SIMPLE RINGFIELD SERVICING TIPS
QI’m a newcomer to model railways and have been buying older, second-hand diesels from Hornby and Lima to get myself started. Some of the Hornby motors have limited power, while others are getting hot, or squealing. What can I do? Brandon Walker, by e-mail
George says: Like many modellers of a certain age, I grew up with Hornby Ringfield and Lima ‘pancake’ motors. Indeed, a good deal of my modelling time was spent tinkering with these power units in the vain hope that their performance would improve. It pays to be discerning when buying older Hornby diesels and electrics. While older mechanisms could be very temperamental, the motors employed by Hornby from the late 1990s were much better, especially those featuring a five-pole motor and power collection from most, or all, of the wheels. These models ran more smoothly, especially at lower speeds and were marginally less prone to stalling on point frogs. These later Ringfield motors can be found as complete spares and they’re easily swapped into older chassis, as the mounting method was exactly the same. A while back, I replaced all of the mechanisms in my ‘heritage’ fleet of 1980s-era Hornby Class 47s for later, upgraded motors and trailing bogies (with extra power collection), obtained relatively cheaply from Hornby spares dealers or at exhibitions. Despite this costing around £30 per locomotive, I deemed it worthwhile to keep some of my old favourites on the rails. Most faults with older Ringfield motors, including a loss of power, can be traced to the circular magnet or armature windings, both of which can degrade over time. Replacing the armature is only possible after first removing the drive shaft gear wheel, which is pressed onto its axle by a special tool, thus making DIY repairs difficult. Dirt and contaminated oil on the gear wheels can cause the motors to run hot, as the extra friction forces the motor to work harder. Cleaning these gears is a simple job, made easier by removing the copper retaining plate. The gears can then be lifted away and cleaned more effectively away from the motor. A mild alcohol-based degreasing fluid is recommended, as offered by Labelle. Allow them to dry out before refitting, and be sure to lubricate them sparingly but evenly, including the main drive shaft gear. Always use oil that’s designed specifically for use with miniature models, such as Labelle 108 (for the plastic gears) and Hob-e-lube Gear Oil (for the drive shaft). As for the squealing sound, this is also often caused by the gears and their bearings being dirty or covered in life-expired oil. It may also be that the gears have been over-lubricated. Either way, removing the gears, then cleaning and re-oiling them should cure the problem.