A quick guide to servicing Wrenn locomotives with vertical armatures, specifically W2225, Coronation Class, City of Stoke on Trent. Thanks for watching! samstrains samstrains
Excellent video, many thanks. 46235 has been languishing in the loft for 27 years - yes, 27 - unloved and untouched. She is now running ‘like clockwork’ as one might say. Her sister 46242 is being prepared for similar treatment with, hopefully, the same outcome. Thanks again.
Good info Sam. Just a suggestion on the bearing adjustments. I suggest using a ring or spanner rather than pliers. It will give far better control setting the bearing pressure on the armature shaft
Great video . Worth also mentioning that these Wren locos are exactly the same as the earlier Hornby Dublo ones : my son has a Wren City of Glasgow and I have a Hornby Dublo City of London . Both are exactly the same other than the different couplings on the two brands .
Excellent video. Exactly what I needed to see to have a go at my recently acquired non-working City of Glasgow. However, I wish you had used a small spanner to undo the top bearing of the armature rather than a clumsy pair of pliers. Hate seeing people use pliers on nuts, unless you are a plumber!
Wow! That was clear as a bell and unbelievably helpful. I know nothing about servicing model trains but have a bunch of 30+ year old locos that have never been run (still in the original boxes). Long story why not but now, in my old age, I am trying to get them operating. With your guidance I might succeed. Thank you!!
Hi Aaron, thanks so much for the lovely comment - really glad you found this useful! Glad to hear you're getting your old locos running again - feel free to browse my other restoration videos for tri-ang/ringfield motor locomotives too! All the best, Sam :)
Really helpful. I’m just overhauling my Dublo 2 rail City of London. It was particularly good to learn how to adjust the armature but I still can’t see how to get it out. I’ve tried wiggling it, turning the worm drive etc. But no good. I’ll go through all the comments just in case.
Very good. I've wanted to get a Wrenn for a long time. I've been following prices on eBay for a while; major variation in prices according to mintness. Thanks.
Hi Gareth, thanks very much for the comment - you're absolutely right, the prices vary hugely! I prefer to buy ones with very slight defects (dodgy motor, slight paint cracks), and then fix them up - it nearly always works out much cheaper! All the best, Sam :)
I love the videos you do on maintenance, so clear and easy to understand. I would like to ask if the technique for removing the body would be the same for the Hornby Tornado model? I wanted to open it up to see where the DCC chip would go when the time came to upgrade, but I didn't want to start removing every screw if it was not necessary. Plus the more screws one removes the greater the potential for things going missing or not going back in.
Thanks so much Daniel - really glad you find them easy to understand! With the Hornby Tornado, there's just one screw under the front bogey - remove that, and the body should slide out! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Thank you very much, if I may ask as well do you have any knowledge of basic weathering or know any videos that can explain it without the use of an airbrush? Kindest regards
A very, very useful video, thanks. I hesitate to undo screws when I don't know what is on the other side. My Wrenn tank loco looks just like this inside. Bought for me in 1977, I have only just started running it, having returned to the hobby. It did not need cleaning although I oiled it in the places recommended in the box, and after 40 years it runs fine, except every now and then it falters and gives a screeching noise, then goes again, for just under a minute then another screech. I think I have missed something that needs some oil, but can't figure out where. Have you or any subscribers experienced anything like this?
Cheers for the very helpful video. I have dismantled, cleaned, sorted the damaged pickups on my recently acquired Wrenn City of Glasgow of unknown history. The original problem was that the whole of the motion was jammed up. Upon reassembly I found that the coupling rods still jammed up, I think, because they are too loose on the wheel pins due to wear. The train will run if it is on the track because the track moves the front four wheels, but if I run it on its back so that the drive to the front wheels is only through the coupling rod, the whole thing jams up at the point in rotation where the rods can not help each other because of the slop in the driving wheel coupling rod pins. Have you come across this, and have you any advice? Assuming my description makes sense! LOL! Thanks.
No problem Tom, glad you were able to have a go! Yes I've had one or two puzzling examples myself, some sounding exactly as you describe. You could be onto something with the wear in the crankpins/rods. I've never tried to dismantle the valve gear of a Wrenn (thought better of it), so sorry not to be much more help to you :( Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Hi Sam, I hope you are well. Great video very professional. I Always wanted a hornby dublo three rail set as a kid but, ended up with a triang goods set, Which I loved.However at 71 years of age now I finally got one. Some rail and controller from the car boot sale and a loco from ebay. Play worn but it ran for a bit. then a puff of smoke from the armature. It was short circuit across the brush carriers. I serviced it following your video. Finding that the insulated brush had become uninsulated.I was relieved to find the armature was ok. I cearfully removed the brass brush carrier with a bent punch and heated the block to help only to find there was a hard tube of insulated card stuff. I managed to get it back and long story short (sorry) it now runs OK. What I wanted to ask you is - Have you had this problem before, and is ther a supply of this card stuff tube insulating material? I can't find any on the web. Probably because I dont know what to google. Any comments by yourself would be helpfull, as I'm pretty sure the problem may arrise again! Very kindest regards Phill W P.S. I didn't know about the little balls either, Luckily Mine were there and stayed in. Thanks again!
Thanks a lot Philip, hope you're well too! Glad to hear you managed to get yours sorted - very well done! I don't think I've had that particular issue before - sounds like you did a good job fixing that! Thanks for watching - Sam :)
Hi there! Generally there's not much to be done on Percy - you just need to clean the wheels the normal way, and also apply small drops of oil to the moving parts... as long as he's clean, that should do it! :D All the best, Sam :)
Hi George, I've been using grade 100 steel ones, though it's not too important - they won't be under much pressure; I'd just recommend keeping them lubricated of course, All the best, Sam :)
Hmm, I think, from a toy point of view, it's sometimes easier to manufacture an engine with just 4 wheels rather than 6! Those are just toys though - you're unlikely to find a 'model' of thomas with only 4 wheels - though I think there once was a Hornby clockwork one with just 4 wheels... but that's it! All the best, Sam :)
Hi Ian, you can message me by going to my TH-cam channel, clicking 'About' and then clicking 'send message'! Alternatively, you can email 'samstrains@outlook.com' at any time :) Yeah I do have a Railroad 9F - though it's not evening star, it's just the BR black one - you can see it on my channel, and I definitely recommend them! All the best mate, Sam :)
what would you use to clean the side rods. e.g. If you were get a second hand wrenn loco sometimes the valve gear and side rods would need a clean how and what could i use to clean them Sam? :)
Hi, the Wrenn ones are awkward, because you can't get them off easily! Normally I take Hornby ones off, and shine them up with a wire-wheel on the dremell, you could try it with this, but be super careful! Cheers, Sam :)
Hi mate! There's really not that much to be done to service an 0-4-0, just a wheel clean and some oil is all they need for a basic service! Cheeers, Sam :)
Hi Sam. I picked up on your comment about crap magnets and current. I'm pretty dim when it comes to electrics. I've a couple of Lima 37/47 locos that obviously house the pancake motor. I've noticed when servicing that the magnets don't appear to be very magnetic. In your opinion, would it be worth installing the neo magnet and if so, would I get a better performance from these locos? Cheers Sam. Dave
Hi Dave, yes those magnets aren't terribly strong - though they do act directly upon the armature, unlike the tri-ang or wrenn ones which act through a metal 'keep'. It might be worth using the neo magnets - but just be aware that they cause excessive wear on the bearings, and have been known to drive motors to an early grave due to this! Generally my advice is this: if the original magnets are weakened, and the loco runs badly as a result + you have no way to remagnetize them, you've got nothing to lose by using the neos. Otherwise, if the loco runs fine - there's no need to use the neos! For more info on the neo magnets, check out my video called 'Tri-ang 'neo' magnets: do they work & are they worth it?' All the best, Sam :)
I wouldn't have minded taking off your hands for you since I don't have a huge layout and I have on average 3 or 4 wagons/coaches per rake plus some of my locos like my SNCF BB222000 are waiting repair or run poorly but others like the 08 and class 31 i have run well for their age even though they are Triang or old Hornby motors
Excellent video, many thanks. 46235 has been languishing in the loft for 27 years - yes, 27 - unloved and untouched. She is now running ‘like clockwork’ as one might say. Her sister 46242 is being prepared for similar treatment with, hopefully, the same outcome. Thanks again.
Good info Sam. Just a suggestion on the bearing adjustments. I suggest using a ring or spanner rather than pliers. It will give far better control setting the bearing pressure on the armature shaft
Great video . Worth also mentioning that these Wren locos are exactly the same as the earlier Hornby Dublo ones : my son has a Wren City of Glasgow and I have a Hornby Dublo City of London . Both are exactly the same other than the different couplings on the two brands .
Excellent video. Exactly what I needed to see to have a go at my recently acquired non-working City of Glasgow. However, I wish you had used a small spanner to undo the top bearing of the armature rather than a clumsy pair of pliers. Hate seeing people use pliers on nuts, unless you are a plumber!
Thanks very much Tom! Yeah that is a bit dodgy I suppose, I'm always careful!
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
Wow! That was clear as a bell and unbelievably helpful. I know nothing about servicing model trains but have a bunch of 30+ year old locos that have never been run (still in the original boxes). Long story why not but now, in my old age, I am trying to get them operating. With your guidance I might succeed. Thank you!!
Hi Aaron, thanks so much for the lovely comment - really glad you found this useful! Glad to hear you're getting your old locos running again - feel free to browse my other restoration videos for tri-ang/ringfield motor locomotives too!
All the best,
Sam :)
Really helpful. I’m just overhauling my Dublo 2 rail City of London. It was particularly good to learn how to adjust the armature but I still can’t see how to get it out. I’ve tried wiggling it, turning the worm drive etc. But no good. I’ll go through all the comments just in case.
Thanks very much for posting this, I have an A4 Mallard that wont work, some new brushes and springs and a service will hopefully get it going.
Very good. I've wanted to get a Wrenn for a long time. I've been following prices on eBay for a while; major variation in prices according to mintness. Thanks.
Hi Gareth, thanks very much for the comment - you're absolutely right, the prices vary hugely! I prefer to buy ones with very slight defects (dodgy motor, slight paint cracks), and then fix them up - it nearly always works out much cheaper!
All the best,
Sam :)
Great work, Sam. I always find your servicing videos interesting and helpful. Nice one :))
Thanks very much Tom, glad you enjoyed it - always good to get one of these working again!
Cheers,
Sam :)
Great vid mate! I'll see if I can get no. 7 to work with the full video! :)
Thanks very much! Yeah good luck with it - hope you manage it okay! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
Hi there. I have a wreen 4-6-2 West Country Class Dorchester. Have you got anything similar to that and would you do a full maintenance video please
I love the videos you do on maintenance, so clear and easy to understand. I would like to ask if the technique for removing the body would be the same for the Hornby Tornado model? I wanted to open it up to see where the DCC chip would go when the time came to upgrade, but I didn't want to start removing every screw if it was not necessary. Plus the more screws one removes the greater the potential for things going missing or not going back in.
Thanks so much Daniel - really glad you find them easy to understand! With the Hornby Tornado, there's just one screw under the front bogey - remove that, and the body should slide out!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Thank you very much, if I may ask as well do you have any knowledge of basic weathering or know any videos that can explain it without the use of an airbrush? Kindest regards
I love these servicing videos
Hi Chris, thanks for the comment - really glad you enjoy them!
Cheers mate,
Sam :)
A very, very useful video, thanks. I hesitate to undo screws when I don't know what is on the other side. My Wrenn tank loco looks just like this inside. Bought for me in 1977, I have only just started running it, having returned to the hobby. It did not need cleaning although I oiled it in the places recommended in the box, and after 40 years it runs fine, except every now and then it falters and gives a screeching noise, then goes again, for just under a minute then another screech. I think I have missed something that needs some oil, but can't figure out where. Have you or any subscribers experienced anything like this?
No problem Clive, glad this was some help to you!
All the best,
Sam :)
Cheers for the very helpful video. I have dismantled, cleaned, sorted the damaged pickups on my recently acquired Wrenn City of Glasgow of unknown history. The original problem was that the whole of the motion was jammed up. Upon reassembly I found that the coupling rods still jammed up, I think, because they are too loose on the wheel pins due to wear. The train will run if it is on the track because the track moves the front four wheels, but if I run it on its back so that the drive to the front wheels is only through the coupling rod, the whole thing jams up at the point in rotation where the rods can not help each other because of the slop in the driving wheel coupling rod pins. Have you come across this, and have you any advice? Assuming my description makes sense! LOL! Thanks.
No problem Tom, glad you were able to have a go! Yes I've had one or two puzzling examples myself, some sounding exactly as you describe. You could be onto something with the wear in the crankpins/rods. I've never tried to dismantle the valve gear of a Wrenn (thought better of it), so sorry not to be much more help to you :(
Thanks for watching, Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Thanks anyway.
I wanted to see if you could use a European loco as well because the coaches are NS blue livery Dutch coaches with hook & loop couplings
Ah right those - yeah I'll have to try and find those for you! :D
Interesting nice video.
4:40 I spend 2 hours trying to replace the graphite brushes on my 4498!
haha yeah - it can be a fiddly job sometimes!
great video sam now I'll know how to service one of these if I get one of these brutes at some point (I use that as a good thing) all the best :)
haha no problem mate - glad you found it useful! And yeah - these definitely are brutes! :D
All the best,
Sam :)
Hi Sam, I hope you are well. Great video very professional. I Always wanted a hornby dublo three rail set as a kid but, ended up with a triang goods set, Which I loved.However at 71 years of age now I finally got one. Some rail and controller from the car boot sale and a loco from ebay. Play worn but it ran for a bit. then a puff of smoke from the armature. It was short circuit across the brush carriers. I serviced it following your video. Finding that the insulated brush had become uninsulated.I was relieved to find the armature was ok. I cearfully removed the brass brush carrier with a bent punch and heated the block to help only to find there was a hard tube of insulated card stuff. I managed to get it back and long story short (sorry) it now runs OK. What I wanted to ask you is - Have you had this problem before, and is ther a supply of this card stuff tube insulating material? I can't find any on the web. Probably because I dont know what to google. Any comments by yourself would be helpfull, as I'm pretty sure the problem may arrise again! Very kindest regards Phill W P.S. I didn't know about the little balls either, Luckily Mine were there and stayed in. Thanks again!
Thanks a lot Philip, hope you're well too! Glad to hear you managed to get yours sorted - very well done! I don't think I've had that particular issue before - sounds like you did a good job fixing that!
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
@@SamsTrains Thanks again Sam, I'll keep looking if I find out I'll pass it on to you. Kindest regards Phill W
Hi Sam, Can You Do How To Service A Hornby Percy?
Percy Is My Favorite 0-4-0 Saddletank Engine And Im Getting One Soon.
Hi there! Generally there's not much to be done on Percy - you just need to clean the wheels the normal way, and also apply small drops of oil to the moving parts... as long as he's clean, that should do it! :D
All the best,
Sam :)
i love the use of lego to create a rolling road!!!
haha thanks! I try to use anything I can find! :D
what material for the 1/16 ball bearing is recommended?
Hi George, I've been using grade 100 steel ones, though it's not too important - they won't be under much pressure; I'd just recommend keeping them lubricated of course,
All the best,
Sam :)
How come some Thomas The Tank Engine trains have 4 wheels and the ones you are giving away has 6 wheels, any ideas as to why? Cheers
Hmm, I think, from a toy point of view, it's sometimes easier to manufacture an engine with just 4 wheels rather than 6! Those are just toys though - you're unlikely to find a 'model' of thomas with only 4 wheels - though I think there once was a Hornby clockwork one with just 4 wheels... but that's it!
All the best,
Sam :)
how do i send a private message? i am thinking of buying an evening star railroad edition and was wondering if you had one to video.
Hi Ian, you can message me by going to my TH-cam channel, clicking 'About' and then clicking 'send message'! Alternatively, you can email 'samstrains@outlook.com' at any time :)
Yeah I do have a Railroad 9F - though it's not evening star, it's just the BR black one - you can see it on my channel, and I definitely recommend them!
All the best mate,
Sam :)
Where do get the magnet recharger
Look for a youtube channel called Ronald Dodd, and send him a comment - he's the guy that makes them! :D
Thanks for watching - Sam :)
what would you use to clean the side rods. e.g. If you were get a second hand wrenn loco sometimes the valve gear and side rods would need a clean how and what could i use to clean them Sam? :)
Hi, the Wrenn ones are awkward, because you can't get them off easily! Normally I take Hornby ones off, and shine them up with a wire-wheel on the dremell, you could try it with this, but be super careful!
Cheers,
Sam :)
thanks for the advice
I have Wrenn tank locomotive in the in 1980
could she pull work hard on the club layout
Oh awesome! Yeah, they really are super pullers - I love them myself! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
Hi Sam would you recommend purchasing locos from eBay that are advertised as spears or repairs?
HI Jason, yes I can recommend it, but only if you're experienced with them, and will be able to fix them up! :D
All the best,
Sam :)
Iv been watching your videos for a while now so can't go wrong😉worse case scenario I will have some spears
hey Sam can you do a 'servicing a Hornby 0-4-0' please.
Hi mate! There's really not that much to be done to service an 0-4-0, just a wheel clean and some oil is all they need for a basic service!
Cheeers,
Sam :)
Hi Sam. I picked up on your comment about crap magnets and current. I'm pretty dim when it comes to electrics. I've a couple of Lima 37/47 locos that obviously house the pancake motor. I've noticed when servicing that the magnets don't appear to be very magnetic. In your opinion, would it be worth installing the neo magnet and if so, would I get a better performance from these locos? Cheers Sam. Dave
Hi Dave, yes those magnets aren't terribly strong - though they do act directly upon the armature, unlike the tri-ang or wrenn ones which act through a metal 'keep'. It might be worth using the neo magnets - but just be aware that they cause excessive wear on the bearings, and have been known to drive motors to an early grave due to this!
Generally my advice is this: if the original magnets are weakened, and the loco runs badly as a result + you have no way to remagnetize them, you've got nothing to lose by using the neos. Otherwise, if the loco runs fine - there's no need to use the neos!
For more info on the neo magnets, check out my video called 'Tri-ang 'neo' magnets: do they work & are they worth it?'
All the best,
Sam :)
Thank you Sam for the info and a swift reply. Will check out your other vid now. Cheers mate!
Thank you for doing this!!
No problem mate - let me know if it helps your mallard! :D
i remember now it's the Highflyer warship class unboxing video
Oh yeah! That loco, I've since scrapped because it became a terrible runner - I've since gotten a new Hornby one though!
Cheers,
Sam :)
I wouldn't have minded taking off your hands for you since I don't have a huge layout and I have on average 3 or 4 wagons/coaches per rake plus some of my locos like my SNCF BB222000 are waiting repair or run poorly but others like the 08 and class 31 i have run well for their age even though they are Triang or old Hornby motors
nice video sam 👍
Thanks very much Fernando - more train-running videos coming soon!
Cheers mate,
Sam :)
I realy like it that you react back👍
Please could you service a wrenn castle loco
Hi! If that's something you want to see, then yeah I'll do that at some point! :D
Cheers,
Sam :)
damn!
haha he's taking your title! ;D
first
finally!!!!
haha well done - did it at last! :D
Cheers mate,
Sam :)