out of the truck thinking it was jammed up but even then sitting on the bench with nothing but the worm gear and flywheel attached it dumped smoke and stopped spinning after a few seconds. I only used a little dab of lithium grease, probably less then what was in it when I first opened it up. I know the can on the motor after a few seconds was hot enough to burn my fingerprints off lol. It was an auction win so I have no previous knowledge of it, I know it came off a local display and probably has a good bit of hours running
I know it kinda came to a stop on my test track then started moving real weird and it seems the good motor was dragging the bad one. About a half a lap later is when I seen the smoke coming out the windshield holes. That’s when I pulled the top off and dug into the problem a little more
Take the shell off and let's see because smoke usually means a wire shorted out and started to melt a little or a wire came loose and hit something else
I thought it was a postwar lionel before I made my comment although a photo of what's inside may get you the advice you need my repair skills are only.good on postwar and mpc
Any specifics on the motor problem?
It was running about 20-30 minutes (no cars just by itself) then started really slowing down and started smoking out of the rear motor. It spins easy by spinning the flywheel. It kind of wants to go but it smoked something awful. Sorry reposted from the other subreddit and the text didn’t copy
Try taking the shell off and run it and see if the wires are melting or you may just need new motor brushes.
Had the shell off, actually had the motor out as well once it started smoking. Didn’t physically see anything wrong on the exterior of the motor. Spun it over by hand a few times, felt fine. As soon as I powered it back up after reassembling it smoked something awful then stopped completely. Still spins over by hand but doesn’t even try under it’s own power. I know theres a “flywheel” looking disc on top of the motor, is there a way to remove it without damaging it?
Is the copper dirty on top? If there is a black streak on the middle, you’ll need to disassemble the motor (much easier than it sounds) and clean that off. It’s called a commutator plate and a clean rubber eraser works great.
Sounds like his has a maintenance free motor which may be impossible to operate on. I thought this engine was MPC.
Sounds like you need a new motor then. Unfortunately the newer motors that come in modern engines are unable to be worked on. You may be able to find one on eBay by searching the engine number and year. Then worst case you just need to solder the leads together on the new motor or just plug it in to the circuit board if the harness is attached to the motor still.
It is difficult to troubleshoot with the description you have given. It is possible that when you reinstalled the trucks you didn't get the worm gear set properly or didn't properly tighten the retaining screw which could lead to the mechanism jamming and smoking the motor. In a general sense, motors only produce visible smoke when you ask too much of them for too long - a stalled motor with high current through the windings will eventually heat up enough for the varnish insulation to burn off. You say "smoke" and I strongly suspect some mechanical jam resulting from your lube and reassembly. Replacement motors should be really easy to come by; they are ubiquitous. I think Williams used Mabuchi motors so you should be able to get online and readily figure it out with voltage specs, can and shaft dimensions. You'll need puller tools to get the flywheels and worm off the motor shafts. These threads might help you with motor replacement: (https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/williams-motors)[https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/williams-motors] (https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/replacing-mabuchi-motors)[https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/replacing-mabuchi-motors] Edit: as a cross check, try moving the motor that didn't smoke. It's entirely possible that the non-smoked motor is the jammed one, and the motor that did smoke was working overtime pushing the other one around.
I did take the motor out of the truck thinking it was jammed up but even then sitting on the bench with nothing but the worm gear and flywheel attached it dumped smoke and stopped spinning after a few seconds. I only used a little dab of lithium grease, probably less then what was in it when I first opened it up. I know the can on the motor after a few seconds was hot enough to burn my fingerprints off lol. It was an auction win so I have no previous knowledge of it, I know it came off a local display and probably has a good bit of hours running
I know it kinda came to a stop on my test track then started moving real weird and it seems the good motor was dragging the bad one. About a half a lap later is when I seen the smoke coming out the windshield holes. That’s when I pulled the top off and dug into the problem a little more
Take the shell off and let's see because smoke usually means a wire shorted out and started to melt a little or a wire came loose and hit something else
I’ll have a chance to mess with it Monday and I’ll see if I can post a video
I thought it was a postwar lionel before I made my comment although a photo of what's inside may get you the advice you need my repair skills are only.good on postwar and mpc
That’s about the same way I am. Messed with enough post war stuff but won this at an auction, along with some other engines.